Performing Artist Spotlight Series: Jr. Adams
By Denton Turner
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO – The Yampa Valley Arts & Culture Guide’s Performing Artist Spotlight Series highlights local performers of all kinds and how they’ve adjusted in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
What is your favorite thing aboutbeing a musician?
It's always been the creating of newsongs – something that wasn't there before, now is. That, and working out the arrangement and building something out of nothing.
In what ways has your creativeapproach changed during COVID?
I think that I've probably been more inspired creatively this year than any year of my life. There are many factors that contribute to that, but it probably has a lot to do with the fact that I have a lot more time on my hands now that I'm not playing as many shows. I was able to complete my solo album which will be out in a couple of weeks and I've written a ton of new songs. The shows have gone away but I think I've been playing and creating more than usual.
What are you using for inspiration during these times?
I think difficult times typically can produce really great art. At the beginning of the lockdown I was feeling pretty isolated, but I just hunkered down and tried to become a better musician. I think the songs I wrote from that period definitely reflect that lonesomeness I was feeling. But once summer kicked in and I was able to get out on the river and up in the mountains, my outlook got better and the songs reflected that.
How have you adapted to keep performing?
At the beginning of the lockdown, I did some livestream concerts from my house and they went really great. It was a chance for some people who live across the country who don't typically get to come to my shows to hear what I do. I set up on my deck and folks from the neighborhood set out chairs and watched from the street. It was a blast. But as people aren't as locked down as we were before, I think that interest in livestreams has dipped a bit as well. I have started to do some socially distant shows in town as of late, and they have been good. The crowd has been a little more subdued than some of the shows pre-COVID, which has been kind of cool. I've been able to do some more mellow performances and been able to really hear what I'm playing. It had kind of a listening-room vibe rather than the rowdy-bar vibe that we are accustomed to in town.
What do you miss most about performing before COVID-19?
Well, I miss the nervous excitement of a show. The energy of a packed crowd and feeding off of it. I miss seeing all my friends’ faces in the audience.
Have you seen any positives come from COVID?
I think all the down-time away from the stage did have some positive outcomes. Playing music for yourself is just as important as playing for others and I've enjoyed just sitting on the couch playing for myself.
What kind of impact do you feel COVID has had on the music industry as a whole? How do you see it changing moving forward?
I'm hoping that we all share a new appreciation for the people that make live music happen. From the musicians to the venue owners, the sound guys, the crews and our local bartenders. I think that will be something positive that comes from this. I hope that our local stages make it out the other end OK. I think when we can all get back to it, it's gonna be a hell of a time. I'm certainly looking forward to it.