#WFH Diaries: Rebecca Grierson of SixtyFour Music
As lockdowns linger in most parts of the world, we're checking in with creative people to see how they're faring. Here's an update from Rebecca Grierson of SixtyFour Music in New York.
Give us a one-line bio of yourself.
Managing director of SixtyFour Music, DJ, music supervisor, and podcast junkie from London.
Where are you living right now, and who's with you?
Me, myself and. I just bought an apartment in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and moved in right before the lockdown. It's been a novelty being in a new space and having extra time to settle in. However, that was rudely interrupted by Covid-19. I was sick for three weeks. Having no taste or smell was very strange. Thankfully, I have recovered now.
What's your work situation like at the moment?
Fortunately, we are still in production mode and working on demos and licensing deals. But it's a much slower pace than what I'm used to. We can do our jobs remotely without too many limitations. We're in the process of recording a famous song remotely with each session player and singer in a different studio. It's forcing us to be even more creative with our workflow. I'm also enjoying having the time to work on Free the Work's composer database, and developing the Guild of Music Supervisors’ New York committee, which I chair.
Describe your socializing strategy.
I've found I have more time to talk to my friends and family in the U.K. On weekends, I set up times for Houseparty, Zoom and FaceTime calls. It's fun watching some of the Instagram DJ sets remotely with friend. D-Nice is my favorite Insta DJ. I am missing human contact, but I keep telling myself that I have the rest of my life to socialize!
What are you reading?
I finally picked up Shantaram from my bookshelf. I’ve been carrying it around with me for years; its a beast. I'm only a few chapters in, and I'm hooked. Next on my list is The Edge, which is based on the hedonistic music industry in L.A., written by a friend, Jamie Collinson, who worked at a record label. I want to see if I can figure out who some of the characters might be based on.
What are you watching?
I've been watching a lot of documentaries. Miles Davis: The Birth of Cool was great—you see the extreme highs and lows during his prolific career. Self Made on Netflix has an INCREDIBLE soundtrack of all-female black women. Documentary Now!, also on Netflix, is good for a comedy hit. I'm almost at the point of starting Game of Thrones if this goes on much longer.
What are you listening to?
The new Yves Tumor album, Fiona Apple, Active Child, Dua Lipa, Nicolas Jaar. I've been listening to a lot of rare-groove disco tracks from 1979 through to 1984 for a DJ mix I'm about to record.
How are you staying fit?
A mix of the Daily Burn classes, Disco Barre and running. I'm a qualified Pilates teacher, which has been a handy skill to have, as it can be hard to sustain a good posture while working from home at a makeshift desk. I have some good desk-focused stretches I practice to prevent backaches.
Have you taken up a hobby?
Right before the lockdown I did a healing and meditation retreat. This was fortunate timing, as I've had a chance to practice meditation skills at home and make it a daily habit. I struggled to fit this in prior to the lockdown. I'm determined to make it stick, as I can really feel the benefits.
Any tips for getting necessities?
A friend called Mark Cooper opened a toilet paper factory in Maine last month, purely by chance! I'd recommend reaching out to Tissues Plus if you get really stuck! This is more of a treat if you are living in North Brooklyn: My neighbor Daniel Burns is a Michelin Star chef and has been delivering gourmet meals to locals. It started off with my request for an Easter Sunday roast dinner, which I curated a playlist for.
An awkward moment since all this started.
I had a slightly awkward online dating app moment. Being stood up on FaceTime by a well-known stand-up comic is probably the best so far. It did provide a good laugh with my friends!
Best work email you got since all this started.
An email to say that we had been awarded a licensing job. I worked incredibly hard to turn it around at the last minute for a Covid-19 campaign.
An aha! moment since all this started.
More of a random thought: If this carries on until the summer, will some people have face-mask tan lines?
What's your theory on how this is going to play out?
I'm sure some companies will end up giving up real estate if working from home proves successful. The live music community is suffering the most. With large concerts and festivals being cancelled or scaled down, the industry will take a long time to recover at this rate. Live streaming will prove useful, and hopefully promoters will find a way to monetize this and recoup funds. On the plus side, independent artists are making and recording more music than ever. If you're a music fan, make sure you keep buying music as well as streaming, to help support musicians who are losing revenue from touring. Now is a great time to buy a record player and some vinyl!
