Adam Chaffins

Adam Chaffins, with his roots firmly embedded in eastern Kentucky soil, is a singer/songwriter and talented instrumentalist who never fears breaking genre barriers.

Chaffins finds his inspiration in diverse musical styles and personal experiences. Creating a new lane of country and Americana music laced with tinges of R&B and indie rock, his multi-genre sound is distinctive while being comfortably familiar.

His debut solo album, Some Things Won’t Last, released February 2020, was born from the constant evolution of Chaffins’ music, honoring past experiences while always moving forward. Wide Open Country praised the nine-song album as “everything from fuzz-toned, drum-driven rockers to ballads laced with symphonic swells, not to mention a gorgeous cover of Keith Whitley's ‘I'm Over You’.”

NPR named Chaffins one of “The Best New Artists Playing AmericanaFest” in 2019. His Whitley cover was recognized by Rolling Stone, as “cinematic … that prizes layers over dense heaps of sound.” NPR declared Chaffins “attuned to the potential sophistication of downhome forms – the jazzy complexity and expressive depth of bluegrass and country” with a “billowy, rhythmic unplugged rendition” that “artfully captures transparent denial and agonized pining.”

The single release of “Her” followed, with a video premiere by Billboard. Videos for “I’m Over You” and “Her” spent months on the fan-voted CMT 12-Pack Countdown, with “Her” reaching the No. 1 spot on the same day his debut album, Some Things Won’t Last, was released.

Chaffins is an indie artist who grew up along Kentucky’s famed Country Music Highway 23 fascinated by the 80’s and 90’s country music stars from there. In his teen years, Chaffins’ ears were attracted to the hits on the radio, but by the end of high school, he had grown more interested in bluegrass and jazz. He moved to Louisville to study, curiously enough, classical voice on scholarship at Bellarmine University. After less than a year, he was drawn back to eastern Kentucky and Morehead State University to explore what its Kentucky Center for Traditional Music had to offer and to refocus on jazz. He moved to Middle Tennessee, but, after one year, graduate school was replaced with real life and real work as a musician.

Chaffins quickly found his traction as an award-winning songwriter and an in-demand bassist. He was being recruited regularly for session work, including with renowned producers such as Buddy Miller and Dave Brainard. He spent years performing in bluegrass bands, including as bassist for Town Mountain and as vocalist and bassist for Rounder Records' The Deadly Gentlemen.

Chaffins was ready to craft his own sound. His first solo album, born from the constant advancement of his music by honoring past experiences while always moving forward, created a new palate of sound that might not have existed before and invited diverse audiences that might not have come together before.

Chaffins, who prides himself on embracing every kind of style from country and folk to pop and rock, makes a genuine effort to never limit his songwriting or his music. Today, he transforms the dichotomy of his experiences into a melodic, moody mix that highlights his assertive, soulful baritone and his command over a band’s energy. Whether his musical ingenuity is an evolution or revolution, Chaffins continues to transport listeners to a place where unity and freedom can be realized.