Ear Up Against the Soundboard with Peter Bradley Adams
Peter Bradley Adams is a folk-pop Americana singer-songwriter from Birmingham, Alabama. In 2001, he co-founded the duo Eastmountainsouth, which was signed to DreamWorks Records in 2003 by Robbie Robertson (The Band). The duo found success with the single “You Dance,” and Adams’s cover of “Hard Times” was featured in Cameron Crowe’s 2005 film Elizabethtown.
Adams began focusing on his solo career in late 2004 and has since released seven solo records, with his latest, Are We Able, set for release this summer. His songs have appeared in more than 30 films and television shows in the US. In addition, his side project Down Like Silver, a collaboration with singer-songwriter Caitlin Canty, has released two EPs and numerous singles. We are excited to welcome him to Folk Music Week on June 13!
Co-producer and Host of Rancho La Puerta Music Festival, Carissa Stolting, recently sat down with him for a conversation about music, roots, and the creative life.
Carissa: You grew up in a musical family—your grandfather was a jazz musician. What role does family, ancestry, or intangible inheritance play in your music?
Peter Bradley Adams: There are two sides to this. Yes, my grandfather (on my mother’s side) was my first musical inspiration. His main instrument was clarinet, but he also played the piano beautifully, and as a kid, I would crawl under it when he was playing and press my ear up against the soundboard. Also, I grew up hearing my mom and her five siblings singing a cappella hymns in four-part harmony, and this continues to be a tradition whenever the family gathers.
All of this has been a huge influence on me. But at the same time, I feel like my music has strayed far from my family’s musical inclinations. So I don’t feel like I’m really carrying forward a family tradition. I’m sure they scratch their heads sometimes when they hear my songs.
Carissa: You’ve lived on the West Coast and traveled the world over on tour, but you also have deep connections to the South—from your childhood in Alabama, to education in Sewanee, and your current home just outside of Nashville, Tennessee. What brought you back to Tennessee after being on the West Coast? Does the South influence your creativity and music?
Peter: It’s interesting that my love for “southern” music really took hold while I was living in California. It’s almost like I had to go out there to find it. I think I was trying to find my own “southern” voice, and living in Los Angeles, I felt the freedom to explore that. I moved back to Tennessee really just to be around some musicians that I loved working with. And I still love it here, but the California lens remains.
Carissa: One of your most recent albums includes a beautiful instrumental piece, “Song for Viola.” Can you share the story of that song? What role do nature and (imagined) non-human perspectives play in your songwriting?
Peter: It’s interesting that you mentioned nature, because I wrote that piece for a documentary about the environmental impacts of urban development. They didn’t end up using it, but I reworked it and put it on that album. It just seemed to fit. And yes, I think nature and non-human perspectives can amplify writing about the personal human stuff.
Carissa: Many guests who come to the Rancho La Puerta artist retreat and folk music week are also musicians or creatives themselves. What advice would you offer to creative people who want to amplify their creativity in these times? How do you encourage yourself to continue to create?
Peter: My advice would be to keep honing in on your singular artistic voice, to really create your own world. I’m still trying to do that.
Caarissa: Rancho La Puerta offers guests an environment to receive deep rest and care. What practices do you have in place for taking care of yourself? And what do you most look forward to during your retreat week at Rancho La Puerta?
Peter: I’ve had a meditation practice since I was 19. I’ve never thought of it as self-care, because it feels so much bigger than that, but of course it comes with some great benefits. I’ve never been to Rancho La Puerta, so I’m excited to soak it up!
Join Peter the week of June 13, along with Amber Rubarth, Joy Clark, Kenneth Pattengale, Kyshona, Rosi Golan, Steve Poltz, Shorlette Ammons, Vera Sola, Carissa Stolting, and Jason Cupp. Learn more about our Folk Music Week.
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