Mark LeClerc

Next question? Hahaha

As you might expect, it’s been hard. After releasing a second record with Fuel Junkie, going to Memphis to compete in the International Blues Challenge in January and seeing festival dates coming in at the start of the year, watching it all drift away has been an eye opening glimpse into the uncertainty of the music business. Having all that forward momentum pushing you and then falling down to earth with not much holding you together was definitely hard to take. I still feel it, quite honestly. I am lucky to have a teaching job to keep me busy and keep my mind off of it until we are ready to get back to playing. 

I initially used the free time to practice and write more music than what I could usually manage with my regular schedule. As a high school music teacher, we have had to make some changes to our program and I ended up teaching guitar to some of my groups. This has led me to wanting to actually learn the instrument and I have found it to be extremely rewarding, as it is miles away from playing the saxophone and other wind instruments. 

I had the chance to go through many artists’ catalogues in a way that I never really took the time to. First ones to come to mind are Keb’ Mo’, B.B. King, Tab Benoit, Nina Simone, James Taylor and Stanley Turrentine. Since picking up the guitar, I’ve also been analyzing music from that perspective and it has been an interesting shift in my listening habits.

Learn a new instrument! Not worry about deadlines or getting things done quickly. Focus on what I want and feel more than what I should be doing.

I have been following a guitar YouTuber called Paul Davids. He is a great musician and has great talent in transmitting the craft. Social media has been a double-edged sword for me during this ordeal and I’ve been pulling away from it on and off over the last few months. It’s been a good way to keep track of my musician friends and colleagues and their own successes and challenges but at times it can have a strong negative effect on mental health so I’ve been mindful of that.

I’ve always loved cooking but I’ve developed a strong love for quality ingredients! As you can guess, expensive ingredients aren’t ideal when facing a shutdown of the music industry! On a more personal note, confinement has really brought to light how having the right life partner can change everything. I’m lucky to have found a woman with whom being at home was a positive thing.

Playing music with others, in the same room, sharing the moment together. I am a bit of a traditionalist in that sense and making music strictly behind a computer just doesn’t do it for me. I did end up teaching private saxophone and flute lessons online and while it does work, it was nowhere near as rewarding as in person.

I’ve been present for friends and family when they needed a little helping hand and a little pick me up. A pianist friend planned a big trip out to British Columbia in a Ford Econoline converted into a camper and I got to be one of his helpers, doing some mechanical and body work on his truck. 

My garage and toolbox are very well organized now! 

My best friend since high school and I used to be really into sim racing and we’ve rekindled our love with the (simulated) track. We’ve kept in close touch always but it is one of the things that kept us going through the pandemic. Starting off on guitar has also brought back the thrill of discovering a new instrument for the first time and the rush of learning new things fairly quickly. It’s also quite a challenge and a humbling reminder that no matter how strong you are at your main instrument, not all of that transfers to others and it’s been keeping me motivated and active.