IF you've picked up a newspaper or watched a TV news bulletin in the past three months it's been mostly doom and gloom.
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People have lost loved ones to the insidious coronavirus, livelihoods have collapsed overnight and many of us have suffered the mental anguish of social distancing measures.
However, amid the chaos some have found silver linings. The COVID-19 lockdown has forced families to pull the hand brake on many of their daily responsibilities and simply reconnect. It's been a unique chance to enjoy a simpler life.
That's been the experience for country-pop darlings The McClymonts.
In January eldest sister Brooke and her husband and fellow musician, Adam Eckersley, welcomed the birth of their second child and first boy, Elroy.
That took generation next to six, with the three McClymont sisters - Brooke, Samantha and Mollie - each having two children ranging from seven years to five months.
It's made for a hectic few years for the Grafton-bred sisters, who have won 13 Golden Guitars and two ARIA Awards to become one of Australian country's biggest success stories of the past 15 years.
Among the nappy changes, sleep deprivation and toddler tantrums, the trio have constantly toured and maintained a steady release of top-10 albums.
So while the music industry has been devastated by COVID-19, there have been some family benefits due to The McClymonts' enforced break.
"Normally the girls and I have a bag at the door ready to go," Samantha McClymont says. "We always have our suitcase out half packed or half empty, which ever day it is.
"We're always on the move so to actually stop and not have somewhere to be has been really unusual for us.
"We are trying to enjoy it, as we know this time with our kids won't ever happen again because we do need to get out on the road and tour and play, because that's what we do.
"We know to stay home and enjoy all these moments with our kids is really special."
Motherhood is central to The McClymonts' new album Mayhem To Madness, released on Friday.
It's the second album, following 2017's Endless, to be produced by the versatile Andy Mak (Vera Blue, Winterbourne).
Samantha admits the album title perfectly describes this era of the coronavirus pandemic, but it was unintentional.
"It sounds like we've written that song and had the title around COVID," she says.
"Everything was done before this all happened, so I'm like, 'Did we jinx ourselves having a title of an album called Mayhem To Madness?'
"It's funny, we thought our lives were mayhem and being out on the road is the madness as we're non-stop so busy.
"That was our lives and then this all came along and it's, 'Oh, I don't think we really knew what mayhem and madness was until now'."
The video for the album's lead single I Got This was filmed by Newcastle director Bradley Murname near Cessnock just prior to the COVID-19 lockdown.
It depicts a mother struggling to cope emotionally with a new baby, an older daughter and the drudgery of domestic life.
Samantha says the song was written as an affirmation as each of the sisters were "in the pit of motherhood" juggling parental and work responsibilities.
However, during COVID-19 the song has taken on new meaning.
"People are losing jobs and essentially we were out of a job for a long time, and hopefully we can get back out on the road later in the year, but it relates to what a lot of people are dealing with at the moment and just knowing you've gotta be positive," she says.
The McClymonts are taking a positive approach when it comes to touring Mayhem To Madness. Their rescheduled 27-date tour begins on September 4 at Goulburn Workers Club, despite COVID-19 restrictions only allowing a maximum of 50 people inside clubs and hotels currently.
Samantha is confident restrictions will ease further by spring if transmission rates remain on the current trajectory.
"I think things might look a little different from how we would normally play a show, but every industry is dealing with that," she says.
"We'll all make sure we follow the rules and regulations and just do whatever is required of us for that tour.
"Look where we've come in the last couple of months. Look where Australia is after a short amount of time, really.
"We've done so well and it's been really great to see the progression in the last couple of months.
"We are positive, but saying that, we will adjust and go with whatever is required of us to make things work."
The McClymonts' Mayhem To Madness Tour comes to Goulburn Workers Club (September 4), Doyalson RSL (September 18), Wests New Lambton (October 10), C.EX Coffs Harbour (October 23), Cessnock Leagues Club (October 30). Wests Nelson Bay (October 31), Southern Cross Club, Woden - Canberra (November 6), Launceston Country Club (November 27), Burnie Town Hall (November 28), Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre (January 8), Albury Commercial Club (January 9), Ulumbarra Theatre Bendigo (January 29), Ballarat Civic Hall (January 30).