Local country artist records a light-hearted song, 'Quarantine Blues'

Looking for a pick-me-up? Local country artist Ben Klick is here for you. He wrote and recorded a song titled, “Quarantine Blues’ after returning from Nashville last week. 

Klick spends most of his winter down in Nashville for an annual trip to focus on everything from guitar playing to vocals, songwriting and recording new music. 

“I’ve been going to Nashville since 2014, recording records - I’ve done two EPs down there so far and this last trip was working towards new releases and records and things like that.”

The trip usually ends around mid-March, so returning home early due to the pandemic didn’t hinder any of his work. His dad made the flight down to help with the drive home.

The pair typically take their time coming home, but rushed this time as news of the pandemic became more serious. 

Because of the severity of the virus situation in Washington State, Ben and his dad crossed the North Dakota and Manitoba border on March 15 and made their way to West Kelowna by St. Patrick’s Day. 

“The eerie part... was the Sunday we actually crossed over the border, we crossed at one of the two busiest borders in the country, and it was basically my dad and I in my truck and one other car in front of us — that was it. It was basically a ghost town everywhere.”

He says it’s relieving to be home and be safe around family back in Canada.  

While in quarantine, Klick says he started to get inspired. 

“While I was on the treadmill, all of a sudden I started singing this melody and I didn’t know what it was, but I had this melody stuck in my head so I pulled out my phone and started recording.”

After grabbing his guitar he created the chorus and ‘Quarantine Blues’ was written within the hour. 

“An hour and half after it was recorded and then I spent the rest of the day thinking of creative ways...to put a smile on people’s faces during the times that are going on right now.”

This is undoubtedly the quickest he’s ever created a song from scratch to a video. 

“It really does go to show if you write about stuff that you’re currently dealing with or impacted you and you talk about your life, it makes it easier to write,” he laughed. 

He created this video because as much as the COVID-19 pandemic is a serious matter he wanted to put smiles on people’s faces.

“I didn’t update anybody about me coming home for the last couple of months, so I just wanted to put something out to say that I’m home safe and I also want to put a smile on people’s faces.”

He’s glad the positive message is being shared all over Canada in these dark times.