Over the past year, the pandemic has provided artists with both silence and separation in excess. During the lockdown period in 2020, the Boston-based teen pop/rock band Catching Arrows, used many approaches to songwriting, including Zoom and outdoor winter practice sessions in 30-degree temperatures during the height of the pandemic. With frozen toes and hands, they moved to the pool house at the lead singer's home to warm up during one of the coldest sessions. They worked hard to make practices happen at a time when music schools and studios were closed.
Whether they were writing on their own or working on the original song's arrangement, they were always connected to their music and the band. Having to move in many directions, and adjusting to many new safety procedures, they managed to achieve new goals, and always had their sight on their new song and expanding their set list. They realized the collective solitude brought them new challenges and opportunities, so they forged ahead taking on new projects they never had done before in a remote environment.
In a band, it is a different dynamic as everyone in the band is involved every step they take. On the pandemic there were different levels of comfort when inside practices started, so the needs of each band member were accommodated and respected. The lead singer adjusted to singing with a mask in a protected room with a full window shield. Their mission was to get back to live shows and be ready with a new set when the first show was booked.
Finally, the band hit Zippah Studios in Brighton, MA on May 22, 2021, fully masked and prepared to complete the recording process involving four instruments, vocals and background vocals, in a six hour timeframe. This is a song that covers a moment in history and all the emotions the young band members were feeling. It was cool how one band member went for a walk near his home during the lockdown period, and the first person he saw coming towards him on his neighborhood sidewalk was one of his bandmates. It was at that moment both realized how lucky they were to have each other, and how much they missed being able to freely perform together.
The song lyrics were written on Zoom calls, and the collaborative effort really captured the groups personal experiences with their lives during a time that was unfamiliar and had no confirmed ending point. Being on Zoom sessions at a time when they were on their computers all day with online school was not easy, but they knew with each session they would get many steps closer to being in the studio. The band bloomed in solitude, adding new covers, participating in many live stream events and creating a collaborative cover song project, which was all performed and engineered together remotely. There was a sense of motivation to continue developing new content at a time when most of the usual channels of musical expression were unavailable. Their virtual cover of Elle King's Ex's and Oh's is a great project to highlight as it required a cohesive structure to merge all the arists audio files into one production and make it super tight through some serious engineering which parents participated in and helped out on. You can view the finished product on YouTube.
Their new single, "Locked In", an indie/rock song, is coming out in early summer. The female fronted band has five band members.
Ava Gaudin, lead vocals
Cameron Hebert, lead guitar
Cameron Fox, bass and backup vocals
Matthew Hebert, rhythm guitar
Nick Yee, drums
Below are the song's lyrics which capture the emotions of separation. The lead line in the chorus that paints a strong visual, "A million calls without a face", is an exaggeration that exemplifies their longing to see their friends. A generation that operates in online chatter across social channels, realized quickly how they were missing face to face contact and direct collaboration on their music. The new song project brought them hope and a much-needed connection to music and friendship. The last line in the song, "At last seeing people fill the world", is a confirmation everyone can now safely come out of hiding and fill the spaces that had been empty for so long. The band is done with waiting and has many shows booked for summer and fall through their manager, Patty Duffey, Performers on the Go, at some favorite and new spots including the Hard Rock Cafe, Hampton Beach Seashell and the Cape Cod Music Room.
"The band succeeded in accomplishing a lot in 2020 through empowering each other to continue to advance and grow in positive directions, with enthusiasm, commitment and an open-minded vision of a music filled future.-Performers on the Go, Management
"LOCKED IN"
INTRO
Locked in
Locked in
VERSE 1
Never been through this before
Stuck between all these walls
Don’t let the memories crash
Whoa-oh-oh
Let the past be here now
PRE-CHORUS
I can’t get out
When will this end
Day by day
And day by day
Whoa-oh-oh
CHORUS 1
A million calls without a face
It’s not quite the same
We sit around locked in all day
I still feel insane
And I hope the sunshine casts our way
It is a dream
Or is it real
Gotta see the light of day
VERSE
It’s not the same, it’s not a game
When will I see the outside again
Stuck here on the inside
Whoa-oh-oh
Is this a sick play
CHORUS 2
A million calls without a face
It’s not quite the same
We sit around locked in all day
I still feel insane
I hope the sunshine casts our way
It is a dream
Or is it real
Gotta see the light of day
BRIDGE
Ooh yah
Ooh ooh yah
Ooh yah
Ooh ooh yah
I’m really here
You’re really there
Can no longer isolate
DOUBLE CHORUS
Another day of mystery
All days are the same
We sit around with hope all day
I still feel insane
And I know the sunshine will cast our way
Shadows follow all around
A million calls without a face
It’s not quite the same
We sit around locked in all day
I still feel insane
Let’s see the outside again
So the sun will cast our way
Is it a dream
Or another day
OUTRO
At last
Seeing people fill the world
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