An Interview With The London Singer-Songwriter, ADAM FRENCH!

Adam French is one of the most buzzed about new stars on the London singer-songwriter scene around his recently release EP You From The Rest out now via Play Nice / Communion Records. Produced by Rich Cooper (Mystery Jets, Lucy Rose, Billie Marten, Tom Odell), You From The Rest is a beautiful, intimate collection of tracks. It follows on from Adam’s recent Weightless EP which was released at the end of 2017.

You From The Rest is an empowering mixture of whispers and echoes, culminating in one underlying question: ‘do I truly know you?’ Adam elaborates… “You From The Rest is a song I’ve wanted to write for quite a while. It’s about the emotional benefit of removing toxic people from your life, and starting to fully appreciate those who bring positivity, love and fulfilment to it… our time here is short, I think it’s always important to remember that.” 

Adam is one of the most interesting singer-songwriters currently operating, and 2018 will see him touring throughout Europe and the UK. Having already supported and shared the bill with the likes of Jack Garratt, Jake Bugg, Jacob Banks and Rat Boy.

Learn more about Adam French in the following All Access interview:

Where does this interview find you now? What’s on tap for the rest of your day? 

I just rounded off a UK headline tour followed by a few festivals, so I’m currently sat with my feet up, doing as little as possible for the day… But my guitar is giving me the eye, and I’ve wanted to tie up a few new songs recently, so we’ll see.

Overall, how do you think 2018 has been treating you and your music career? What has been one goal that you have had this year and how close are you to reaching it? 

2018 has been good to me so far, my London headline show last month was in a venue I told myself I’d do by the end of the year and we sold it out so that one was nice to tick off the bucket list I guess.

Growing up, was music always a big part of your life? Can you recall your first ever musical experience? 

Yeah music’s always been important, though I didn’t come from a musical family. My dad’s record collection definitely played a role in pushing me towards wanting to be a musician. My first ever musical enthusiasm was really really early, I had a copy of Disney’s ‘Fantasia’ on VHS as a toddler that I was unhealthily obsessed with and insisted on watching over and over, just talking about it now, I can see and hear it in my head.

What has been the biggest surprise so far about making music your career? Has there been an unexpected or welcome challenge to it all?

It’s hard to find good people to surround yourself with, as in industry professionals… ‘the team’ needs to care for you as a human being, not just look at you as a statistic. The music industry is still learning that the hard way. Thankfully my guys and gurls have my back, but others aren’t so lucky and I had a rocky road with others before finding the right people to work with.

How do you think you and your music have been influenced by your hometown and where you live today? If you don’t think that it has affected you at all, why is that?

Growing up in a small town like Congleton made me want to find something to do, and I found purpose in music. I live in London now, which is great, I spend a lot of time going to see other bands and artists, meeting like minded people who are as passionate about music. It’s good for the soul.

I find it interesting that sometimes musicians choose to go by something other than their own name so why did you decide to go by your own name?

I spent my teenage years in bands, so I’d hidden behind aliases before. When I started my solo project it just felt natural to put my own name to it.

Let’s talk about your just released EP, “You From The Rest.” What was it like putting this collection together? Do you remember what it was like hearing it all the way through for the first time?  

I enjoy the recording process a lot, so piecing this together was fun… I only heard it back in full the other day whilst in the car and it felt good, like a nice little chapter ticked off.

While it’s difficult to choose, can you pick out a few of your favorite songs off this EP and talk about how they were written and came to be on the EP?

The title track ‘you from the rest’ was an exciting song to record, its pretty experimental in its arrangement and structure, jarring in places and floaty in others. Dynamic range excites me, I like to try new things in the studio and that song in particular is a good glimpse at that side of my music… As far as songwriting goes, I’d say ‘incompatible’ I wrote that song really quickly whilst sat up at like 5am thinking myself stupid for a change. Full west.

How do you think this collection is different or similar to your previous “Weightless” EP?

I think ‘incompatible’ is pretty close in texture to the ‘weightless’ EP, the other tracks maybe serve as more of a transition to where I’m heading next.

What do you think makes for an ideal show for you? What has been a favorite performance of yours so far? Do you have any upcoming shows this summer?

As long as people are loving where they are and what they’re doing I don’t really care where we are, or how many heads are in the crowd. The more people, the better the photos are, but my goal has always been to make other human beings feel something, so whenever they’re singing my songs back to me, or being captivated by that moment, I’m extremely happy in their company. My Omeara London show was probably my favorite show to date, I did do a special show in Nijmegan, in the Netherlands a couple of months ago – that was incredible too, it’s hard to choose! I have a lot of festivals coming up over the summer, most weekends we’re playing somewhere new. All across the UK and Europe.

We are currently living through a very trying and politically charged time right now so I am curious to know how your own music is reflecting this time period? If you don’t think it is, why is that? Would you say that other musicians are making music that has been influenced by this climate? 

Times are hard and very miserable right now. Part of me used to want to allow politics to filter through into my lyrics, but then I realized that music should serve as a form of escapism from all of that bullshit. Every corner of the internet is plagued by war, misery and greed… We should never forget about the suffering of others, but people need to breathe easily every once in a while. It’s good to switch off from it for a moment when you can.

What has it been like keeping up with your social media accounts and all the different platforms? Is it hard to stay up to date on it all?

To be honest no, it’s important to reply to people, to get to know those supporting my music. I appreciate them taking the time to post my songs and comment on gig photos etc, the least I can do is respond. That’s just part of not being a dick. Mysterious and illusive artists have no place in 2018. Be normal and talk to people, especially when they’re being nice.

Who are some of your favorite artists or rather, what musicians have continued to inspire you and your music? Who would you absolutely still love to work with in the future? 

I love a lot of guitar bands, but it feels like a difficult time for their genre.. That said my music taste is pretty eclectic, I just appreciate well written songs. Nirvana, Queens of The Stone Age, Phoenix, The Walkmen, Bon Iver, John Lee Hooker, Hans Zimmer – There’s hundreds of artists that still inspire me on a daily basis. I would kill to work with Hans Zimmer and Ludovico Einaudi though.

If you were going to be stranded on a deserted island forever, what musical item would you take with you? 

Guitar, but not to be the house party guy who won’t fuck off playing Wonderwall at 3am, I would just need to write and off load the emotional turmoil on the reg.

If your music was going to be featured on any TV show that is currently on right now, which would you love it to be on? Or if you prefer, what is a movie that you love that you wish your music was featured in?

Donnie Darko would be my dream sync, I’d probably die happy with that alone. Stranger Things or The OA would be great too. Put a good word in for me.

At the end of the day, what do you hope your fans take away from your music?

Honesty, therapy, hope, understanding and empathy.

Where can our readers connect with you?

Instagram is my main mode of social transport, @AdamFrenchUK – Same handle for Twitter, I’m on Facebook too but they’re getting pretty greedy in trying to force artists to pay to contact their fans properly, so I often boycott. Fuck them. I know they own Instagram but they haven’t implemented any of their shady shit there yet.