Meet Matt Adams

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Adams.

Matt, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I grew up in Orange County, California and started off as a cartoon/comic illustrator until l I picked up a guitar in High School and have yet to put it down. Along the way, I learned the drums, keyboards, bass and a dozen or so other rock and folk instruments as well as learning how to record and produce myself and my friends. In the early 2000’s I moved to LA, then SF a few years later, then back to LA in 2011, and now I spend half my time between Echo Park and Joshua Tree. Over the years I’ve released over 20 albums, toured the US a dozen times, Europe 6 times, Brazil 3, and Japan once. Recently I’ve re-introduced the illustrator/visual artist side back into my life, working on my own band designs as well as doing artwork for the Grateful Dead, folkYeah & countless other bands and promoters around the world.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
My music is inspired by Californian culture and nature. The beach, desert, mountains, weed, the music history, the weather, the people. I’m a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter, recording myself and countless others as well as producing and arranging. I fell in love with rock music from the 60’s & 70’s so my songwriting and style generally reflect that, but I listen to everything from ragtime to reggae. I even played classical piano as a kid. As for my lyrics and general feel, I have a sense of optimism, talking about day to day things that sometimes relate to a deeper concept or meaning with catchy melodies and hooks along the way. I try to make it sound simple and breezy with complex chord sequences and specific locked in rhythms tying it all together. As for my illustrations, I was inspired by my childhood children’s book artists and cartoon illustrators like Dr. Seuss, Looney Tunes, Shel Silverstein, Ren & Stimpy and later into 90’s comic artists like Sam Keith and eventually, I got into comix of the 60’s and 70’s. I hand draw it all and color it on the computer. As for why I create music and art, it’s because it’s a necessity for me, having ideas and feelings that need be expressed and shared.

Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
I think everything has become more accessible to people over the years to create art so as a result, every corner of the art and music world has become incredibly oversaturated, making it difficult for some artists and audiences to navigate through all of it. I’m not sure if it’s easier or harder because I’ve only heard from people that were around then. But my understanding was there were less people doing it, a smaller network, and there were less media outlets. Nowadays it seems most media and people’s attention spans are pretty short so it’s harder to constantly stay current. That being said, it’s great that everyone has the tools to connect with people all over the world and to find their audience.

As for what cities can do to encourage the arts? Maybe keeping the rent more affordable so artists can stay in the city and keep making it interesting and beautiful. It’s a recurring story where artists move to a neglected part of town, beautify the area with art, and then prices go up and they have to relocate. Most of all the great cities are too expensive for your average artist to live. Other countries seem to support the arts a bit more than the US as well, but we’re also a much bigger country. There’s a lot of politics involved with that, but when you hear about how Canada or Sweden supports their local artists it’s incredible and it’s unfortunate America can’t do the same. That being said, there are grants and scholarships available; you just have to know where to look.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I have a website and I’m on all the social media with an art and music Instagram, Facebook, Bandcamp, Soundcloud, Twitter, etc. The best way to support me would be to buy some of my merch, prints or better yet, commission me to make some art or even music.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.theblanktapes.com
• Email: mjadamsart@gmail.com theblanktapesbooking@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblanktapes https://instagram.com/mattjadamsart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blanktapes/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/theblanktapes
• Other: https://theblanktapes.bandcamp.com

Image Credit:
The close up face photo with shades photo by Jeff Milton, Thepsychedelic light show band photo by David Lacroix, All art by Matt Adams.

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