In an effort to formalize our Quarantine Blues series a bit, we’ve devised a 5-question quiz to pose to the musicians & other media figures sharing in the Covid-19 stay-at-home orders sweepstakes. There will be new entries every coupla days.
Sasha Alcott and her husband Chris Viner collectively make up the indie-rock powerhouse two-piece When Particles Collide. They pretty much live on the road, out of their van, some 48 months a year, give or take, so this quarantine has affected them as much as anyone. Sasha checks in from their cabin in Maine where they’re busy creating and waiting out the storm.
1) How are you getting your live music fix? Any live streams or Youtube clips that standout?
We have not been consuming a lot of live music personally. We've got some projects going with our own music that are keeping us really busy.
2) What else have you been watching, listening to and reading to pass the time?
We've been watching this season of RuPaul's Drag Race which has been the most fun. Our fans have put together a list of covers for us to learn for a live stream on May 23 and that has taken up all of our listening time.
3) How are you managing (or not) to stay creative / healthy?
We are writing new material, learning 30 covers, making some music videos and working on rehabbing a tiny cabin we bought last summer. We're also going live on Facebook at least twice a week, on Wednesdays at 6pm ET and Saturdays at 7pm ET. In addition we've been asked to do other live casts that are part of curated series, or sponsored by venues, so that is keeping us quite busy.
4) You have to pick just 3 records to listen to till this is over. What are they?
Neko Case-Hell On
Brandi Carlile - By The Way I Forgive You
Carole King - Tapestry
5) Food Time! Have you been cooking in or carrying out? Favorite recipes or restaurants you're supporting? What's in the liquor cabinet? Share your quarantine eating and drinking habits and changes!
We're cooking at home, mostly to save money! I pretty much eat the same thing every day, oatmeal for breakfast, a salad for lunch, and vegan tacos for dinner. The best part of being at a home for longer than a week is that I can use all my vegetable scraps to make stock and then cook my beans in the stock, which has been both delicious and satisfying. I love not letting anything go to waste.
Been maintaining my sobriety though this total devastation of our business, so I'm a champion as far as I can assess. Been drinking a lot of herbal chai tea and grapefruit seltzer.