‘Indie Revolt’ interview – Adam Rose

Today’s Indie Revolt column has us sitting down with Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Adam Rose, an actor/musician who just made the jump from NYC to the west coast.  Adam’s Led Zeppelin influence and REM-ish sound had him sharing the stage with bands like LA Guns and Jeff Timmons from 98 Degrees this past year, and he’s just about to release his debut album this summer.  Here’s what Adam had to say about where he feels the indie music industry is headed:

 

What is music to you?

 

Music to me, aside from a form of expression, is a search for truth, and a search for meaning. It could be a personal truth: “What am I supposed to do when the best part of me was always you?” from the Script.  A social/political truth, which Neil Young is brilliant in conveying with lyrics like “what if you knew her and found her dead on the ground? How can you run when you know?” Or a spiritual truth like “my soul is painted like the wings of butterflies. Fairytales of yesterday will grow but never die. I can fly my friends” from Queen’s The Show Must Go On. Those lyrics were written by Freddie Mercury as AIDS consumed his mind and body just months before his death. So in short, music to me is truth.

 

Where do you see the music industry headed in five years?

 

I see genres being redefined, potentially new styles being formed. Artists will need to be even more versatile and be able to perform/write/record in different genres. I think Lady Gaga is a great example of this. She can sing pop, rock, standards, etc. She can play the piano. She is an incredibly well-rounded artist who can also bridge the gap between audience and fan demographics.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

 

I wish it could be about the music and the talent all the time, but I know it can’t be. It’s about more than that, like the audience, the amount of fans, the image, etc. I wish the music industry could be like the blind auditions on the TV show The Voice. All you can go by is the voice, and the songs. Nothing else matters.

 

When it comes to the music business, name one band/artist that’s “doing it right.”

 

I think one of my all time favorites and biggest influences is doing it right: Robert Plant. Not only is he a killer vocalist/songwriter, but he is constantly reinventing himself. He doesn’t rely on his Led Zeppelin fame, instead he continues to progress and evolve as an artist. His new project: Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters is incredibly well-received, he is touring the world, he is on a new record label, and the music is unique and original. He is pushing the boundaries of today’s music, just like Led Zeppelin did in the 60’s and 70’s. He is definitely an original.

 

What’s the biggest challenge that emerging bands/artists are facing these days?

 

I think the challenge is getting heard by audiences and labels alike. Getting the material out there. In this technological age, it is easy to self-publish and produce music. The challenge is getting it heard, creating a fanbase, and creating a brand that resonates with people of all ages and from all walks of life. You know the old saying: If it was easy, everyone would do it!”