By Troy Watkins
For Seth Gemme ’07, M.D., being a doctor during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic isn’t enough. To offer his patients and families some sense of comfort, the Baystate Health Emergency physician put his musical talents to work and released a three-song extended play recording (EP) in April.
“Writing music is a way for me to express emotion,” says Dr. Gemme from the Springfield-based hospital. “Writing the melodies and creating the music helps me understand how events affect me. Once I started getting words on paper and the music laid down, it just flowed and is a great escape for me to express myself. When I am in the studio, time doesn’t exist; I forget about reality.”
The EP, titled “The River,” imparts the emotions experienced by Dr. Gemme as a health care provider. While studying at Westfield State, he worked as an emergency room technician at Baystate Noble. Dr. Gemme graduated in 2007 from Westfield State with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics; earned his medical degree from the University at Buffalo; completed his residency in emergency medicine at Brown University in Providence, R.I.; and worked at Noble for a few years before joining Baystate Medical Center last year. He is also assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School-Baystate.
Available on Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple iTunes, “The River” has helped some of his patients and their families through a difficult time via the messages and emotions conveyed in each song.
“One of my colleagues in the Emergency Department was coming home from a shift one night and turned on my music,” says Dr. Gemme. “She was moved by how much the song connected with her and what she had experienced with regard to COVID. She was so thankful to find comfort in the music and excited to share it with others.”
“The River” was produced by Jeff Lynch, an adjunct professor of music at Westfield State.
“Jeff was influential in my music and helped me co-write some of the songs,” says Dr. Gemme, who plays guitar and teams with Lynch in the folk pop band The Ship & the Shield, which performs gigs at regional venues.
Dr. Gemme has marveled at the support and camaraderie among local musicians during the pandemic—livestreaming nightly performances and promoting and sharing each other’s music.
“This has helped keep the music going while financially supporting the musicians through this challenging time.”
