Adam James
Pop/Rock/Jazz with strains of soul and classical music in it
1
songs
216
plays
You Are My Star You Are My Star
A pop/rock song with a slight reggae bent to it, especially towards the end. The hook has been described as Beatlesque.
If you like well written, well performed pop music that has a sense of history but also looks to the future, then Adam James is your man. Writing, arranging, producing, and performing (except for a few drum tracks here and there) his own music, Adam James draws on a lot of influences outside the norm and even outside music itself!Band/artist history
Adam James has been around music since he was a child. Born into a musical family, his father a jazz pianist and drummer and his mother a classical violinist, Adam grew up hearing lots of classical and jazz music instead of the rock most kids grew up with.
“My parents didn’t own rock records, so what I liked and listened to as a child was stuff like Chick Corea, (jazz singer) Mark Murphy, Mozart, and show tunes like the West Side Story soundtrack.”
With his parents insisting that he take lessons on classical piano he got the chance to play some of the classical music he’d grown up hearing. Picking up trumpet at age 10, he would start playing jazz and getting into improvisation.
At 16, however, an uncle played him a copy of Nirvana’s “Nevermind” album while on a family trip and he was hooked. He took up bass and finally guitar in order to be able to play the rock songs he loved.
“I’d heard Nirvana here and there but finally hearing the whole album.it was like a religious experience, I couldn’t get enough of it. I would take the tape out of my uncle’s car and go sneak off to listen to it. It was the first time I experienced the power of rock music.”
After playing in a couple bands in high school he got to college and realized that he would have to start writing songs. His initial efforts were successful enough and he soon co-founded a band called Crimson Shift that would showcase some of his writing material. The band continued for 5 years while all the members were in school but broke up after graduation. He also began playing jazz semi-professionally while in school, where his budding jazz abilities continued to develop in addition to pursuing a degree as a classical guitarist.
After graduating, Adam took a year off to work on material, and began working on songs without the benefit of other musicians. He reconnected with the piano, an instrument he’d left behind years earlier, and worked on his bass and rock guitar chops. Making enough demos for three full-length records, he also took up playing drums to make them complete.
“I love playing different instruments for different reasons, but they all tie in with one another too. For instance, I think my guitar style has gotten more percussive as a result of taking up drums.”
After a friend convinced him to move down to Atlanta, Adam began taking in the scene, co-founding one band, being recruited and touring with another, and still having enough time to pursue a solo career.
Adam James’ solo work is a mix of the pop/jazz of Sting, the funk/rock of Prince, the harmony of jazz, and the impassioned stylings of Jeff Buckley. He creates the illusion of a band all with one guitar by using effects in conjunction with his solo guitar style developed by playing classical and jazz.
“I think it’s boring when someone just gets up onstage with a guitar and just strums. I strum too sometimes, but I like the sound of a band, and since I don’t have a band right now, I have to make it sound like I do. My thumb plays the bass-lines, I can slap the strings or record a loop for percussion, and use my other fingers for chords. I also like to improvise live, so if I decide to do that, I have some options as far as sounds and/or textures go.”
A victory at Atlanta’s Eddie Attic Open Mic Contest cemented his decision to pursue a solo career. Having all sorts of material he wanted to get out that wasn’t appropriate for either of the bands he is playing in, he decided the only way he’d be able to play these songs was by himself. It also marked his return to playing guitar in a rock/pop format.
“I haven’t played guitar in a real band since high school. Everyone needs bass players and singers, and since I could play bass and sing, those were the kind of gigs I got. I like doing that, but my main instrument is still the guitar so it’s been nice to get back to singing and playing guitar. ”Have you performed in front of an audience?I love to play live. I get so tired of the studio after awhile. Part of the reason I like playing alone is because I can improvise (I am a dyed in the wool improvisor) without having to be constrained by anything else. So far I've been playing around Atlanta at places such as Vinyl, The Red Light Cafe, and Eddie Attic (where I won an open mic competition!) and have been enjoying it.
Your musical influences
I normally hate discussing influences because they tend to lead people's ears in directions they wouldn't normally go to when listening to someone's music. But my big ones are, in no particular order: Sting/The Police, Prince, Miles Davis, Jeff Buckley, the city of Atlanta, Love, Hate, George Carlin, Claude Debussy.What equipment do you use?
Guitars:
Guild X-500 Jazz Guitar
Samick FB-3
Alavarez-Yairi classical guitar
Bass: Fender Precision w/ Active electronics
Keys: Fender Rhodes w/ Rhodes Stereo Speaker Cab.
Drumz: Don't have any right now :(
Effects: Boss DD-6 Delay, DS-1 Distortion, DOD Chorus, vintage MXR Phase 60
Amps: Fender Blues DeVille 212, Peavey KB-100 modified with a Black Widow bass speakerAnything else?
Check out www.adamjames.net (Yes i AM a promo whore a "promosexual" if you will)Contact
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Comments (3)
hey we be nieghbors !! I work in Atlanta. but live just north of Marietta. please let me know if you post any new songs.. would love to hear them !! see ya...... LeRhay
Great Song !! you have a great voice..
has a great hook to it. even from the start !! good luck !!
Hey! I've finally got this SoundClick page up and running and I couldn't be more excited! Hope you enjoy the music and words! A.
