There’s really only one thing on most people’s minds – and rightly so. As of Sunday, coronavirus cases in the United States have surpassed 3,000. With a pandemic on our hands, it’s hard to think about much else, especially running a music blog. Does anyone really need another review of the new Code Orange album right now (it’s good) or another list of the best new tracks from this past week? Probably not.

But as I’ve been cooped up in my house these past few days, I’ve certainly turned to music a lot. It’s funny – I can’t count the number of days in my life where I’ve willingly chosen to stay indoors and listen to records as opposed to going outside or simply “doing something.” Yet when the choice is taken away, it feels a little different.

So I’ve found myself purposefully leaning into music as a way to clear my head, pass the time, and enjoy my family. Last night involved a dance party with my wife and 9-month old daughter, soundtracked by Carly Rae Jepsen, Billie Eilish, and Dua Lipa. Friday involved digging into some vinyl records that haven’t hit the turntable in a few years, like Relient K’s MMHMM and Copeland’s Eat, Sleep, Repeat.

Even still, I find myself drifting back to my phone for updates and another refreshing of Twitter. I’m sure it’s been the same for many of you. But those moments of detaching my brain from the news and locking into some of my favorite songs has certainly provided some necessary intermittent reprieves. And it will have to continue doing so for a while. Like many others, I’ve seen my spring concert schedule evaporate, with Billie Eilish and Circa Survive postponing their dates until a later time. And without the distraction of sports or other live events, my record collection is certainly going to be getting a workout.

So what’s the point here? There isn’t one, really. Other than the hope that we’ll find some solace in the music we love while we get through this. We’ll continue providing some content for you along the way – we’ve got a new podcast coming later this week, along with some other fun features we hope you’ll enjoy.

But in the meantime, stay safe and stay smart about your activities outside the home. With any luck, we can contain the worst of this by protecting each other with our actions. Throw on your favorite records, queue up your best playlists, and use this social distancing time as a chance to get re-acquainted with some of the songs you’ve lost touch with. Music has a great way of filling in the silence.

by Kiel Hauck

Kiel Hauck is the editor in chief at It’s All Dead. Over the past decade, he has been a contributor for multiple pop culture outlets and was previously an editor at PopMatters. Kiel currently resides in Indianapolis, IN with his wife, daughter, and their imaginary pet, Hand Dog. You can follow him on Twitter.