There are artists like Damien Rice that immediately conjure a level of cinematic lust atop narrative acoustic guitar, that invites you in and keeps you listening throughout the entire song cycle. Peter Brady Adams is one of those artists. The film composer turned singer/songwriter released his fifth solo record The Mighty Storm, February 4th on his own I Me Mine Records with distribution through Tone Tree. Written and recorded in Nashville, Adams teamed with co-producer/musician Lex Price alongside musicians Joshua Grange (k.d. lang, Beck), Joe McMahan and Ian Fitchuk.
The songs on The Mighty Storm offer a sense of elegance and mystique that run deeper than the soft spoken voice of Adams. And like another Adams (Ryan), this artist throws in just the right amount of twang to give things some muscle yet enough melody to counterpunch into a compelling first listen. Although a man of many words via lyrics, we were able to get some quick answers via email on his influences and past.
Firstly, tell us about The Mighty Storm?
Most of the record was recorded at the historic RCA studio A in Nashville TN that was built by Chet Atkins in 1964. It’s a big beautiful room… and we had the band spread out across the room to really utilize the space. You can really hear the room on the recording. I co-produced it with everyone on the band : Lex Price (bass/ tenor acoustic), Josh Grange (pedal steel), Joe Macmahan (electric guitar), and Ian Fitchuk (drums). It could have been a train wreck but it worked out great
Describe your music and/or sound in one sentence…
Driving with one hand on the wheel
Who are your primary musical influences?
Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, Gillian Welch, Townes Van Zandt, Peter Gabriel, Aaron Copland, Thomas Newman
What do you consider the best album ever written?
There’s no good answer to that but my desert island record would be Glenn Gould playing the Bach Goldberg Variations
What’s been your favorite gig so far?
A music school in Tiruvanamala, India performing with a Carnatic violinist
If you could duet with anyone, who would it be?
Ralph Stanley
Where in the world do you most want to perform (venue and/or county)?
The Ryman Auditorium
What’s your fondest musical memory?
Listening to my grandfather play piano
What are you listening to right now?
Volcano choir
