Metal Anarchy

Time for the next edition of Metal Anarchy’s “Music In The Age Of COVID-19” series, the feature where I discuss the ongoing pandemic with various musicians. This time I have an interview with Ask Carol.

METAL ANARCHY: How have you been holding up during the coronavirus pandemic?

ASK CAROL: Since the lockdown in March, we have stayed in Carol’s home place. It’s a small place in the Norwegian wood, with very few people, and therefore naturally isolated. They have a few houses on their family property, and we have set up a music studio and an art and t-shirt workshop there. We were lucky, we arrived home from a tour in the Philippines just a few days before lockdown. Everything, all concerts, new tours, all cancelled, so we have been stuck here ever since. We have tried to stay busy, but being isolated so long really takes its toll. But, to look at the positive side of this, we had the time to make our first ever music videos, all on our own, and release our self-produced singles. That has been some really good highlights for us in an otherwise weird, crazy, depressing year.

METAL ANARCHY: Have you been using your downtime to work on new music?

ASK CAROL: Yes, we have had so much stuff to do. At first we were kind of paralyzed by the situation, the not knowing, everything being postponed and no travels, concerts or touring happening. But then we decided to make the best of this crazy situation, and use the time to focus on creating stuff, recording new songs, making our first real music videos, making t-shirts and other merch and more. Our main goal now is to get our debut album finished this spring.

METAL ANARCHY: What was the last show you played or attended before the shutdown?

ASK CAROL: The last show we played was on our Filipino Tour, just around a week before the shut down here in Norway. It was in the Open Air Auditorium in Rizal Park in Manila. It was before people knew how serious the Covid situation would get, so there was a lot of people there. It was outside, and a big space, so the risk was very low. It was an awesome show, and an amazing experience. Really glad we got to do that before the pandemic got too bad.

METAL ANARCHY: Are you planning to play any livestream concerts during this time?

ASK CAROL: We have considered doing some livestreams, but we decided to wait until we get hold of some better sound and video equipment to get higher quality on the stream. There’s a lot more to it than people realize. To get a decent sound, you can’t just put up your phone. After our current album recording period that is our next project, setting up a live streaming rig.

METAL ANARCHY: Do you think the live entertainment industry will ever recover?

ASK CAROL: Yes. At the moment it is hard to say how, when, and in what form, but it will definitely come back. Many venues and others working with live entertainment are struggling hard at the moment, so it is important that governments etc. do their part too. It might take some time, but people will always want live music. After watching livestreams for months, it just isn’t the same as going to a real live show.

METAL ANARCHY: Lastly, is there anything fans can do to help your band or others that may be struggling during this time?

ASK CAROL: Keep listening to theirs’ and our music, telling all your friends and others who might like it 🙂 Oh, and of course, check out the merch store and see if there’s anything you like: https://www.askcarolmusic.com/merch