Clinton Hoy from Singers and Original Songwriters Association Dubbo (SOMAD) said though the music industry has been hit hard, especially performance-wise, it has also opened up new opportunities.

Mr Hoy has used the time created by COVID restrictions to create two projects set to help local musicians.

"The first project, Mix Tape, is a project I've had in mind for a few years but have only just gotten brave enough to attempt it," he said.

READ MORE: UPDATEDTeenager on murder charge refused bail as court suppresses key details

"I'd been reminiscing about the "olden days" of compilation tapes and how a good mix tape could often introduce you to your new favourite band, so the idea was to indulge myself a little and try to create 10 songs in 10 different genres by 10 different artists - all by myself.

"Each track is delivered fortnightly by email so you never really know what's coming next - by the end of it, you'll have your very own mixed tape of new music, a lot of which won't be released publicly, so it's something special that I can share with people willing to get a little deeper into my music.

"The second project is called Outlines and it's my versions of some of my favourite songs by local artists - I hope it might show some of the amazing music that's being written locally and it's my way of supporting local music, I guess, hopefully by generating a heap of streaming royalties for the talented songwriters behind the songs.

READ MORE: Agent spotlight hits Dubbo with young auctioneers bound for saleyards

"I'm fortunate that I don't have to rely on music to put food on the table - I'd be pretty hungry if I did.

"I do think though, if you want to make music you will find a way and things might not ever be like they were but is that necessarily a bad thing.

READ MORE: Purchase of remote station for national park makes NSW history

"It's absolutely true that COVID has given me time, where I may not otherwise have had it, to work on some of these projects but usually my problem isn't coming up with ideas, it's finishing them, so it has been more of a mindset change of wanting to do something positive in 2020."

"For Mix Tape, I'd love to have people along for the trip, it's not an experience I've heard of before and I think it'll be something cool to be part of."

You can support the project, Mix Tape, at https://clintonhoy.com/mix-tape-experience.