ALLENTOWN, Pa. (WLVT) — A Lehigh Valley songstress has penned a pandemic song that reflects on her time spent at home.
The year started out as a good one for singer and songwriter Stacy Gabel. She picked up five Lehigh Valley Music Awards, including one for her song "Straight to Voicemail."
But once the pandemic hit, Gabel says it took time for her to get her groove back.
"From the end of March until June, I feel like I did nothing. People kept saying, you must have a lot to write about. No! It was not a creative time," Gabel told PBS39.
With dozens of shows canceled, Gabel turned to video concerts to reach her fans.
"Honestly, it’s out of my comfort zone. I’m an in-person entertainer. Performing in front of a camera with no audience that I can see is so weird to me," she said.
Eventually, the writing process kicked back into gear.
"I always have a book by my bed and in my car to write down ideas," said Gabel. "You never know when inspiration is going to hit you."
That’s when she penned her newly released single “Stir Crazy.”
"The message of the song is to be kind and compassionate," said Gabel. "The pandemic brought us all close together — even though we’re far apart. The pandemic resonates with all of us around the world. Stir Crazy is for everyone."
She shared some advice for aspiring musicians.
"I’ve learned that you can’t give up," said Gabel. "I’ve been beaten down, had doors slammed, and I keep going. No pandemic is going to stop this girl from performing!"
Watch PBS39's interview with Gabel in the player below. CLICK HERE to check out her music.