WESTFIELD-Across the planet, musicians from all walks of life are finding creative ways to share their music – and messages of love and hope – all the while encouraging social distancing aimed at keeping everyone safer from the COVID-19 pandemic.
For Westfield High School senior Madison Curbelo, 18, she has been writing music “nonstop” as of late as well as working on new covers. She has been accepted into the Berklee College of Music in Boston and will major in music therapy.
Madison Curbelo, a senior at Westfield High School, shares her music on social media platforms with uplifting messages to inspire hope in these troubling times. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
“During this time of social distancing, I’ve been working on a lot of new covers to post on YouTube so that people still feel connected with me through my music,” said Curbelo. “I feel like now is a really important time to release content that I am very passionate about to give everyone at home something nice to listen to while they wait out this difficult time.”
Curbelo added she has also been participating in singing challenges on Tik Tok, a video sharing, social networking service, with the hope to “inspire other young singers to be creative while they are staying safe at home.”
Curbelo has found that creative moments can come at all times of the day – or night.
“I always have my guitar by my bed in case I’m struck with a random spark of creativity, which happens a lot actually,” she said. “I usually post clips of my originals on my Instagram page and I’m working on creating full-length songs to release on YouTube in the very near future.”
Curbelo has also embraced a “journey into acting” and with a manager, has had several “amazing audition opportunities.”
Of course, her first love is music and she admits she is “always” working on new material.
“Writing is in my blood and there isn’t a day that goes by where I’m not creating a melody in my head or thinking of new creative lyrics,” said Curbelo. “My parents recently bought my brother and I some recording equipment so I expect to have some original songs coming out very, very soon.”
As Curbelo joins thousands of musicians globally who are performing virtual concerts on social media platforms, she is always “amazed” to see how people want to reach out and touch others. Her most recent Facebook post was a new cover of “Yesterday” by the Beatles where she added, “something for you to watch while you stay home and stay healthy.”
“In times like this it is amazing to see people come together even when we have to remain apart,” said Curbelo. “I always get inspired when I see people performing virtual concerts or creating virtual arrangements like the one that recently came from Berklee students of the song, ‘What the World Needs Now.’ The world is a beautiful place full of amazingly talented people who are passionate about what they do and will continue to do what they love no matter what is going on with the world, and that is so inspiring to me.”
Bernie Dion, a member of the country band Whiskey Traveler, shared a similar sentiment. Whiskey Traveler members also include Jessica Dion, Jonathan Dion, Pete Asarese and Phil Asarese.
“The three Dions, father, daughter and son, all live in the same household in Westfield which allows us to perform on Facebook live feed,” said Dion. “We call it, ‘The World Basement Tour,’ where we spend Saturday evenings beginning at 6 performing.”
Jonathan Dion, Jessica Dion and Bernie Dion, members of Whiskey Traveler, are seen performing at 7B’s in Westfield before the pandemic hit the area. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Dion noted they play original music as well as upbeat country music with plenty of tight harmony.
“We do this to connect with our family, friends and fans,” said Dion. “Music helps get our mind off what is going on in the world today along with our fans. Hopefully we get some people to sing along in their homes with us.”
The Dion family plan to continue their Saturday evening concerts while they are unable to play gigs in the area.
“We like Facebook because we can read the viewer’s comments and respond in real time,” said Dion. “We also take song requests which doesn’t always work but we get many laughs which is really important at this time.”
Songwriter and guitarist Jon Berman of Blandford concurred.
“It’s a job we love,” said Berman of songwriting and performing, noting that the pandemic has also caused a financial hardship with the loss of performing at local restaurants and private engagements.
While Berman is not currently posting any performances online, he said for those who are, they all have different reasons.
Jon Berman of Blandford enjoys performing and writing songs. (MARC ST. ONGE PHOTO)
“Some people are doing it to share a message of love and hope and appreciation which is important during this uncertain time,” said Berman, adding, “hopefully performances bring a little cheer to a tough world.”
Musicians from across Western Massachusetts are sharing their messages on several social media platforms, including on the “Western Mass Music Scene” page found on Facebook.
For Tom Sawyer, who books bands for the ArtWorks Westfield summer concert series and several of the area’s open mic nights, he is hopeful for “better things” happening on the music scene in the coming months.
“I recently ‘retired’ from an active local band and I am quite involved with many local musicians,” said Sawyer. “One observation is that area musicians are providing a lot of support and commiseration to each other, since nobody-but-nobody is gigging anywhere. Everybody is hoping for better things in the summer when the outside venues open up.”
While musicians of all genres are reminding their followers to stay safe and follow recommended health guidelines, Curbelo noted, “Most importantly, stay kind, because we all could use a little kindness to get us through this very difficult time.”
