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I N T E R V I E W
June 2004
Adam Werner

Artist web site: www.adamwerner.com
Artist email: adam@adamwerner.com
Contact number: 818.321.5202

RCN: Hello, we are here with Adam Werner a local musician from Woodland Hills, and he's here to talk about his unique style and debut album, ÒApprentice of a Dead Man,Ó so we're going to find out a little more about what makes him tick. . .

1. RCN: What type of musician are you?

AW: I call it PROGRESSIVE FINGERSTYLE GUITAR. It's a solo acoustic guitar with all the elements, as if there were multiple instruments (i.e. rhythm, leads, bass and percussion). Everything is done on a solo acoustic guitar. I also play what is called a HARP GUITAR. You gotta see it to believe it!

2. RCN: Tell us the brief history of yourself.

AW: Well, I started around August 2001 doing my Tribute show to Michael Hedges. That lasted about a year and a half or so. Then I recorded a record and released it in April 2003. I've been touring since then and performing my own music around the states. I've been to various parts of California, Oregon, Washington and Colorado and have a tour scheduled for 3 of the Hawaiian Islands this summer (Big Island, Oahu and Kauai). I tour with the Woodsong Acoustics Group who offers a variety of talents from Slack Key Guitar and Fingerstyle to Classical, Flamenco and Jazz. We've toured with Alex de Grassi, John Keawe, Antonio Calogero and many others. I also tour as a solo artists, opening and headlining myself. As a matter of fact, I have a tentative tour scheduled with Will Ackerman and David Cullen. Will Ackerman, as you know, is the founder of the Windham Hill Record Label. This is a big opportunity for me and I look forward to many tours in the future.

3. RCN: Who are your musical and non-musical influences?

AW: My biggest musical inspirations are Michael Hedges and Will Ackerman, although I draw from many others (too many to mention) but people like Michael Manring, Pierre Bensusan, Michael Hewett and Billy McLaughlin. I also get inspiration from others like Dream Theater and Steve Vai. My non-musical inspirations come from life experiences and everything around me. For example, there are a few tunes on my album, ÒApprentice of a Dead Man,Ó that were inspired by my kids and a 3-piece medley that is the representation of the lifecycle of a Thunderstorm.

4. RCN: What are your dreams and goals?

AW: I would like to make a living at music, as would any musician. What's great about the genre of music I am in is that it is timeless. This music will be around forever as will the ability to perform it. I can write and perform this style of music until I can no longer pick up a guitar without being looked at an old guy that should not be playing this style of music. There is no stigma or image attached to this genre and people of all ages can enjoy it without having to Òfit inÓ to a ÒgroupÓ or whatnot. It's very free and I enjoy it.

5. RCN: Who writes the songs, what are they about?

AW: Well, I write all of the music. Sometimes I'll have my friend Kentaro Otsuka come in and perform bass for some tunes, so He'll write his bass lines, but for the most part, I write the music. As I said, I get inspiration from many places. This album has tunes about my kids, a thunderstorm, places I've visited and philosophy.

6. RCN: What's your opinion of George Bush?

AW: Don't discuss politics, especially in public.

7. RCN: How do you promote your band and shows?

AW: Email lists, web site(s) press releases, magazine ads, radio, etcÉ

8. RCN: Describe your show, visual and musically?

AW: It's usually an intimate theater-type setting with everyone there seated facing the stage and not with this bar/club mentality where people are there to socialize and get drunk. The stage is lit to showcasing the artist. When I start the show, I usually come out, acknowledge the audience and jump right into my first tune. From there I'll have some monologue between tunes to either set up the next tune, explain the previous tune or to just keep the audience drawn in while I re-tune my guitar. I have to do this because almost every tune I play is in a different tuning, so the monologues are actually an intricate part of the show. Once I'm done with my set, I usually do an encore and then meet and greet as people are leaving. It's a very casual and relaxed atmosphere but people are usually pretty amazed at what they just experienced and like to talk to me after the show, which, to me, is one of the best parts of the show! Musically, I take them on a sort of roller coaster. It involves mind-blowing and technically challenging tunes to very intimate personal mellow stuff. It's quite fun.

9. RCN: What do you think about downloading music online?

AW: I think it's a great way for emerging artists to get out there, if they are willing to give there tunes away, but I do believe in artists being compensated for there art.

10. RCN: What's your outlook on the record industry today?

AW: They will probably always be in control, but I think that Indie is the way to go for quite some time.

11. RCN: What's your claim to fame? (What's unique about your band)

AW: My style! You have to see it to believe it. It's one thing to listen to a recording and it's another to actually see it happen right before your eyes.

12. RCN: Tell us a story about a day in your life.

AW: The birth of my first child. That was the most life altering experience in my entire life. My entire thought process and outlook on life changed at that precise moment. It was something I couldn't explain, so I wrote a tune called, ÒViennaÓ (my daughters name).

13. RCN: What inspires you to do what you do?

AW: Michael Hedges started the inspiration for me, but now it's seeing a talking to the people that have just seen it themselves. They inspire me to continue.

14. RCN: What advice would you give to fellow artists?

AW: Continue creating music, never give up and don't forget to have FUN!

15. RCN: What are some of your pet peeves?

AW: Egos, arrogance and the thought of being the best. Everyone has something to offer and we should learn from everyone.

16. RCN: How does music affect you and the world around you?

AW: My music affects me in a positive way. It keeps me thinking of the good things in life and keeps me mellow through this jungle we call life.

17. RCN: What's new in the recording of your music?

AW: I'm not sure that anything is ÒNewÓ in my recording, other than it's new to me. I'm used to recording with a full band, so recording as a solo artist it was challenging at first but was great fun through the whole process.

18. RCN: What are the biggest obstacles for you as an artist?

AW: Writing music. It's a discovery process for me, even though I have some music degree's, I still have a hard time writing music. The time to dedicate to writing music. I'm a stay at home father, so I don't get a lot of time to practice or write music.

19. RCN: What's the best and worst thing about playing clubs?

AW: For me and the music I play, there is nothing good about performing at clubs. I have to perform in theaters, performing arts centers and venues like that. I don't fit in to the clubs scene. However, the worst thing(s) are the set times, sound, and the different genres in one night booking. Most of all PAY TO PLAY!!!

20. RCN: Tell us about your next shows and why we should be there.

AW: Unfortunately, I won't be performing for LA much anymore, but if you do get a chance to catch a show, you will absolutely be inspired to look at the guitar differently.

RCN: Thank you for your insight and time. We'll look forward to hearing your music and seeing your next live show . . . Later gator.

AW: Thanx for having me and if you want info on my whereabouts, go to www.adamwerner.com and check it out. My album, ÒApprentice of a Dead Man,Ó is available there as well as tour schedules and other stuff. Peace!

Adam Werner - 818.321.5202
www.adamwerner.com
Woodsong Acoustics
AOL & Yahoo IM: ERTCKOS

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