Introducing Interview: Adam Cleaver

London singer-songwriter Adam Cleaver is set for a busy and brilliant 2016. He’s recently released new single ‘Narrow Spines’, accompanied by a masterfully shot new video (which Gigslutz had the pleasure of premiering), and he’s due to release a new EP later in the year. Before he embarks on a UK co-headline tour with Benjamin Yellowitz, we caught up with Adam to talk touring, creativity, and Malian music…

Hello Adam, what have you been up to this week?
Hi! I’ve been mostly prepping for a short tour of the U.K.

Great stuff. You’ve recently returned from touring Germany, can you tell us more about your time there?
Germany was a bit of a dream. We got to see some amazing places and play in a couple of really great venues. We played in this beautiful old cinema in Tübingen that was particularly special.

Many of the tracks on your debut EP, Man Or Beast, (particularly the title one) channel anxiety and indecisiveness into something precious and cathartic. Do you think personal conflict helps a musician’s creativity? Does it help you to come up with ideas for new tracks?
I think there are a lot of things that can facilitate that process. There was a lot of myself in the tracks on Man or Beast, so there is no doubt that the mind I was in at that time fuelled them. I suppose finding a way to understand and interpret an internal struggle will always be an important part of how I write, but perhaps there are other aspects to this whole thing that I haven’t found yet.

Your latest single ‘Narrow Spines’ was released on the 22nd April, and Gigslutz has premiered the video. What is it about this track that you’re most proud of?
I really love that this song took on a life of its own. It grew so naturally from the original arrangement that I put together into what it is now. Understanding that this track had to be given the chance to find its place was really important for me. I’m also ridiculously proud of the video. James Byrne did an incredible job on it.

You’re going on a mini UK tour with Benjamin Yellowitz – who supported you at your Man Or Beast EP launch last year – this April. What are you most ooking forward to? What do you like about Benjamin’s music?
We’re heading up to Edinburgh which I am going nuts for. I love that city and always feel a strong connection to it when I’m there. The fact that I get to do that with Ben is crazy exciting! It’s amazing how he’s channelling aspects of soul and RnB into complex and thoughtful arrangements. The guy is just brilliant.

On your social media accounts, you often post about your admiration for art and new artists, and your EP covers and music videos are always so polished and well-crafted. Can you tell us who comes up with the designs/ideas behind them?
I’ve always had strong feelings towards the visual aspects of music. My older brothers were always so good at drawing and I remember trying desperately to develop that talent but never being able to. I think I’ve always wanted to be a painter but my hands won’t let me. That’s probably the reason why I take artwork and videos so seriously. I’ll tend to come up with the concepts and work with people to actualise them. I’m incredibly lucky to be connected to some seriously talented people who are able to help me with these things.

Which singer-songwriters in particular inspire you?
There are so many people making such brilliant music. I have a big love of texture, and atmosphere so I’m really into people like Bon Iver and James Blake and lyricists like Fionn Regan and Gillian Welch. I could listen to ‘Time (The Revelator)’ by Gillian Welch forever.

Are there any musicians outside of the indie-folk genre that you listen to, who people might be surprised to learn you’re a fan of?
I’m into quite a lot of music from Africa, particularly Malian music. I’m a massive fan of Amadou and Mariam, and Ali Farka Toure.

If an aspiring indie-folk artist asked for your best piece of advice, what would it be?
Write often and make friends. Lots of them.

Finally, what are your plans for the rest of 2016?
I’m in the process of working on a load of new music at the moment. I’m hoping to be hitting the road as often as possible while that’s happening!

Huge thanks to Adam for answering our questions!

Adam’s latest single Narrow Spines is out now via Veta Records and is available as a free download from his Soundcloud page.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut