Kassie's Column: Music continues to offer reprieve from world's troubles
For over five years, I’ve worked remotely, mainly from home, almost daily. As a writer, journalist and communication consultant, my days are often spent with a pen in my hand or my eyes glued to a computer screen. A couple of years ago I noticed my very active self was very unactive during working hours. This led to me frequently feeling sluggish. But I had the perfect solution.
Enter the wonderful world of song.
Anyone who knows me well knows how much I love music. I love dancing, attending concerts, especially the ones outdoors, or a good silent party.
One of my favorite elements of music is a mix. You know when a DJ such as myself, (yep I DJ on occasion - DJ Lil’ Bit in the house!), smoothly blends tracks together producing a steady stream of tunes without the presence of silence; I enjoy those! So much so that I’ve incorporated it into my daily work life.
Most days you’ll find me tuned in at noon to a mix. I’ve found them on a variety of stations and they always give me the boost I need to keep plowing through. You’ll also find me getting my groove on most days as well.
Coincidentally, as a lot of us are still figuring out how to navigate this new normal, it’s been music that has transcended cultures, dissolved barriers and united us in harmony.
Pun intended.
It all started with a concert on March 17, 2020 on Instagram. I remember logging on to social media that day only to find out that E.G.O.T. legend, John Legend, was performing from the comforts of his own home. (E.G.O.T. is an acronym for an individual who has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award).
What?! I immediately hopped on Instagram and there he was – at his piano, in a robe, belting out songs with his calm, reassuring voice.
Then it was over. That fast. I had missed most of it. I would later find out that Chris Martin from Coldplay had performed the day before in a similar fashion. Shucks!
What I didn’t know was that this was just the prelude to a worldwide phenomenon that was about to explode all over the world.
Enter Derrick Jones. Famously known as D-Nice, and a founding member of the legendary hip-hop group Boogie Down Productions. Just as performing artists, including North Carolina’s own Anthony Hamilton, had been utilizing multiple platforms to spread love and help keep our spirits uplifted during this unprecedented time, the people who ensure dance floors maintain a steady stream of participants have been doing the same.
Oh happy, happy! Joy, joy!
I first became aware of how D-Nice was “saving the world” on March 20, 2020. A friend posted on Facebook that he was “mixing” on Instagram Live. Say what now?
I was already fully engulfed in another virtual “party” at Fasss Auntie Lounge being thrown by Midway native, 9th Wonder, so I hopped over to the D-Nice affair, appropriately called “Homeschool at Club Quarantine” for a short period.
Numerous DJ’s were online that night providing us with an avenue of escape, if only for a few hours. They were spinning, dancing and encouraging us through their craft at a time when we all needed it. By the time Friday night turned into Saturday morning, the musical high I was riding was blissful.
But wait, there’s more…
Word began to spread about the good vibes at Club Quarantine. So much so that by Saturday evening, hundreds of thousands of people “were waiting in line” online to get into the hottest party on the internet.
The party started at 5:00 pm E.S.T. and lasted over nine hours. Yes, nine hours!
By the time I arrived around 7:00 pm, there were over twenty-thousand people pop lockin’, reebokin’ and woppin’ it out.
The list of who came through to get their boogie on read like a “who’s who of A-Listers” including: Former First Lady Michelle Obama, Janet Jackson, Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres, Queen Latifah, Patti Labelle, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder, Justin Timberlake, Donnie Wahlberg, Naomi Campbell, Angela Bassett, Former Vice President Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren and Diddy, just to name a few. One-hundred-thousand people united, through music!
The presence of these celebrities quickly reminded me that we were all in the same boat. And we still are.
We all have a responsibility during this time to do our part to get us beyond this seemingly, never ending nightmare.
And if music and mixes can serve as the backdrop while social distancing and masking are in the forefront, then I’m turning up the speakers as loud as they’ll go.
See y’all at the club.
