Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Jared Adams
On Jared Adams’ sophomore LP, Mystic Humanism, creative instincts roam. Hook-fuelled with baroque and indietronica flavouring, Mystic Humanism’s early 2000s-inspired alt-rock presents the Winnipeg singer-songwriter’s hot takes on the now: politics, the metaverse, AI’s imminent takeover, and earth’s unsteadying balance, all with messages searching for compassion and understanding, urging the importance of stepping back, looking closer, and reassessing, even when it’s hard.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
My first memory of music would be listening to children’s entertainers like Raffi and Fred Penner, as well as my mom singing Sound of Music songs to me.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
I’ve always had a passion for creating things as far back as I can remember and music kinda came into the picture in my teens when I started playing guitar. Basically from the time I started playing, I was writing music. I’ve just always had a desire to create things.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
I started my solo project in 2019 with performance at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival after my band Colour By Numbers (CBN) was unavailable do make the date. The music I had for this project was much different than the stuff we played in CBN and I felt like I needed an outlet for it. That Fringe show kinda gave the whole thing a kick start and since then I’ve put out two full length albums and a couple singles.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
I always have a hard time describing the sound but I like to say it’s very inspired by early 2000s bands like Radiohead, Gorillaz, and The Postal Service, though I don’t know if it really sounds like any of those bands. I’ve been compared to MGMT, Joe Jackson, INXS and the Smashing Pumpkins.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
When I went back to university, I often had to edit and revise papers I wrote and I ended up bringing that skill into music. I used to write music in a way where I would try to write the whole song in one sitting and if I didn’t get it done, I’d ditch it, but after having gone to university, I now come back to half written songs to finish them. If the idea’s good, it’s worth pursuing.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
I don’t know if there’s any specific tool or anything that’s essential to my creative process but I often write on guitar so maybe that would be the one thing, even then, I also write on piano or will start with a drum beat in Logic or something.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
I dunno how indie they are but I’ve been listening to a band called Winona Fighter a lot recently, they’re like a new punk/midwest emo band, super high energy, super fun.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
So much of my music is influenced by the things that happen in my life, the two are basically inseparable. Music is kinda that cathartic release to be able to process the thing that happen in my life.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
A lot of my recent work is heavily inspired by current events in the world and kinda my stance or take on things. I usually try to include some message of hope and change for a better future in my music
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
I don’t know if it’s so much a lesson but the power that music has to connect people is something I’ve learned from it over the years. It’s that connection with the audience I often seek when I’m on stage.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
I don’t know if I have any dream venue or festival, I just want to play to audiences who are engaged with the music, be it a bigger venue or a smaller one, packed house or not.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Honestly, there’s a lot of local artists that would be great to collaborate with like The Rangers and Doug McArthur to name a couple.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
http://www.jared-adams.com
https://www.instagram.com/jaredadamsmusic
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
I’ve been working on some new music with some releases planned for the not so distant future. Beyond that, I just want to get on more stages, play for more people and welcome in some new fans!
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
I hope that people will discover the passion I have for creating music and performing, and enjoy in that with me.
