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Adam Darling
Santa Monica, California, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
Local Limelight | Adam Darling
Thursday, May 19, 2011 03:13 AM
The Columbus Dispatch
FILE PHOTO
"Love and love lost inspire me."
STYLE "soulful pop"
WEBSITE www.adamdarling.com
CONCERT 10 p.m. Wednesday at Skully's Music-Diner, 1151 N. High St.
ADMISSION $7
Adam Darling, a graduate of Bishop Watterson High School and Ohio State University, has called Los Angeles home for several years.
His experiences fueled the lyrics for his Ready, Aim, Fire debut album, which he recorded at Sonic Lounge Studios in Grove City.
"Love and love lost inspire me to write and produce music," said Darling, 28. "There's nothing like a good love song to stir up the emotions."
The singer-guitarist, backed by a full band, will perform on Wednesday.
Q How would you describe your music?
A A mix of my favorite pop, rock and hip-hop influences all rolled into one.
It has been compared to John Mayer and Dave Matthews Band but with a more modern pop feel.
Q How did you become a musician?
A I began playing piano at the age of 6, but it wasn't until I picked up the guitar at 12 that I really fell.
I honed my craft by playing and writing songs in an original band called Breakdown in high school, and all through college played with the cover band Roundtree.
Throughout that time, I was writing my own original material.
Q What made you leave Columbus for Los Angeles?
A The opportunity for more, musically, and the challenge of trying something new. I have been able to play famous venues like the Roxy and House of Blues - and had the opportunity for influential people to hear my music.
The toughest part is constantly pushing forward and handling a lot of the responsibilities. There can be disappointment at times, but I believe it is all part of the journey.
Q What other musicians inspire your work?
A My biggest influences are Chris Cornell, Sting, Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Beck.
Q Why should someone see you in concert?
A They will be treated to quality songwriting and a passionate delivery of songs and music I believe in.
- Kevin Joy
kjoy@dispatch.com
- The Columbus Dispatch
Adam Darling Ready,Aim,Fire Album Review
“You can be cold,You can be sweet. No matter what you know I’ve gotta leave,” Adam Darling explains with his brutally honest lyrics. Darling’s debut LP Ready,Aim,Fire centers on the gory details that make a true, real-life and honest relationship: A love story, which Drew Barrymore wouldn’t dare star in. Darling, who wrote all the songs on the album, didn’t just write and share the pretty parts of a relationship with us, but all the un-pretty stuff too.
In the emotionally charged “Satellite”, Darling compares his love to a direction-giving satellite, giving us a fun metaphor and one heck of a catchy melody. Darling is a fan of the fun, quirky metaphors and hell, aren’t we all?! In the dance anthem ”I Never Meant To Hurt You”, Darling says the other woman was like “the dark I had to chase” as a sensual electronic beat lays down the virus of a chime. Ready,Aim,Fire is full of catchy melodies and humorously true lyrics. Every song will make you want to dance.
B.Blumenthal
- Rock.com
By RACHEL SALAS
Published: December 13, 2010
Cue the rhythmic guitar, soulful beats, melodic chorus and enticing voice. Los Angeles-based artist Adam Darling, 28, is making his way onto the music scene one hit at a time. His first full-length album, Ready, Aim, Fire, was released Nov. 9, featuring his tantalizing single, “Break My Heart.”
Originally from Columbus Ohio, Darling moved to Los Angeles in 2005 to fulfill his dreams of making it big in the music industry.
“L.A. was the right place for me. I came out to visit and loved it, and decided to make the big move. I had been planning on it for awhile,” Darling said.
Darling’s interest in music began at a young age, when his mother instructed him to take piano lessons.
“I took piano for seven or eight years. When I was 12, I picked up the guitar because a friend of mine started learning and I wanted to learn as well. That age is when I hit a point where I really started liking music,”Darling said .
Darling recognized his talent for singing in his mid-teens.
“A few years after playing the guitar, I embraced the singing aspect and it happened when I started writing songs and lyrics. I’d give them to my friend of mine named David, who would sing them initially. Then I felt that they were so personal that I wanted them to be sung a certain way, that I had to figure how I could do it myself,” Darling said.
Once in Los Angeles, Darling wasted no time in attaining his goal of tackling the music industry.
“I put a band together right when I moved here. I had recorded a previous record that I used at a demo to get people interested, and I booked gigs at the Temple Bar and was able to play the Viper Room and the House of Blues and a few other places just on my own,” Darling said. “Then I took time and focused on the songwriting aspect and wanted to be as professional as I possibly could, and ended up starting my own record label, Movata Records. I believed in the songs enough and I believed in keeping my creative rights that I wanted to take control of my own career as far as not waiting for somebody else to sign me or propel my career. I wanted to do it as much as I could, on my own.”
Darling’s influences are all across the map. From classic rock to pop to hip-hop, various genres have inspired his songwriting and music.
“I like listening to all types of music. I’ve been on a big hip-hop kick for awhile. I really like Kanye West, Timberland and all the production of hip-hop music, and the way it makes people move,“ Darling said. “But I also like very melodic and soulful stuff, like John Mayer, Maroon 5, Soundgarden, Chris Cornell and Sting. They’re definitely influences. Anything I’m into becomes an influence into my songwriting, just because it makes me feel good so I want to bring that element into my songwriting and musical production.”
After two successful album release parties at The Roxy in Los Angeles and Skully’s in Ohio, Darling is currently working on headlining a spring tour in venues along Southern California and through the Midwest to promote his new album.
Fans love Darling’s unique sound.
“I like the sound of his music ? that he’s soulful and writes his own songs. He’s a mix of John Mayer and Adam Levine of Maroon 5,” said fan Lori Trimble.
His fans appreciate the diverse elements of his songs.
“The music is fun, sexy and romantic. He sings about love and the songs have a great message. He’s a very unassuming person, but comes to life when onstage,” said publicist Issen Alibris.
Darling appreciates the wide range of support he’s gotten.
“People have been real supportive, and I look forward to getting better and giving them a better show and better songs in the future,” said Darling.
Darling will perform at The Roxy in Los Angeles on Jan. 21 at 9:30 p.m.
- The Daily Titan (Fullerton, CA)
Columbus's Darling returns
Singer/songwriter Adam Darling, a Columbus ex-pat now living in Los Angeles, is returning home next week to release his full-length debut.
Ready, Aim, Fire is a love-lust-heartbreak album in the tradition of Maroon 5 and Justin Timberlake—poppy, electronic club rock. The subject of Darling’s songs is always a nameless “she.” Though the lyrics are delivered either sweetly or with a clubby edge, the songwriter’s relationship to “her” is always slightly twisted and masochistic.
“All Night Long” is one of the album’s strongest tracks. Because he relies heavily on Timberlake-style electronic riffs and beats, Darling’s voice is at its strongest when he sings in falsetto. The lyrics would benefit if the singer were also to imitate Timberlake’s sense of humor.
One weakness of this debut disc is that the singer, who obviously has a good voice, buries it behind too many sub-par vox effects. (This does give the album a radical Zapp & Roger computer-funk vibe, but I’m not sure that’s entirely intentional.) You can’t help wishing the singer would simply cut loose and have more fun with his talents.
Of course, that’s a tall order when a songwriter is handling the singing, guitaring, bass slapping, synthesizing and beat making all on his own. For the next album, it’d be great to hear Darling partner with a strong deejay and backing band, putting his energy where it is best served—as a songwriter and frontman.
A CD release party, also featuring the Real California and the Wet Darlings, will be held Monday (Nov. 22) at Skully’s Music-Diner, 1151 N. High St.
- The Other Paper, Columbus, OH
The first single ‘Break My Heart’ off of Adam Darling’s upcoming album entitled ‘Ready, Aim, Fire.’ Directed by Brian Panter, featuring the super fine Amanda Gift. We normally do not feature too many rock artists here on ScratchTag but once you see this video you will know why we went outside of the norm. Amanda Gift is sexy, plain and simple. Plus its a good rock jam for you rock folks. Rock On! Music is music, and sexy girls are dope! - Scratchtag.com
Discography
'Ready, Aim, Fire' Full studio album, which is being released on November 9th, 2010 on Movata Records.
'Love's Fine Lines' Studio album, Self released in 2005.
Photos
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Bio
Adam Darling is a singer/songwriter with music in his blood. "My mother sang to me every night as a kid and my father played guitar," says Darling. Before he could pick up a guitar, Darling knew he wanted to be a performer. His earliest memories of music were listening and dancing to Michael Jackson and Huey Lewis and The News. In fact, the Columbus, Ohio native has been writing songs and playing the piano since he was 6 and guitar since he was 12, when his father showed him how to play Jimi Hendrix one fateful day.
With an unyielding passion to learn music, Adam began to play guitar at school and church, studied jazz at a local college and played any opportunity that came his way. "On guitar, I began learning everything from Sound Garden and B.B. King to Steve Vai and Jeff Beck. I began studying songwriting and melody because of Sting and have studied the rhythms and textures of everyone from Stevie Wonder, D'Angelo, Timbaland, and Kanye West." Determined to share his gifts with the world, Darling moved to Los Angeles to continue his pursuit of music. He has played in multiple original and cover bands over the years and has written and recorded smaller albums on his own as well. It’s his passion and love for blues, rock, hip hop, jazz & soul music that inspired him to produce his first full length studio album.
Written entirely by Adam, his eponymous forthcoming studio album is entitled “ Ready, Aim, Fire.” The album explores themes of love and heartbreak, and the roller coaster of emotions that come from being in love. "I have always been drawn to songs about love and heartbreak, because of the real human experience of it. Whether it's a blues song singing about a broken heart or a beautifully crafted pop song about yearning, it's the human experience of love and all its levels that inspires me most, and I believe, inspires most people through music," says Darling. A dynamic guitarist and vocalist, Darling will perform at a select number of intimate venues across the country in support of his debut album slated to be released on Movata Records November 9, 2010.
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