Instant Rivalry

Siblings Megan & Caleb Hutton: Singer/songwriters, producers, owners of Back Forty Productions, Picton, Ontario

How has the pandemic affected you?

Instant Rivalry released their debut country album, Whiskey and Lead, in December 2019, with two sold-out album release concerts at The Regent Theatre and The Old Church Theatre. Early in 2020 we were selling out venues. Our debut single Ho Down had been picked up by 36 radio stations in North America and was beginning to get rotation in Europe.

As we geared up for their first tour to support Whiskey and Lead, COVID-19 happened. It was a mental shock at first. We had invested in ourselves by independently recording, producing, releasing and promoting this album and tour and by the end of March, everything was canceled.

Where have you found inspiration?

It was a love of our community that made us accept what we couldn’t change, stay strong and want to give back to the region. On March 17, we hosted a St. Patrick’s Day Party live stream with The Frere Brothers at our recording studio Back Forty Productions. Typically, on a St. Patrick’s Day, you could find us and the Freres at the Waring House Barley Room Pub, performing to a packed house. Due to restaurant closures, this couldn’t happen, so we livestreamed. That livestream had over 11,000 views and kick started two livestreams a week with Instant Rivalry LIVE from the Back Forty.

How did you manage your collaboration(s)?

We had an existing partnership with Tri-Canadian Energy, a solar company based in the County, and had exciting plans for summer touring, music videos and more. Knowing we wouldn’t be able to do those things during the pandemic, TCE partnered with us to power our livestreams.

With their help, Back Forty Productions has become one of the only solar powered recording studios in the world with one of the only solar powered livestreams.

TCE and Instant Rivalry decided instead of putting up a virtual tip jar, we would instead give back to the community with cash prizes and other giveaways. We’ve had some teary moments when we get messages from prize winners who tell us that the cash prize allowed them to buy groceries that week, or it made them happy, but the most touching was the story of a little girl with alopecia areata who got her first human hair wig with the prize money.

Outside of livestreaming, we volunteered to help 99.3 County FM in Picton, Ontario produce our sixth annual radiothon in a COVID-19 safe manner. We also recorded and created a music video for Jason McCoy’s We Are One challenge, which included 20 local musicians and raised money for the COVID-19 Relief.

We have taken part in two Unison Benevolent Fund fundraisers through The Next Country Music Star and Kansas Stone’s Together We’re Strong music videos and have been mixing music for other artists, providing advice and helping other artists get their livestreams up and running. During the summer months we will continue to livestream and broadcast. On Canada Day we safely broadcasted multiple local bands and events with Back Forty Productions to provide a sense of normalcy and patriotism for the community. Depending on how this virus evolves or dissipates, we will be ready to provide art virtually or in person.

How has this affected your perception of the importance of art and artists?

It is important to us to be leaders during a time like this and offer inspiration to other artists and people. We knew from the beginning we wanted to offer an artistic getaway for people to get relief from the state of the world in the news. We can’t help but think of the 60’s and how musicians became the voice of a revolution.

This time has given us even more of an appreciation of the artistic community and widened our perception of just how cherished art is by everyone.

instantrivalry.com