INTERVIEW:
Connor Adams
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I am always interested in genuine songwriters…
who lay their hearts out there. That is not to say Connor Adams lacks bite and attack: his music matches passion and drive with a sense of calm and control. I was eager to talk about his new single, Adventure, and the video for it. Adams tells me about his music tastes and whether there is new material brewing; if there are any tour dates coming up – and whether he has set any goals to achieve this year.
Connor Adams shares his thoughts on last year and the albums that mean the most to him; what advice he would give to new songwriters; some great artists we should all pay more attention to – and why he wants Adventure to reach as many ears as possible!
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Hi, Connor. How are you? How has your week been?
Good, thank you! Busy as ever. A lot of rehearsing for a hometown show I’ve got coming up on 16th Feb. It is my third time playing the John Peel Centre in Suffolk - but this is the first time I’ve played the venue with a band. Super-excited!
For those new to your music; can you introduce yourself, please?
Sure thing! My name is Connor Adams. I’m a twenty-two-year-old singer-songwriter from Ipswich. I tour all around the U.K.; promoting my tunes to the world - my latest tour was supporting The Darkness…which was crazy-fun! I’ve been in the music business since I was seventeen and have self-released an E.P. called Locked Doors under the name of ‘Connor Ryan Adams’.
I woke up the day after its release and it was no. five in the iTunes Chart - a mad moment. Haha! Now, I’m known as ‘Connor Adams’ (goodbye Ryan). I’m set for the first national release of my brand-new E.P., Open My Eyes, in June.
Adventure, the new single, is released on 16th March. Can you talk about the origins and history of that song?
Do you ever dream of packing a bag and travelling to a place in the world that you’ve never seen before? I was struck by that feeling, whilst looking at the miserable British rain one day; so, I wrote a song about it. It was never meant to go on the E.P. but I sent it through to my producer and he said it was a must.
Now we’re here: a month after its release as the first single. Madness!
I like the video for the track. It is quite simple but seems to convey a lot of emotion. Whose concept was the video – and what was it like to film?
Thanks! We were originally set to film the video in Hawaii - but then I looked at my bank balance and decided Felixstowe beach would do the job! Haha
On a serious note: the video that we now have is better than any video we could have made in Hawaii. It’s perfect for the song because it shows myself in the typical, horrid British weather - dreaming of getting away on an adventure.
I’d done video shoots before, but none like this. I had a blast!
It seems like you had a busy and rammed 2017! You worked closely with Rupert Matthews. Is that going to spawn more material, would you say?
Definitely! Rupes is the producer I worked with on all six tracks of Open My Eyes. I’m super-proud of what we’ve created together - the guy is a genius! I took everything that I could from working with Rupe. His knowledge of music is unbelievable. He’s made me stronger as a musician and a writer - and I’m sure we’ll be working together again in the future!
How do you think you have grown and changed as an artist since 2016’s Locked Doors? Have you grown in confidence would you say?
I’ve definitely grown in confidence; purely through taking every gig that was thrown at me. I just went out there and, well, got on with it! I’d say my music has matured as I’ve grown a staggering two years older, musically and lyrically. I’ve met a lot of great friends in the music industry who push me as an artist every day!
Tell me about the music you grew up on… Were there particular artists who inspired you to get into music?
Well, first of all, my dad is the biggest Foo Fighters’ fan going - so that was always playing around the house. So, obviously, I became the biggest Foo Fighters’ fan - Dave Grohl is the man! My brother would always play Eminem, so that brought me into a different side of music. Then, I guess Mum would have Shania Twain going in the car - so I had a load of different genres, always on the go.
There was never a time where music wasn’t playing in my house!
Music means many different things to various people. Can you define how it moves you and what it means?!
There’s no other way for me to let go of a bad feeling than to put pen to paper and make a song out of it. It’s the same with every feeling - it’s a release process that I do every day. I’m so thankful for it. Life without music doesn’t exist for me.
It is everything.
IN THIS PHOTO: Saint Raymond
Who are the new artists you recommend we check out?
Saint Raymond, Gavin James and Dan Owen.
Big fan of these guys!
IN THIS PHOTO: Gavin James
If you had to choose the three albums that mean the most to you; which would they be and why?
Bullet in a Bible - Green Day
It was the first record I ever bought.
Multiply/X - Ed Sheeran
It is one of the (only) albums where I genuinely love every song.
Lastly; Stereophonics - Decade in the Sun
Kelly Jones is one of my favourite writers. Plus, his voice is pretty epic…let’s be honest; we all want that husky ‘smoke a thousand fags’ sound. Haha (without smoking them).
Can we see you tour soon? What gigs do you have coming up?
You sure can!
16th February - Open My Eyes Live, the John Peel Centre
In the Round tour with Jerry Harmon and Steve Young: 12th April the John Peel Centre; 16th April, King Tut’s, Glasgow; 17th April, The Castle Hotel, Manchester; 18th April, Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury; 19th April, The Slaughtered Lamb, London.
27th April - Connor Adams Live - the Cult Cafe Bar, Ipswich.
18th and 28th May - Supporting Emma Stevens at The Slaughtered Lamb, London and, also, Castle Hotel, Manchester.
All dates can be found through my social media (ConnorAdamsMusic).
I know you are appearing with Jerry Harmon on the In the Round tour. Have you worked with Harmon before? Are you looking forward to it?
I’ve never worked with Jerry - but I am certainly looking forward to it!
What do you hope to achieve, personally, in 2018?
There’s a list!
Recognition throughout the U.K. and beyond.
To play to a crowd of 10,000-plus.
A tour outside of the U.K.
For every single person in the world to have heard Adventure. Haha!
There’s many more…but these are a few that come to mind!
Have you got a favourite memory from your time in music – the one that sticks in the mind?
Walking on stage at the Norwich UEA; seeing all the artists that have played the venues on the wall. That show, in general, was pretty special for me.
What advice would you give to new artists coming through?
Take every gig offered to you at the start. Write as much as you can; carry a notepad or use the notes on your phone. Just go for it…why not?!
Finally, and for being a good sport; you can choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).
Of course, hmmm. Let’s throw it way back….
Dreams - Fleetwood Mac.
Absolute banger! Thanks, guys; hope you enjoy my record, C.A.!
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