Covid-19 Lockdown: What happens to music when we’re stuck inside?

Graphics by Magda Kanecka

Magda Kanecka | July 2026

Whether for positive, negative, or mixed reasons, it is safe to say the Covid-19 lockdown had us all confused when it first happened. Different countries took measures to keep safe as they knew it: all the while, toilet paper and surgical masks sold out worldwide.

Looking back, it was a very scary time, and many of us took necessary action to keep us safe and sane in the moment. For many, this meant a time of self-exploration and diving deep into previous or new interests. Naturally, music was often at the forefront of this: think diving into old fandoms or re-discovering fanfiction. 

More remarkably, music saw a time of experimentation, both in its production and how it was received on social media platforms, such as TikTok. Artists disguised hard-hitting lyrics under catchy melodies, and many former influencers rebanded to newfound artists – think Addison Rae and Dixie D’Amelio.

Without a doubt, all of these add to what we now call Covid nostalgia – a phenomenon of looking back at what was trending at the time, almost missing the atmosphere and trends that were present.

Music and fan cultures changed irrevocably in the post-Covid era: but what did this mean for the way music was at the time, especially for artists who were also stuck inside, unable to tour and resume their regular schedules? 

Experimentation in music

100 gecs, the Missouri-based hyperpop duo consisting of Laura Les and Dylan Brady, hit some of their highest-streamed days for their songs “money machine” and “hand crashed by a mallet” during the Covid lockdowns. The duo quickly rose into stardom following this, and eventually made their Coachella debut in 2022.

The streams were often thanks to TikTok’s utilisation of the tracks to showcase oversaturated, ‘alt TikTok’ aesthetic, led by over-the-top, drawn-on makeup, Monster energy drinks and bunny hats. For many, this was undoubtedly their first introduction to the genre of heavily autotuned, often looped vocals and an electronic production. 

While the genre already existed before their work, it is safe to say that at the time, 100 gecs helped break hyperpop into the mainstream, even if for a short period of time. For many, this was creative experimentation at its finest: with outlets and internet users describing the duo as “like nothing [they’ve] ever heard before”.

Songs that got us dancing

Once again, TikTok is highly relevant to this section. Because what else was there to do without the possibility of regularly going outside? You could read all the books you wanted, work on all the craft projects you wanted, and still, entertainment was there, in the palm of your hand, in the small device of your mobile phone. 

Choreography to trending songs was typically made by other users – there was no authority there. The most popular tracks in this were, amongst others, “Cannibal” by Kesha, “SUPALONELY” by BENEE & Gus Dapperton, “Say So” by Doja Cat, “ROXANNE” by Arizona Zervas, or “Savage” by Megan Thee Stallion. Once again, this is not a comprehensive list: if I were to list every trending song at the time, we would be here for a while.

The lasting impact of the viral TikTok dances did not only boost the artists into stardom, but also lingered for years after the Covid lockdowns. To this day, upon writing the titles of the songs, I can recall every dance move to each song. 

The songs were catchy, the dances fairly easy to pick up even for those with no prior experience, and with just a few hashtags at hand, artists often used algorithms to promote themselves, with some participating in the dance trends to their own songs. Without the possibility of tours, this was arguably the closest they could have gotten to connecting with their fans. Meanwhile, we all danced along.

Sad lyrics, happy melodies

This is a music trend that did not originate during Covid, and really, the stand-out thing for this trend was that it was relatable to everyone. We were all going through the same, brand-new experience of our lives almost taking a pause. Working from home quickly got lonely, not stepping outside of your garden isolated people from being able to see friends, and many people most vulnerable to the virus passed away, forcing periods of grief.

In this, as ever, music came to help. When you think of “Prom Queen” by beach bunny, “prom dress” by mxmtoon, or “death bed (coffee for your head)” by beabadoobee and Powfu, you notice the lightweight sounds that were trending during the pandemic first – but when you dig deeper, the lyrics were not as cheery.

For many, this was merely a means of coping with the difficult and new living conditions; and we cannot blame them. It is not news that music is a form of therapy, boosting dopamine into our brains. 

The calm melodies acted as a disguise, while the lyrics helped people feel understood and not alone at such an isolating time.

The era that led to rebrands as we know them

As mentioned previously, people often used social media algorithms to their advantage during this time: earning themselves brand sponsorships or influencer status. In her 2020 peak, the now-singer and model Dixie (Dixie D’Amelio) hovered between a consistent 54 to 55 million followers.

Artist WILLOW (Willow Smith) started her career as an actress in 2007; and her music debut came in 2010. During the pandemic, one of the most popular tracks from her was the catchy “Wait a Minute!”, originally released in 2015 as part of her “ARDIPITHECUS” album.

The biggest and most successful rebrand, however, must be credited to none other than Addison Rae. As one of the most popular TikTok influencers during Covid, she has a steady fanbase behind her before she made her musical debut in 2021 with the song “Obsessed”, the later EP “AR” in 2023, and her far bigger breakthrough with “Diet Pepsi” in 2024. 

Addison’s rebrand has been examined by hundreds of critics already, so to summarise: she waited until she built a steady social media presence and a loyal following before making any marketing changes. She archived all of her posts and cleared her accounts before revealing a new, carefully calculated persona and a new outlook on her music – both of which earned her main pop girl status.

Concluding remarks

I feel a strange sense of confusion whenever I see someone online saying they miss the Covid era. There is something nostalgic about it, for sure, purely for the reason that it is like no other experience we ever lived through at the time. But it is so conflicting for me to think back on that time, and recall the positives over the negatives – both mentally and physically, all around the world.

Out of all of them, admittedly, music was the one constant that prevailed and evolved, setting new trends and adapting to the different styles of promotion for artists’ releases. I still remember the first concert I went to post-Covid, and how refreshing it felt. 

Getting to examine this era in depth has not only been a throwback, but also a reflection of how rapidly times have changed in the past 6 years. To view the playlist that inspired this article, click here.