Quarantine Karaoke vol. 1 by Isaiah morfin • Izzy and the Fins • Cash For The Arts
A local musician presses forward to make an album fit for the time of COVID-19. Isaiah Morfin’s eight track release, “Quarantine Karaoke Collection”, features six original songs and two covers. He started the project on March 18th, within days of the State of California closing all businesses not deemed essential. As he picked up more shifts at his day job, he fought to create whenever he could.
“I was desperately trying to make the time for music; writing lyrics on breaks, coming up with melodies and recording voice memos when the store is slow, and pushing myself to finish the songs I have had ideas for.”
With “Cash for the Arts” grant money in hand, Morfin was able to make space in his schedule to record and release the album for free to listeners.
“I am convinced that this music is something that is very beneficial to our community. I am extremely passionate about these original songs and they were written with the utmost care, empathy, sensitivity, honesty, and love in response to what’s going on in the world right now.”
Morfin, and his band Izzy and Fins, will complete the project with a live performance of the album, broadcasted on Instagram from the Prairie Fire at The Padre Hotel, Saturday May 30 at 7pm. Morfin hopes his efforts will help bolster the community and inspire a wave of new music from his fellow musicians.
“To show the importance of not only local artists as a vital aspect to our community, but even more so, the importance of original music and local musicians using songwriting as a tool to create a more vibrant, diverse, and unique scene in Bakersfield.”
Connect with Izzy and the FIns
Cash for the Arts is a unique grant program by The Hub of Bakersfield that’s putting money in the hands of local creators while providing an arts experience for residents coping with social distancing and stay-at-home orders.