Cavetown: "I've been making some good progress on Animal Crossing"

Getting in his new album and a UK tour just before lockdown hit, our pal Cavetown is making the best of an unexpected break by embracing his passion for YouTube, painting, and Animal Crossing. He's also playing Dork's online festival Homeschool this weekend.

Hello Robbie! How's it going? Are you feeling okay amid all this virus madness?
Hi! Yes, I'm fine. Staying inside pretty much all the time, which isn't unusual for me anyway.

How has it impacted you so far?
I miss my housemate Marco terribly - he went to his parents' house for the quarantine. I don't know when I'll get to see him again, which makes me quite sad. But on the bright side, I'm getting a lot of rest which is something I've been needing for a while.

You've been doing some nice and fun things to boost morale, can you tell us about them?
Yeah, I've been very active online since that's where everyone is hanging out most of the time right now! So far I've released a new album (which is of course very exciting), done a Livestream, and posted a bunch of new YouTube videos. It has felt great to reignite the relationship I have with my audience, and now feels like the perfect time to reconnect with them like I used to before I became so busy touring.

Have they been well received?
Yes! My audience tends to just love anything I put out there, which is so sweet. They really make me feel unconditionally cared for.

Do you have more in the works?
Absolutely. I had a great time on the Livestream so I'd love to do more of that, and I am keen on doing some more old-school YouTube videos too.

Is there anything you've seen someone else do around this that you thought was a great idea?
I've seen lots of fellow artists hopping on the live-streaming bandwagon, which I think is wonderful! I think this situation is reminding everyone of the value of human connection, and we're lucky enough to live in an age where we can stay connected even when we're so far apart. I would argue that everyone's becoming even more connected now because of the pandemic, and it's great to see despite all the fear and uncertainty.

Have you been self-isolating? How do you fill the time?
I have. I spend a lot of time sleeping. When I'm not doing that, I've been making some good progress on Animal Crossing New Horizons. For anyone wondering, my town is called Oat, my fruit is apples, and my villagers are Poncho and Camberra. I've also done lots of fun projects on my Minecraft server with my friends!

What's your favourite 'can do at home' hobby that isn't music?
I've always loved painting! I really enjoy sitting down with a video or podcast playing and losing myself in a painting.

Are there any tracks or albums you've been listening to a lot to help get through this period?
My dear friend 'Allie' released his first solo EP which I've fallen so in love with! My favourite track is 'Junior Coder's Experiment'. It's so expertly written, and I strongly recommend a listen if you're in need of some comfort.

What do the next few months look like for you?
It's hard to tell really, as it is for everyone right now. I'm hoping that it won't be too long until I can give my audience the shows that they were looking forward to, and visit my parents again for the first time in months. For now, I'll be resting, playing lots of video games, and probably coming up with some new tunes as always. The best thing for everyone to do is to just keep on truckin', and keep doing the things that make you feel warm.