Kevin Bronson on July 1st, 2020

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It feels like the world might be right in the middle of Willow Stephens’ new collaborative single “Setbacks/Comebacks.” Check it out in today’s QUARANTUNES as the pop singer shares her Headspace, a wishlist and her personal playlist.

THE LATEST FROM WILLOW STEPHENS

Montana-bred, L.A.-based singer-songwriter Willow Stephens welcomes 2020 with a bang, releasing her debut album “All That Glitters,” which has more than a little bit of “Gold.” She calls her music “sultry casino pop,” and the album couples her velvety-voiced confessionals with tasteful production, whether the songs spring from glowing keyboards (“Lullaby”) or warm guitar (“Paper Cranes”).

This week, Stephens returned with “Setbacks/Comebacks,” a collaboration with keyboardist-producer Jaye Locke. The song was birthed pre-pandemic, but it feels as if the storyline could be happening right now.

HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MANAGE THE ‘STAY AT HOME’ EDICT?

It took a few weeks to get my feet under me, but I’m finally starting to get my groove back. On a personal sanity level, I’ve really been enjoying the app Headspace for mindfulness and meditation. They made all their content free for residents of Los Angeles County. On the professional front, I figured out a way to do ticketed shows through YouTube live and even figured out a way to feel like I’m playing with my band. We did a social-distanced entry for the Tiny Desk Contest earlier this spring.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN THIS IS OVER?

Hugging my friends. Getting back in the studio with my co-writers. Experiencing the magic of live music again.

ANYTHING WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS PLAYLIST?

These are the artists and songs who have been keeping me inspired and sane through the pandemic frenzy and fallout. They’re also the artists who I’m most looking forward to seeing live when this is all over.