MANSFIELD — The coronavirus and the shutdown response Ohio has taken to combat it has not dampened the creativity of local musicians.
And while they haven’t played at a bar or coffee shop, they’re still adding material to their set lists.
Casey Blevins and his band, BodyTrip, have released a song featuring local hip-hop artist, Morris The Florist.
Blevins said the creation of the quarantine-made tune, Crowded, began with the basic structure and hooks, but he left space for Morris The Florist to fill in throughout the song.
“He had it back to me with his vocals recorded within a few days,” Blevins said. “After I knew what his tone and lyrical content was, that’s when I went back in and did some post-production to make it sparkle and give it character.”
Blevins said for his part, all of his lyrics are written in a way that they can be applied universally and allow people to create their own stories and connections to it.
“I love working with BodyTrip, and I’m very happy with the result of the song,” said Morris The Florist.
Gabe Diemer has written three songs during the quarantine period.
In one song, Quarantine, which he performs on Richland Source’s The Open Mic Podcast, he expresses boredom of not being able to go out with friends, while explaining concerns of the government’s handling of COVID-19 and whether it is serious or not.
“It’s really crazy,” Diemer said. “I work at The Cove in Ontario and I’ve had a lot of doctors come in and tell me it could have been here last year around November.”
Until the Stay-At-Home order is lifted by Governor Mike DeWine, Diemer said he and his band won’t be practicing in person.
“Both of my parents work at the hospital, so they don’t want me out of the house,” he said.
But when musicians can take the stage again, at least many will have a new set work with.
