Growing up in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Adam’s musical journey began when he wrote his first composition at age 12. Major label talent scouts quickly recognized Adam’s budding talent, and signed him to a record deal with Sony Canada when he was just 13 years old. After recording his debut album, Adam launched into life as a road warrior opening shows for the likes of Alan Jackson, Keith Urban and Lonestar. The lessons in performing and engaging a crowd turned out to be just as valuable to him as his math or science studies. “I was touring pretty heavily through junior high and high school,” says Adam. “I’d take my homework on the road, and then stand by the stage every night and sing every word to those artists’ songs. It was great to pick up a few pointers from those superstars.” Adam scored several top ten hits on Canada’s country charts throughout his teens, gaining a loyal following with the release of three studio albums. Now that he’s taking on America, Adam’s well aware of what it will take to repeat that success stateside. “You’ve got to remember that the fans are the boss,” Adam explains, “and I want to leave people wanting more when they go home. The most important thing is that they leave with a smile, and I’m going to make sure that happens. I’m the artist who stays after a show for four or five hours. I don’t care how long it takes. The fans pay money to come and see me, so I give it right back to them.” Moving to Nashville just under two years ago, Adam was quickly introduced to industry veteran Lawrence Mathis. Even though Lawrence was planning to leave the music industry, Adam’s undeniable talent and work ethic convinced him to change course and sign on as Adam’s manager. Through Lawrence, Adam met two people he now considers to be a part of his musical band of brothers, Music Row tunesmiths Lee Brice and Kyle Jacobs. Noted songwriter/producer Keith Follese, who Adam met several years prior to his move to Nashville, is also a part of this songwriting pack. “It’s really cool to have the music surround me all the time living in Nashville, ” Adam says. “I feel really comfortable with the people that I’ve met. I’ve become friends with these guys, and the songs are born out of that camaraderie.” One of the songs created from Adam’s songwriting circle is his first stateside single, “Crazy Days.” The tune hits home with Adam, who often finds himself away from those he loves for long stretches. “It’s about a guy that’s really busy, like me, who has to go out on the road,” Adam explains. “He makes a promise to the girl that he’s with that, ‘I’m going to come back for you. He makes that promise, and they go out to that place they met — back to the crazy days when they laid a blanket out on the beach, and first fell in love.” As heard on “Crazy Days,” one of Adam’s greatest assets as an artist is his distinctive vocal style. As the rest of the album unfolds, Adam covers a wide range of emotions with ease, from the intimate confessions made to a new lover in “Then She Cried” to the call to blow off steam from a hard work week in “Get it While the Gettin’s Good.” “I’ve always had a gravelly, deep voice,” says Adam. “Even when I was a little kid, it was high but had a husky tone to it. Through the years, my voice has matured. It’s gotten stronger. I feel like I’m coming into my own with the songs I’m singing and the way I’m singing them.” Adam’s desire to make music burns bright on this album and he’s quick to give credit to the spark that lit that flame on songs such as “What Would Jesus Do” and the transcendent look at the end of life with “When I Get There.” In fact, he says it’s the fuel for his entire musical career. “I believe God put me on this earth to sing,” Adam admits, “He’s blessed me with a gift, and I’m just so honored to share it with people. The important thing is that people understand I’m telling my story on this album. I’ve had more creative control on this project than ever before. Looking back on these songs, I can say without a doubt, ‘This is me’.” (02/08) |
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