Smithers singer-songwriter Mark Perry has released a single with a COVID-19 theme.
But not only is the content of song, titled 鈥淔latten out the Curve,鈥� coronavirus-related, the entire production was a sign of the times.
Colin Maskell recorded Perry鈥檚 guitar and vocal tracks at Old Highway Studios in Smithers. Then they sent the tracks off to Jordy Walker at Stackwall Sound Productions in Whitehorse Yukon who laid down drums, bass and accordion and mastered the recording.
That鈥檚 when local dance instructor Monica Kapelar got involved and suggested a video.
鈥淪he鈥檚 funny, and she has all these friends in odd places, like former students of hers, even in Japan,鈥� Perry said.
Soon, videos were streaming in from all over the world. Perry said it was tricky to piece together, but his daughter Mip (aka Marie Perry) was up to the task.
鈥淪he鈥檚 a very creative person and she鈥檚 very musical so she kind of figured out how to edit on the ones (first beat) so it was kind of in time, most of it,鈥� he said.
The video was first released on Facebook April 6 and Perry was amazed by how it took off.
鈥淚鈥檓 not a Facebook person, but there鈥檚 views and there鈥檚 people reached and people are sharing like crazy, he said on the morning of April 8. 鈥淩ight now, we鈥檙e over 40,000 people reached. In a lot of ways, it鈥檚 fairly insane, but there鈥檚 also views and shares.鈥�
Sandra Smith, from Plaid People Music, Perry鈥檚 booking agency, said in the first 48 hours the Facebook post had 20,000 views and 700 shares.
Subsequently, a release on Youtube on April 9 has garnered hundreds of views.
He said the inspiration came from Dr. Bonnie Henry鈥檚 daily press conferences.
鈥淭he phrase, flatten the curve or flatten out the curve, we鈥檙e hearing it all the time,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always with us, so I just did it for some fun. It鈥檚 pretty light, but it鈥檚 a serious subject.鈥�
Also a serious subject is the livelihood of musicians. With music festivals being cancelled and music venues shut down everywhere, remotely-executed projects such as 鈥淔latten out the Curve鈥� might be the only creative outlet for artists for the foreseeable future.
鈥淲e鈥檝e lost a few gigs,鈥� Perry said. 鈥淚鈥檝e got my fingers crossed, but I鈥檓 not optimistic. We have an Alberta fall tour lined up. They say they鈥檙e holding on to the hope, but I鈥檓 not going to be shocked or anything.鈥�
Although disappointed, Perry, a retired railroad worker is not concerned about himself so much as the artists who rely financially on touring.
鈥淭he people I鈥檓 worried about are the guys who are just counting on it,鈥� he said. 鈥淢usicians who do it for a living, there鈥檚 not a lot of money out there, I just hope that they survive.鈥�
It is unclear whether or how musicians will quality for federal and provincial wage subsidies and emergency response benefits, but legislation is evolving and that may be clarified this week when Parliament votes on the Emergency Wage Subsidy bill.
editor@interior-news.com
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