VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:
Karl Schmid
Massachusetts native Alissa Musto was living out her dream as a cruise ship performer. But when the coronavirus nightmare halted cruising, she found an unexpected silver lining when she returned to her childhood home.
Sheltering at home during a pandemic was the last thing the three Musto siblings thought they’d be doing. Just a few months ago Will and Olivia were in college, while their oldest sister Alissa was traveling the world as a cruise ship entertainer.
Alissa Musto
I was living my dream. I was getting to see the most beautiful, exotic destinations. And then at night I went on stage, I got to perform for thousands of people.
Karl Schmid
But in January, 2020, news outlets started covering the coronavirus outbreak. There wasn’t an immediate threat to the ship, but by March, that all changed.
Alissa Musto
I got to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and the captain made the announcement the cruise would end. And that passengers needed to disembark and get home. So that’s when I realized like, okay, this is really urgent.
Karl Schmid
The next day, Alissa returned to her parents’ home, scared and jobless. But she was lucky. Other cruise lines quarantined their passengers, indefinitely.
Alissa Musto
I was heartbroken, but now I realize how lucky I was to be able to get home when I did, because shortly after the CDC issued a no-sail order.
Karl Schmid
Once again living under the same roof with her siblings has been challenging.
Alissa Musto
This is our first time living all together since I left for college, which was seven years ago. And it’s definitely been an adjustment.
Will Musto
It’s hard getting some bathroom time. It was hard, you know, a little bit more of a mess in the kitchen. But it’s been great so far. I’m happy that they’re back.
Olivia Musto
I had moved back home in December. So I was getting kind of used to being the only child. I then these two come back, and it was like, oh my God.
Karl Schmid
Alissa has always expressed herself through her music. While sheltering at home, she invited Will and Olivia into the creative process.
Alissa Musto
I got the inspiration for How Still based on the experience my friends and colleagues that are still on board those cruise ships.
Karl Schmid
The talented trio produced the entire song themselves.
Alissa Musto
I like to say we looked like a record label working in here. Will and I are working on the chords, doing the songwriting part. Olivia is doing the mixing, the mastering, you know, upstairs and in her bedroom, her studio.
Karl Schmid
Once the song was completed, they created a concept for a music video.
Alissa Musto
We took our iPhones and our lights, and watched music tutorials, and went to the local beach and started filming.
Karl Schmid
Alissa reached out to her cruise community on Facebook, and asked them to submit a personal message.
Alissa Musto
We had dozens of people from around the world, all different departments, all different positions, and all different messages.
Karl Schmid
Two weeks later, the song and video were completed, and posted on social media.
Olivia Musto
The response has been great. I sent it to all my friends, and Brittany shared it everywhere. All my friends, they love it. Our dad was like, “I can’t believe that this song came out of my house.”
Will Musto
It really is great to show insights of how something like that takes place. You know, it’s not just one person.
Alissa Musto
Right.
Will Musto
Putting together a song, but it definitely takes a team.
Alissa Musto
We’re at 17,000 views online, which is exciting though, that’s just been motivation for this to be the start of something.
Karl Schmid
With their first collaboration behind them, the Musto siblings look forward to creating more music together.
Alissa Musto
It’s not just me, and my music anymore, this is something that we all have, we can all start to make happen.
Karl Schmid
You know, the Mustos motivate us to find inspiration through adversity. Thanks guys.