Seth Adam

Singer/songwriter Seth Adam writes compelling, genuine songs with honest lyrics. Taking musical cues from artists like Counting Crows, Tom Petty, and Jason Isbell, he creates his own brand of edgy, Americana-informed rock & roll with a socially-conscious message. His latest release, “Fits and Starts and Stops,” is "...a 10-track collection of evocative songs" (Randall Radic, Tattoo.com). Ryan Martin from Jammerzine says, “Seth Adam builds a stage for his voice and lyrics in a true and masterful form. Taking nods from vintage radio and Americana, Seth douses that with the fuel of rock and the penchant for classic alternative. This is a lesson for songwriters.”

Hello, my name is Seth Adam.

It is unconventional to offer a biography written in the first person. As the cliché goes, rules were meant to be broken.

I am a 48 year old singer-songwriter, born and raised in Connecticut. My wife, two daughters and I reside near the great city of New Haven. Music has been pouring out of me, in one form or another, since I was 5 years old. Getting my start performing in front of audiences when I was in the elementary school chorus, I performed my first “rock band” show at one of those old moose/elk/insert-animal-type halls when I was 14. I've been enjoying bringing the music to audiences all over ever since.

Here's the part where I tell you what I am currently doing with my career.

2016 was a pivotal year in my career as I wrote and recorded songs out of a hobbled-together home studio space. Playing all of the instruments, engineering, producing, and everything else-ing on my own resulted in an EP called “East Rock.” The experience inspired me to continue to do much of the same for the foreseeable future, sidestepping formal recording studios. In January 2018, I released a single (and video) called ‘Anytown,’ written in response to the events in Charlottesville VA the summer before. On February 14th 2020, I released a single called ‘At Different Ends,’ reflecting on the division and loss of wonder in American society from the perspective of a lonely observer. Shortly after the COVID pandemic began in 2020, I started constructing a formal home-studio space, finishing it in April of 2021. During that time, I wrote and recorded songs for my fourth full-length album, “Fits and Starts and Stops,” which was released on October 7th 2022. For all of 2023, I performed over 120 shows promoting "Fits and Starts and Stops," and ending the year by releasing a holiday-inspired single, "So Nice To See You." 2024 will bring more singles, more episodes of the Seth Adam Podcast, and the release of "Where You Come From - Acoustic."

Here's the part where I give you some history, drop some names, and tell you about some influences.

I describe my music as singer-songwriter/Americana/folk/rock. That’s a lot of sub genres, but probably the best way to characterize it. My earliest influences were Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Kenny Rogers. My dad used to play their records for me when I was a kid. Throughout my teenage years, I embraced hair-metal, progressive-rock, and grunge - music I still enjoy to this day. I consider the music I write now to be the most heartfelt and sincere. My biggest influence is Led Zeppelin, with Counting Crows coming in at a close second place. In recent years I’ve come to nearly deify The Beatles and Son Volt. Susanna Hoffs, Ryan Adams, Gillian Welch, Jason Isbell, and Wilco have also been significant influences on my work. Lyrically, I like to have something important and socially-conscious to say, doing my best to avoid cliché topics and phrases.

I love making music. It's how I make a living. It takes a lot of work and it sometimes it pays off. In 2007, my song ‘Get Out’ was licensed to Volkswagen for their Sights & Sounds campaign. In 2008, then Fox.com entertainment columnist in NYC, Roger Friedman, called me “the hardest-working, best live act in indie rock.” In 2010, I received a nice hometown nod from The New Haven Advocate’s reader’s poll, winning the Best Rock Band category. For my 2013 release, “Steel Tempered Pride,” I had the good fortune of working with David Immerglück, guitarist for Counting Crows. In 2016 I was nominated for Male Performer of the Year for The New England Music Awards, and again in 2017 for Songwriter Of The Year. Through the years, I’ve opened for Grammy-winning Steep Canyon Rangers, Grammy-winning Robert Cray, Tonic, Vertical Horizon, The Alternate Routes, Will Hoge, Gary Louris (The Jayhawks), Ken and Drew from Sister Hazel, Kyle Cook (Matchbox Twenty), Mayer Hawthorne, and more.

I also like dogs. I think they're cool.

See you soon,

-Seth Adam, January 2024