JAMES STRECKER: In what specific ways has COVID-19 changed your creative life in the arts?
NATHAN HILTZ: My last performance was on March 15 at the Rex Hotel here in Toronto. I typically perform 3-6 times a week so this is a big adjustment. I also teach at Humber College and Regent Park School of Music, which have both quickly deployed E-learning strategies. This has been a lot of work to get up to speed with electronic course delivery, but in some ways has filled up some of that lost gig time, so I am grateful to have work to do.
JS: How creative are you feeling with COVID-19 on your mind?
NH: Very creative, I love to practice, compose and arrange. When things were normal, I often would lament lack of time for these activities but now I’ve got lots of time! The only drag is these activities come to fruition in live performance. I do feel a lot of anxiety and worry about the pandemic, but if I am able to get my guitar out of the case, tuned, and in my lap, I can very much enjoy these activities.
JS: In what specific ways has COVID-19 changed your personal life?
NH: I am home all the time! I typically am working 7 days a week, apart from Sunday day time, I am usually away from home between 4-10 hours in any given day. Now I am home all day every day. This is bad financially, of course, but I have a 4-year-old daughter so any time I am with her I am very content. There is increased risk and fear in our world – I see isolation and safety in this situation as a big priority here at home, and am glad I can be here to be vigilant with sanitizing things, social distancing, and safely getting food and supplies into our home.
JS: What are your primary worries, at this time, about the present situation in the arts because of Covid 19
NH: My biggest concerns are my immediate family, friends, and students. I am trying to support everyone to the best of my capacities whether it be offering lessons for free to students that are not working, or offering to drop groceries on people’s doorsteps. If we all do what small things we can for each other, I hope that we can all get through this with some comfort and dignity.
JS: What are your primary worries about the future situation in the arts because of COVID-19?
NH: I am most worried about musicians that make their whole living from gigs and live pay cheque to pay cheque. I hope that Trudeau comes through for them. I am also worried about the clubs and venues that support us, and all the staff and supply chain that depend on those venues. I am encouraged by Ford allowing them to deliver alcohol, hopefully some can get back some business that way.
JS: What are you yourself doing to get through this time of crisis?
NH: I am currently busy with teaching activities relating to the completion of this semester. That feels good and almost normal. But when all of that is over, I’m not sure what I’ll do. Our whole lives seem to have jumped onto online platforms, with all our social life and music career more fully playing out on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. I suppose I will continue to interact on those platforms, though I’m unsure how to actually make money from them. I have my wife and daughter to care for, so I am very focused on caring for them.
JS: What are other creative people you know doing to get through this time of crisis?
NH: I’ve seen people doing fun sort of guitar challenges where you have to make a video response. One I got was ‘play a blues in f#’ that was fun, people are posting songs, sets and concerts. Those who had tours and new recordings happening are doing their best to release them and get some energy behind them. There is a ton of discussion online from the music community in many different directions. Lots of talk about the government, health, social justice, and many big emotions from sadness, to anger and everything in between.
I’m feeling a real urgent need from many members of my community that they need to ‘do’ something, to say something wise or meaningful, to post something amazing, to even fix this whole pandemic situation really with their viewpoint.
I’m not too engaged in any discourse, at this time. I’m focusing on my work, my immediate family, and my students. I leave this whole situation to the frontline workers, the medical establishment, our government, and to God.
JS: What are the saddest stories you’ve heard about creative people during this time of COVID-19?
NH: When I hear young musicians worrying about paying rent, or clubs that are considering closing that makes me sad. But the saddest thing for me is each new death from COVID-19, the thought of a victim spending their last moments not able to see your loved ones is a nightmare. This is a traumatic way to die, and the trauma is shared between the friends and family of the victim and the frontline workers. I am not scared that music will disappear, it will be here in one way or another after all of this. And yes, the world situation will be difficult, but at least those of us who make it will be in it together.
JS: What are the most encouraging or inspiring stories you’ve heard about creative people during this time of COVID-19?
NH: My friend Drew Jurecka made a very sweet and inspiring music video with his daughters singing a song and hanging out around is home. That was really nice!
JS: How can we support people in the arts during this difficult time?
NH: Take online lessons with musicians, that is probably the most direct way to assist financially. It’s a good time to improve at music, I mean we have lots of time to practice right?? Book weekly lessons if you can afford it, even a single new student will make a meaningful difference in a musician’s life, giving them some income they can count on and some routine during this time. Consider studying with someone you know to be vulnerable to this loss of work.
JS: Finally, what specifically can we do to support your life and work in the arts?
NH: You can study guitar with me online (nathanhiltz.com). You could also purchase my recordings on iTunes, and you can follow me and my band Samways on Facebook and Instagram (@natehiltz @samwaystheband).
Contact Nathan Hiltz
St. Clair and Bathurst
Phone:416-934-1719
Email: natehiltz@gmail.com
Web: www.nathanhiltz.com