‘I’ll record it...let me just try to understand how I hold the microphone on the bass’: From live performance to DIY during the COVID-19 pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has shaken everyday life. In the music scene, the criminalization of nightlife has led to a drastic reduction in live music (Nofre et al., 2020), and artistic professionals, like other gig-workers, found themselves in a position of vulnerability (Jean, 2020). But it was not only the performances that were affected by social distance: conditioned access to studios also made rehearsals and recordings difficult. In this context, access to technology has become indispensable. When musicians are wondering “how can I monetize online?” (Nobre, 2020), DIY is an alternative to consider. Composing and recording at home for later dissemination is a means of passing the time, preserving the perception of productivity and contribution to society, maintaining a close relationship with audiences and still get some income on streaming platforms. This study uses an ethnographic approach that combines participant observation and semi-structured interviews, to address the relationship between technology and creativity.