Artist of the Day | CRYS MATTHEWS
ARTIST OF THE DAY
15.03.2021
CRYS MATTHEWS
LOCATION
Washington, DC, USA
GENRE
Neo-folk
CURRENT MEMBERS
Crys Matthews
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?
I was just finishing up a leg of Heather Mae's tour in early March. We were driving home from Chicago to DC when we started getting gig cancellation emails. By the time we got to Pittsburgh, all of our gigs through May were canceled.
How has that affected your plans for the coming year? Did you have a tour planned, upcoming album release?
I had planned on doing a Kickstarter for an album called Changemakers last year but, once the pandemic hit and wrecked everyone's finances and livelihoods (mine included), it felt inappropriate to pursue it. But, as 2020 rolled on and George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Elijah McClain and too many other black people were killed, I was feeling called to release the album. Then John Lewis died and I wrote a song for him called Call Them In. I knew the universe wouldn't be calling me so loudly to make this record if it wasn't time, and it was definitely time. So I stepped out on faith and my fans were there to catch me. My song How Many More came out in the fall, Call Them In was released on 2/21, and Changemakers is coming out 3/26! I have no idea when I will actually get to sing in person again, but my soul is at peace knowing that this important music is out in the world doing some good on my behalf.
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?
Last summer, I busied myself with a garden! It was amazingly therapeutic! I also have been able to write several songs, which were included on the new album. Once I launched the Kickstarter, that took up a lot of time and kept me busy. And then, of course, once it was time to go in to the studio and get to work on Changemakers, that took up a lot of time too. My GF is a mental health advocate, so she's been helping to keep our whole household sane throughout the pandemic.
How are dealing with the Covid second wave?
Our household is very fortunate, one of us is fully vaccinated and two of us are partially vaccinated (we get our second shot in a couple of weeks). But we are all still living just as cautiously as we were at the beginning of this to keep others safe — masking, having groceries delivered when possible, etc. As the one- year anniversary of being unemployed comes up, I'm getting a little worried financially, but am grateful to have my health.
Do you have a message for everyone at home reading this?
Well first and foremost, check out Call Them In today and then Changemakers on 3/26! But seriously, I know there is still a lot up in the air about how we move forward but, if you're reading this, the good news is that you are still here. Don't lose sight of that. Find those little moments of positivity in each day (I like to call them pandemic perks) Is there a part of your home that you didn't realize had such lovely light because you're usually not there to see it? Pandemic perk. Stay safe out there, folks, and keep music alive in whatever way you can.
If you would like to be our next ARTIST OF THE DAY please email us at:
JEN@CONCERTWORKS.CA
