It was a major pleasure to interview trumpeter, producer, songwriter, Madd Galaxy aka Benjamin Adamson in 2018.
An email a few month ago and this genuinely talented LA musician let us know he’s got new material.
With three new cuts to offer, it’s a living document of “intuitive” music, as he puts on a showcase of jazz, electronica, and soulful energy as Benjamin Adamson.
I’m not trying to invent a character or create an image around it. I’m just making music that feels honest to my life
Music reflecting ME
Madd Galaxy had vocals. Like Benjamin Adamson I feel more inclined to be more old school, write with a pencil and feature my horn writing.
I still hear jazz, soul, punk, electronic music, psychedelic music, I’m just focusing on planning for certain instrumental criteria I set for myself so that I can perform it live and communicate the goals with musicians.
Madd Galaxy is all over the place and difficult to perform live because of the experimentation in the studio.
Friends encourage him to leave the dock of a bay….
I was on the road with Al Mckay mixing monitors and then Kamasi Washington for over a decade, mixing the live shows as well as working as his production manager. In addition to that, I was working on the docks when we were off the road. I would always have my horn with me, but I was barely keeping up my chops. I pretty much only did some long tones and would jump up at whatever jam session I could find while we were on tour around the globe.
Off the road, in town, I was doing more of an electronic thing inspired by Squarepusher. I spent some time learning to program an octa track and a synthstrom deluge. I was using my trumpet as more of a sound machine rather than playing as such.
Brandon Coleman gave me a fantastic opportunity to play trumpet with him, opening for Flying Lotus for seven weeks on his Flamagra Tour. Brandon is a dear friend, and he helped spark the fire back in me and gave me the confidence to really shed and jump back on this horse.
Reggie Andrews, an important musician and teacher, passed away. He inspired so many of us to really make it happen and to do what’s best for the music. For me, the best thing is to practice, play, and write, and it feels so good to listen to that intuition. I played in the big band celebrating his life and connected with some of his peers.
My wife was instrumental in helping me to get back- she really inspires me. She is great at creating things and making amazing things happen. She often tells me: “take a decision”
Making decisions without fear
Getting older has made me appreciate time differently.
I’ve had extended periods of time where I was just trying to survive. I had to keep the hope alive in my heart that I could get my life and head organised. I needed to actively create what I was hearing. I always hear music. I have so many records in my head. I am starting to see more time and opportunities to make them reality.
My wife was instrumental in helping me to get back- she really inspires me. She is great at creating things and making amazing things happen. She often tells me: “take a decision.” That is some good advice right there. If you are trying to finish a record, take a decision and keep moving.
These songs are living documents of my life and my relationships with musicians that mean a lot to me.
Last year, my wife left town for six weeks to stomp grapes and help with the harvest at a vineyard in Northern California. I knew it was time for me to call the piano tuner and get serious about making these records.
Every day, I woke up around 6 a.m., stretched, made a coffee, and then jumped into the adventure. Some days it was about turning on the field recorder, walking outside into the garden with the birds,
and recording that moment. Other days, it happened in the living room at the piano. Some days I hashed out the arrangements for the musicians I wanted to perform on certain pieces.
For me, right now, it’s as if I am in the wild, fighting for my life, there is no space to meander. Decisions must happen to survive. There is not much time to meander. That being said, I try to hold space for my mental and physical health inside of the music.
But with my own music, I feel like I’m entering another chapter.
Entering new chapters musically and personally
I’ve been incredibly fortunate musically.
I’ve played with and worked around musicians who I admired growing up, and I’ve spent a large part of my adult life around some extraordinary music and extraordinary musicians. But with my own music, I feel like I’m entering another chapter.
For years, I was involved in music in a lot of different capacities, including working behind the scenes and supporting other artists on the road. Now I’m making a conscious decision to put my own compositions and records into the world. I want to play more shows, bigger and better shows,
I am releasing three records this year – One Spark, Holding Space, and Stargate – and for me, that is much more about telling my own story as a human and a musician. There are a few compositions that I really had to push myself to work out and finish. I could visually see and feel what I wanted. I just had to rip through lots of manuscript paper to get there. Ultimately, I want these records to exist as part of a larger musical life that keeps evolving.
Now I’m making a conscious decision to put my own compositions and records into the world.
Honoring where we come from and more
One Spark is outward-looking. It’s about people, community, and the idea that something meaningful can start with one person or one small action. A teacher, a mentor, a peer, or even a stranger communicating something encouraging can change someone’s life forever.
For example, my high school trumpet teacher, Len Montgomery, was driving me home from a rehearsal when I was maybe 15 years old, and he told me I was good enough to get a scholarship to college. I never thought that was even possible until he told me that. I owe it to him,
Reggie Andrews, an important musician and teacher, passed away. He inspired so many of us to really make it happen and to do what’s best for the music.
Holding Space turns inward. It’s about patience, self-kindness, presence, breathing, listening, and allowing yourself – and other people – room to simply exist without immediately trying to fix everything. I did not have the patience to heal and grow, and it caused me a lot of pain over the years. More recently, I have seen whether you’re working out the body, practicing music, learning a language, being there for someone, training a dog, or anything else, it’s best to be kind and patient. Dedication to showing up to be present is how we have lasting growth.
Then Stargate is about moving forward. There’re more electricity and momentum in that record. To me, it’s about stepping through the door you’ve seen in your visions, even when you don’t know exactly what’s on the other side. There comes a time to follow through confidently and kick some doors down!
The records focus on honoring the people who got us to where we are, holding space within and listing to our intuition, and then following through with our dreams.
Living Documents
Mostly, I am grateful for listening to this music and having the time to record it.
I believe music is in the air. It’s not about me. I do hope to continue to refine myself so that I can become better attuned to what I am supposed to share. I’m not really approaching these records as products.
These songs are living documents of my life and my relationships with musicians that mean a lot to me. I was thinking about something the other day. Music does not owe me anything. It is a gift to begin with. If somebody finds one of these songs six months from now, five years from now, or twenty years from now and it gives them a moment of reflection, energy, peace, or connection, then that is what was meant to happen at that time.
0 Comments