Artist of the Day | JIMKATA
ARTIST OF THE DAY
17.12.2020
JIMKATA
LOCATION
Ithaca, NY & Los Angeles, CA, USA
GENRE
Electro Rock
CURRENT MEMBERS
Aaron Gorsch
Evan Friedell
Packy Lunn
With the current pandemic, the state of the music and touring industry has dramatically changed. Where were you when everything was brought to a halt?
We haven't played as a band in three years. In 2017 we stopped touring and took a break from the project altogether. At some point during that time though we quietly started working on some new music not really knowing if we would release it or not. Basically by the time 2020 rolled around this had developed into a much bigger plan. We had new management, started our own label, made several music videos and had developed and scrapped quite a few timelines but it seemed like we were finally ready to start releasing this album! Like a phoenix rising from the ashes! And then... the pandemic...I was bartending in LA at the time and it became apparent that that industry was also crumbling. It was strange to watch this bustling, vibrant city turn into a ghost town.
How has that affected your plans for the coming year? Did you have a tour planned, upcoming album release?
Luckily we weren't touring or anything yet. I guess I'm thankful for our patience in deciding when to start the release process because at least we've been able to start putting this music out without the dread of cancelling shows. Like I said we created and scrapped a few release timelines over the past couple years, one of which would have had us trying to do our big comeback shows in April 2020! Yea! That would've been devastating. By taking a break, we created a rare opportunity to not set any arbitrary deadlines for ourselves and let the music lead the way when its ready.
What have you been doing to fill/make the most of your new-found free time at home? How are you supporting your mental health through all of this?
Well I've been unemployed from bartending since March which at first I was kind of psyched about. As long as there was unemployment assistance and a stimulus I was okay. I finally had more time to devote to making and releasing music without having to worry about money. But as this has gone on and on it certainly gets harder especially just not knowing when we'll be able to play some shows. It's weird to put out music you've worked on for so long, having built up so much anticipation, and then have it only be on the internet--looking at view counts and streams is not nearly as fulfilling as playing it live for people. I started a daily yoga practice somewhere at the beginning of this just to hold myself accountable every morning for my well-being. I've been trying to meditate daily and exercise often. And I'm still creating music and practicing.
How are dealing with the Covid second wave?
I feel like an old newspaper blowing around on the street. Like just going wherever the wind takes us you know... But seriously, still just trying to stay steady with the same practices that have gotten me this far. Trying to stay healthy, checking in with friends and family, going on hikes, running. By now I know what's gonna help me and what's gonna send me deeper down a doom spiral. Trying to limit my news ingestion. Trying to limit social media even though now thats my only outlet as a musician and as a social human being. And trying to stay creative.
Do you have a message for everyone at home reading this?
I seriously hope everyones doing as well as possible and finding moments of joy in the midst of all this. It's a bleak time that certainly seems to be pulling back the curtain on what is and what mostly isn't working in our society. But take control of what you have control over, if that makes sense, and make yourself and/or someone else happy once a day.
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