Metal Inside(r) Home Quarantine is Metal Insider’s new column during this time of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We asked artists five questions on what’s been keeping them busy ranging from their favorite movies, food they’ve been eating, music they’ve been listening to and more. We caught up with Immortal Bird/Errant’s Rae Amitay as she’s been talking to her cats a lot more than usual.
What have you been doing to pass time during quarantine?
I’m lucky enough to still be working, so I’m teaching music lessons during most days. Days off are usually spent cleaning my apartment (it gets messy SO QUICKLY now), napping, or staring out of my window in an agitated state of horror as I watch people in my neighborhood ignore social distancing. I’ve been writing more words than music lately, but I’m trying not to put too much shame or pressure on myself to have quarantine productivity standards. I’ve been drawing and painting a lot of weird stuff. I put out an EP at the beginning of April, and I’ve been packing up orders and writing thank you notes. I’m grateful for how it makes me feel lIke I’m still connected to people. I’ve also been talking to my cats a lot more than usual.
Have you been listening to any music or have any playlists worth checking out?
I’m really enjoying the new Fiona Apple record. I’ve been keeping it pretty non-metal. A lot of Metric, Nine Inch Nails, Maxwell, Neil Young, Tera Melos, Dinosaur Jr, and Rush.
A lot of people have been spending this time cooking including making their own bread, what food have you been prepping during this time?
I’ve been making stir-fried rice in pretty massive quantities. I’ll just put a ton of stuff in there and hope it works out. My favorite batch so far has been with portobello mushrooms, vegan bacon, bok choy, broccoli, edamame, kimchi, and garlic. I’m not much of a culinary wizard, and my kitchen is tiny, so I’ve also been eating a great deal of cereal.
In terms of entertainment, what movies, TV shows, books, or games have been keeping you busy?
I was already spending a questionable amount of time on YouTube and that’s definitely intensified over the last month. I like to have something on in the background while I draw or write, so commentary/storytime channels are usually good for that kind of thing. I watched the Netflix/Mae Martin series “Feel Good” recently and really liked it. “Dave” on Hulu is pretty funny too, a lot better and more nuanced than I expected it to be. Also, hours upon hours of TikTok. I have a lot of cool books that I should absolutely read but, uh, I’m pacing myself.
What advice do you have for your fans in isolation during this time?
Try not to feel pressured to undergo some kind of metamorphosis during isolation. We’re all going to be changed by this, be gentle with your expectations and try not to become too untethered from whatever makes you feel like a person. And do mushrooms if you have them.
Update: Rae answered these questions before the death of George Floyd that happened on May 25th. Since then, the group has shared a link to donate to dozens of community bail funds from across the country, as well as a link of resources on ways you can help.
