When the World Stood Still: Streaming Through the Slowdown

Back in 2020, when the world pressed pause, I was asking myself what role music could play in a moment of global stillness. Clubs were closed, dance floors silent, and the familiar rhythm of daily life was replaced with uncertainty and a strange, collective hush.

For me, the answer came in the shape of a daily live stream on Mixcloud. Nothing too technical — just me playing music, with a webcam feed looking out onto a near-deserted beach on the island. No crowds, no noise, just the tide moving in and out and clouds drifting across the sky.

But what made it special wasn’t just the soundtrack or the view — it was the chat room. Each day familiar names would pop up, and we began to recognise each other. People shared how their days were going, offered encouragement, and swapped stories from wherever they were locked down. I’d play a record and watch the comments scroll in: memories sparked, requests made, people laughing at the same time from thousands of miles apart.

Some days it felt like the highlight was less about the set and more about the conversations around it. There were regulars who turned up without fail, and even though we’d never met in person, the sense of community was real. It reminded me of the old days of pirate radio or community clubs — a small space where people came together, only this time it was online, and the shared experience was simply being present in the moment.

That ritual of logging in, chatting, and listening became grounding for me too. It wasn’t about big drops or high-energy sets. It was about creating space, letting music breathe, and knowing others were breathing with it.

Looking back now, I think those streams captured something important. At a time when the world had slowed to a crawl, people needed connection as much as music. The combination of nature, sound, and conversation gave us a way to escape without going anywhere.

I’ve included one of those recorded sessions here, for anyone who wants to revisit that moment in time. A reminder of when the world slowed down, and how music — and community — helped us find each other.