London-based singer-songwriter and artist Adam Wedd has been building a name for himself touring around the UK, Europe and America and after listening to his music, it is immediately obvious why listeners love him.
Wedd pours so much emotion and sincerity into every single track that he produces and every single lyric that he writes.
His latest EP ‘pop goes the indie kid’ launches today. The five-track EP showcases his ability to move masterfully between different moods with a voice that can soar to joyous and uplifting heights and also convey nostalgia and gentleness in quieter, more reflective moments.
‘pop goes the indie kid‘ will be my soundtrack for this weekend and many more to come!
It was a pleasure to speak to Wedd ahead of the release of his EP about how he started out in music, his standout gig and what the rest of this year holds for him…
How did you first learn to play/sing/write?
When I was 15 years old, I borrowed my dad’s guitar because he was having lessons. We had a family holiday on a canal boat on the Norfolk Broads and I remember sitting on the roof writing songs about the girl I couldn’t get.
Which artist has had the biggest influence on your sound and why?
I would have to say Celine Dion for the songwriting and passion, and Tom Waits and Johnny Cash as they helped me embrace the baritone in my voice.
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your EP ‘pop goes the indie kid’?
‘pop goes the indie kid’ is a bunch of songs written about a night out, starting with the anticipation, getting ready, how to do your hair etc., and then it takes you through the different emotions you may experience and it ends with a quiet song at home just before you go to sleep, reflecting on yourself and the world around you.
What was the process of creating the EP like? Any highs and lows?
To be honest, it’s been taking a while, purely because I’ve wanted to get this right. It’s expensive to create a record yourself, with no label and I’ve been wanting to pay everyone involved with the project so things have taken a little more time.
There was a time when this record wasn’t going to be released as life just got too difficult, but I’m so pleased now that it’s coming out into the world!
What makes this your “best work to date”?
The honesty of the writing. It’s been the first project that I’ve been able to connect with as an artist and I enjoy marketing it.
Of all the tracks on the EP, which one is your favourite and why?
I wouldn’t have any favourite children or pets, so I don’t think I could do it with a song. But I enjoy playing ‘party (like the 1st time)’ live. The audience really get behind it, but then I also love the vulnerability of ‘different‘ and ‘ok‘.
You have played thousands of shows across the world. Which venue and crowd stands out to you the most and why?
Nurenberg, in Germany, was very special. The audience sang with me so loudly in English and I was a little bossy with them when I was trying to speak German, but somehow the vibe seemed just right.
Do you have a dream venue or festival that you would like to play at and why?
Koko in Camden, which I was about to play but then the tour got moved. Other than that – the Rose Theatre in Kingston, my hometown, is a 900 capacity venue and it’d be really special to play there someday, and also Wembley stadium. I could see it from my bedroom window the past 6 months in my temporary accommodation and it gave me a real hunger to play there!
If you could swap places with any artist (dead or alive) for 24 hours, who would you choose and why?
Eddie Izzard! She is so eloquent in so many languages and can connect with all kinds of people from across the global community, and she actually has me in hysterics! I tend to turn to comedy more often than music in my downtime.
What can we expect from you over the next year? Any other releases planned? Future gigs?
Well, next year I have 2 EPs that I’m working to get out into the world and the year after, well that is another thing, hopefully an album!
I have headline shows in Berlin November 2nd, London November 17th and I’m really lucky to be jumping on a few We Three shows in Dublin, Birmingham and Brighton. We Three are just the most incredible band of the moment. I’m pinching myself that I get to open for them
To keep up to date with the latest news from Adam Wedd, you can follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To listen to their latest releases, head to Spotify, Soundcloud and YouTube.
By Eveline Vouillemin ©