As with many people in the UK and in other countries, the increasing spread of ‘restrictions’ due to Covid-19 in March this year brought changes to what I was doing and how I was living. Choosing music to listen to between March 15th and July 3rd 2020 altered according to my new moods, fears, joy, relief, sensitivity and concerns. In many ways I became more selective about what I was playing than usual.  

Some of the music I listened to reminded me of the wonderful concerts I had already been very fortunate to go to in 2020 up to March 15th. Other music I listened to transported me back to a simpler time in my life, whilst a lot of music I chose to play definitely reflected what was going on in society and/or for myself during these months. BBC Radio 3 became my default radio station and watching/listening events on the internet provided me with renewed interest and pleasure.

Thank you to all the artists listed here, music is a vital force I would be lost without.

LISTENING

Keep Your Head Child  –  JNR Williams

Play Me Something Nice (ep)  –  Joesef

Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter (CD)  –  Joni Mitchell

Heaven (CD)  –  Rebecca Ferguson

Consider This (ep)  –  Amahla

Withers On The Vine (ep)  –  JNR Williams

Early Days (ep)  –  Duchess

Soaked / Glitter / Supalonely  –  Benee

Quiet Is The New Loud (CD)  –  Kings of Convenience

The Reminder (CD)  –  Feist

Trailer Park (CD)   –   Beth Orton

Riot on Empty Street (CD)  –  Kings of Convenience

Signing Off (LP)  –  UB40

I Think It’s Going To Rain Today  –  Randy Newman

What Silence Knows (LP)   –   Shara Nelson

Rapture (LP)  –  Anita Baker

Upwards (CD)  –  Ty

Anyone But Me  –  Joy Crookes

Nothing Left But Family  –  Rebecca Ferguson

Faded  –  Izzy Bizu

When I Have Fears (LP)  –  The Murder Capital

Michael Kiwanuka (CD)  –  Michael Kiwanuka

Dogrel (CD)  –  Fontaines DC

All The Sweetness On The Surface (Download Album)  –  Xam Volo

96 Degrees In The Shade (LP)  –  Third World

Love and Hate (CD)  –  Michael Kiwanuka

Radio 3  –  Various Programmes

WATCHING and LISTENING

YUNGBLUD – THE YUNGBLUD SHOW LIVE (with MGK, Bella Thorne and Oliver Tree)

Lorde  –  Melodrama  (listening party)

Sheku Kanneh Mason and Family  –  livestreams

Marlon Williams – Live at Auckland Town Hall (official concert film livestream)

Norah Jones  –  livestreams

Sophie Ellis-Bexter  –  Kitchen Discos

The Murder Capital  –  Live at 100 Club  (watching party)