Adam Ezra Group – The Album Project

By starrymag | April 28, 2021

By: Paige Zinaman

 

 

 

Q) Congratulations on the release of “All Right Today!” This single is such a powerful message, please talk a little bit about the song and how it came to be.

A) We’ve done a bunch of touring over the years with our friends in Rusted Root. Their music, but in particular their song “Send Me On My Way,” has such a beautiful, positive, tribal feel to it. It was while on tour with them that I first began writing “All Right Today.” Although it was written years ago, it’s become a recent addition to our catalog and, especially during this last year it’s really felt like a mantra for us as a band, particularly our belief in the power of community to overcome adversity.

We used this term, “the village,” to guide our strategy in the studio…many voices singing harmonies and many, many percussion instruments borrowing polyrhythms from all over the world. We wanted it to feel like we were singing this song alongside a global village.

Q) “All Right Today” is from your recording series called The Album Project. This project is so interesting because we’ve not really seen it done before. Tell us about of the concept and how this is a such a unique way to drop new music.

A) Like everyone else, this last year has turned our world upside down, yet through all of the hardships we have learned so much about the things that inspire us. Realtime, honest connection with our listener community has become central to who we are as performers and we wanted to carry this concept into our recording strategy as well. We began tackling nineteen new songs in the studio and have decided to release them one at a time, as we finish them. The Album Project is kind of an ironic title as over the next few years we will be releasing singles in a very un-album-like way…

I also suspect that the list of songs we’re working on will grow as I continue to write and share more new songs with our fans, so this may even turn into a perpetual, steady music release for us as long as we can keep it up.

Q) Your newest and second single is called “Switching to Whiskey.” What do you think it is about this song that made it a fan favorite? 

A) I love this question because I think this song’s popularity with our fans is really interesting. Written with great songwriter, Clint Daniels, “Switching to Whiskey” is a simple, very singable song…unusual for me as a writer. Also unusual is that it leans more country than a lot of our other songs.

In addition, I think this is a unique song as it can be listened to a few different ways. Who doesn’t love a good drinking song, right? Our fanbase knows I like to drink whiskey at shows and I think when played live it’s a nice excuse to pour another and belt it out. This song; however, can also be listened to on a deeper, darker level. It actually tells a very visual story of a broken-hearted fella at a bar, hearing a song that triggers such sad and vivid memories that he actually has to switch to whiskey in order to numb his pain and despair. You’d think that this subject matter wouldn’t quite work as a celebratory live sing along, right?  Me too.  Man, I love the weirdness of music sometimes…

Q) We are a year in on the pandemic, during quarantine you created a live streaming show for your fans called “The Gathering Series.” We’ve seen many performers take to live streaming. In doing the series, has there been a favorite moment you can think of?

A) It’s a little bit surreal to think about how much livestreaming I’ve done over this last year.  It’s truly been the craziest and most inspiring thing I’ve ever been a part of as an artist and, while I appreciate that you’ve seen a lot of performers take to livestreaming, I’m not sure you’ve heard another story like ours…

It started on March 13th last year. I was supposed to be opening for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes down in Clearwater, FL. It was a Friday night, the news had just announced it an official pandemic and, while I had no idea what that really meant at the time, I canceled on Johnny and found myself home on a Friday night. I was scared. I was sad. I decided to livestream, not so much to perform as much as simply connect to our community of listeners. In the moment I honestly just wanted to feel less alone. Hundreds of fans joined me online and I realized that, though we were all isolated, scattered around the country and from all different backgrounds, we were all experiencing the same thing together. That was powerful to me and I decided to do the same thing the next night, during which hundreds more joined me. This continued to happen each night. We began calling it “The Gathering Series” and as the pandemic storm continued to spiral, The Gatherings became this consistent, grounding space in which we could all touch down each evening. As of today, we’ve Gathered every single night for over 400 nights in a row…

Ironically, even though our touring life has flipped upside down, we are finding ourselves, for the first time as a band, literally reaching millions of people all over the world. There are good days and bad days, inspiring moments as well as complete train-wrecks, but I stay committed to being live each night at 7pm for our Gatherers, no matter where I am or how I’m doing. Thinking back on the last year, there are many moments I am embarrassed by and many I’m proud of…shows with my band, nights with guests, a week during which I was sick with COVID, a twenty-four hour non-stop livestream for our veteran heroes, road trips, thunderstorms, you name it.  What a journey to be on…

No matter what ends up happening with our tour or my career moving forward, I’m sure “The Gathering Series” will forever remain a core part of who I am as an artist.

Q) What is your process for creating a song? For you what comes first the music or the lyrics?

A) Different songs unfold differently, but I think that for the most part a song will start with a feeling, often one I’m not totally aware of.  When I sit down to play, that feeling will often express itself, usually through whatever instrument I’m playing (usually guitar). There is often a great moment for me when music (instrumental or vocal) taps into that emotion. It’s what I imagine a dog must feel like when he realizes he’s on the scent of a nice t-bone.

From there it’s often then a matter of figuring out what that feeling is and deciding whether or not the story or imagery will be autobiographical. There are so many ways to tell stories. There are so many ways to unfold a song. I love that it’s a place I get to go that has absolutely no rules and is only limited by my own imagination and creativity…

Q) As your album becomes completed how do you decide which song will be the next single to be released? What is that process like?

A) Great question! I’m not sure!! We wanted to release “All Right Today” first because of its message and spirit. “Switching To Whiskey” was the fan favorite release to celebrate 365 Gatherings in a row. The next two upcoming songs, (“Devil’s Kiss” & “Alive”), are very different from each other, but both COVID-inspired songs. We want to release them as soon as we can, while they are relevant and resonating deeply with the things we’re experiencing each day.

As of a week ago, we now have the mind-blowingly incredible Jerry Douglas playing dobro on a new song of ours called “High Desert Woman,” so we’re all super-itchy to release that!

Not sure what we’ll feel like digging into next…such a fun ride to be on!!

Q) Who were some of your music influences growing up?

A) My mom has always been my biggest influence. Her name is Joanne Hammil and she is a great singer/songwriter, choral director and music educator. She also surrounded me with folk music and folk musicians growing up. Because of her, writing songs and engaging in social activism has always just been something I knew I was going to be able to do if I wanted. I’m so lucky for that, right??

I have this friend who started a school in her 30’s. That’s right, she just started a school. When I heard that, it was amazing to me – that starting a school is something a relatively young person can just decide to do! Then, I learned that her parents had started a school and it dawned on me: how much our own sense of what we are capable of is truly shaped by those we love.

I talk to people so often who tell me they have no idea how I’m able to write songs the way I do. I truly believe that writing songs is a process that ANYONE can learn how to do in an impactful way. I’m just lucky that I had a good role model, so I always just knew it was something I could do.  For me, turning that into a career is where all the hard work comes in…

Q) You are a part of social media. Feedback and support are instantly at your fingers, what is it like to see all that come your way?

A) I like this question because it’s been on my mind as of late. I’ve always thought of social media as a necessary evil for me…something I had to do in order to be an artist, like doing the dishes or mowing the lawn. I’ve come to a different place though after all that has happened in the last year. Without our ability to tour, social media has been the lifeline that has not only kept our community together and engaged, but actually allowed us to grow and spread our music and message around the world. Even the ways we listen to music and watch videos have become a form of social media, as fans continue to share and spread the art that inspires them.

What’s more, as I’ve continued to embrace connection through livestreaming and posting, I’ve learned that those connections can be every bit as meaningful as an in-person experience…just different. I’m coming around to it more and more and like thinking about the ways our connection to people through social media can be as real and honest as possible.

And, yes, it’s pretty awesome to be able to feel or think a certain thing, post about it and immediately get reaction from a whole lot of people. It’s also a dangerous thing for me, as not all of my immediate reactions to things are well thought out. I can be as full of shit as anyone else sometimes and I recognize that social media can also become an echo chamber for people who simply want constant positive feedback to their own thoughts and feelings. I think it’s important for me that as our following grows, I continue to surround myself with critical thinking people who are not afraid to challenge me.

Q) At the end of the day, what message do you want fans to take away from your music?

A) For me, great art happens when an artist can express the things they’re feeling uniquely and honestly and somehow their uniqueness can describe something universally human to which we can all relate. I guess I hope that a listener can experience their own range of emotions and experiences through my songs and through our performances feel connected and hopeful for the things we can achieve together.

Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters of your work?

A) Thank you for inspiring me every single day. The community you’ve created is my proudest accomplishment as an artist…

 

All Questions Answered By Adam Ezra

 

 

 

 

Watch The Video For “Switching to Whiskey”