Today we’d like to introduce you to Audrey Adams.
Hi Audrey, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My love for music started with my grandpa. He was in a barbershop chorus and would teach my sisters and I to sing the barbershop tags when we were little. I loved learning the different harmonies and making music together. I grew up singing and playing in church, performing in shows at our local community theater, and some days I would disappear out in the woods to write songs that would come to me. I didn’t say to myself, “Hey, I want to be a songwriter.” I would just sit down to play and song ideas would start to come to me. Songwriting felt like the therapy that you get from writing in a diary. I would sing through the experiences I was having, and it always seemed to make me feel better. I would play my songs for family and a few friends, but I was still pretty private about them….to be honest, I was pretty scared about what other people would think of me. My plan was to take the medical route. I was going to become a Physician’s Assistant and keep my love of music, theater, and art as a hobby. I figured people would take me a lot more seriously that way:) My freshman year of college, I was taking my medical classes, but I realized that all of my free time usually went towards music or theater. I switched to an arts major that year, and I finally got over myself to start playing at open mic nights. All the sudden I was booking gigs every weekend, and other artists were asking to collaborate with me. People seemed to be connecting with the songs I wrote in my bedroom, and it felt so special. I was signed to Audio 316 Records and released my first single “I Wonder Why” back in April, and I’ve continued to release music this year with more projects underway. This summer, I’ve been interning in Nashville, TN with Producer Stephen Leiweke of Yackland Studios and playing legendary venues like the Bluebird Cafe and Foxe & Locke. It is so wonderful to see how far I’ve come, and I’ve truly loved getting connected in the Nashville area.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have definitely been struggles. There are some people who know what they want to do from a young age. That is not my story. Although I’ve always loved music, it took me a long time to realize that I had a gift to share with the world (and that I could actually make a career out of it!). I’ve struggled with a lot of self-doubt along the way, and it’s always been my family that has encouraged me to keep going. As an artist, it seems like most of the time, my biggest problems come from inside myself. I tend to beat myself up over a mistake or compare myself to others. I’m still working on this, but thanks to my family and friends I can say that I’ve come a long way.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a singer-songwriter and musician. I am influenced by artists like Paul McCartney, Eva Cassidy, Joni Mitchell, and Taylor Swift, and my music is a blend of country, folk, and pop styles. I am most proud of my latest song release, “If You Only Knew,” because it is probably the catchiest song I’ve ever written. It is a fun, “feel-good” song about being secretly in love with someone that you’ve known for a long time, and so many people have told me that they have it playing on repeat! I’d say what sets me apart from the other women in my area of music is that I put a strong emphasis on two things: musicianship and authenticity. As a musician, I’ve always looked up to female guitarists like Bonnie Raitt and Eva Cassidy, and I have worked very hard to perform with skill in both my playing and my singing. Secondly, I play music because I truly enjoy it, and it is a place where I can be myself. Both onstage and in my songs, I give the audience a picture of who I really am. Many artists walk onstage and immediately put on a persona. I always strive to be 100% myself and to be open and honest with those who come to see me perform.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
I would say the most important thing that I’ve learned so far is to trust and listen to the people around you who truly love you. As artists, it is very easy to get in our own heads and talk down on ourselves, and that is why it is so important to have people around you that will tell you the truth about your work. We can’t always trust our own judgement, and we need other people to help us!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/audreyadamsmusic
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audreyadamsmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100049430506168
- Other: Link to “If You Only Knew’ – https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/audreyadams/if-you-only-knew
