Adema Interview

The Gauntlet: It has been quite a while since Adema has put out a record. I hear that you are almost done with one. When is its anticipated release? How many songs will be on it?

Dave/Adema: Yes, it's been awhile, much too long. We're putting out a 7-song E.P. that should be available for download in January, with limited-edition CD's and vinyl available in March or April.
Tim/Adema: It definitely has been a while and we have had a few obstacles along the way. The project we are working on now is more of an EP than a full-length. We laid down three new tracks and a couple newer versions of older ones. We’d been anxious to get in the studio, so we booked a few sessions to get something going and this is the result. It is going to be available at the start of the year. We are also working on a full length that we will release next summer.

Dave/Adema: We thought it was important to establish that Tim is our singer, now. "Hey, this is ADEMA in 2011. Here's what the band sounds like. Here's where we are going..." you know? We've been through so much (in the past 2 years, in particular) and we're ready to get back to doin' what we do best: be in this band!

The Gauntlet: Have you chosen a title for it?

Tim/Adema: We have a few contenders, but nothing yet.

The Gauntlet: Which of the first four albums will this one sound most like? What would you say sets this album apart from the others Adema has put out?

Tim/Adema: I would say it’s similar to how we approach all new music we do, it’s a combination of what we think the core sound of our band is and we just keep trying to evolve from there. Our goal is to get people moving and thinking.

Dave/Adema: There's a super-heavy, fast song; a mid-tempo, kinda "Foo Fighters-eque" jam and another one that's similar to stuff off of the 1st two records, or "Kill the Headlights". We've always been a band that's had a wide-range of styles; different elements we can bring to the ADEMA "sound" (whatever that may be...) The cool thing about having Tim and myself singin' the songs, is that we kinda feel free to play anything from our catalogue, now. Every singer we've had was always a bit reluctant to sing stuff that the other guys did, and it was always a bit of a problem when we would be making the set list. Kinda like David Lee Roth singin' Hagar songs, or vice versa... haha

The Gauntlet: Do you feel that change is something that is necessary over time or do you feel that it is important to try and keep things the same for the fans?

Tim/Adema: I think it’s important to stick to the core sound or idea of what the band is especially for your fans. The fans are the ones that have kept this band going.

Dave/Adema: ADEMA will never make an Emo record (...knocks on wood). Or a "prog rock" album, rest assured! Lol We've never, ever, as a band sat around and consciously made a decision about what "direction" we're heading in; what "sound" we're goin' after. We're all influenced by different types of music and we pool all that together when we write. I think we try to make an "ADEMA" record every time; yet we don't want to do something that WE'VE done before.

The Gauntlet: Adema has been around for a while now. I know that bands go through ups and downs, but you are still here, so what is the key to sustaining a long term career in this industry nowadays?

Dave/Adema: I think that we've all been best friends throughout this whole thing; Tim, Kris, and myself and that deep down, at our core, we all still genuinely enjoy each other's company! We've learned how to play together in our individual bands, in the clubs in Bako and L.A. as kids; finally got together, and formed this "supergroup" signed the big record deal, went through all the VH1 "behind the music" cliché’s, and went from the van, to the bus, to the nicer bus, and here we are. We've all evolved and grown up, guys have families now, wives, and children. It's just part of our extended family, now. Brothers fight, but you don't go and replace your family, right? No matter how different we all are, I know that Tim, Kris, Marc, and myself respect the band enough to always put it 1st...

Tim/Adema: It’s no different than any career really. It takes believing in yourself and the ones around you. You have to love what you do because that get’s you through the challenging times. And you have to think “why not me?” , “why not us?”.

The Gauntlet: Have you noticed that a lot of bands will create their own labels in order to put their records out?

Dave/Adema: Yeah, that seems to be the way that it's going, right? I mean, are there even any real record labels left? I've wanted to put out an album independently for awhile now. I feel like the last two record deals we had didn’t benefit us, they lined the labels pockets. I'm still owed a ton of money, and I’m coming' after 'em! Yeah, indies are the way to go. If you want something' done right, do it yourself...

The Gauntlet: Will you be releasing this one independently?

Tim/Adema: We will be doing this one and as many as we can in-house. The Internet obviously gives us and many bands the opportunity to reach their fans instantly. We are hoping to coincide our new website along with the new music next year.

Dave/Adema: We're gonna release the full-length LP in 2012, as well!

Tim/Adema: It will include all that is Adema as well as a blog from every member of the band.

The Gauntlet: Who are you working with production wise on the record?

Dave/Adema: We're producing the record ourselves and our friend Jim "Bud" Monti is recording, engineering, and mixing it. He works for Korn, and we've been working in the old Buck Owens building in Bakersfield!

Tim/Adema: We’ve had a ton of experience over the years and have learned a lot from producers as well. We are recording in the same studio we did ‘Planets”!

The Gauntlet: Are you collaborating with anyone or are there any guest spots?

Tim/Adema: Not on this EP but for the full length we have a couple cool things in the works.

The Gauntlet: Have you chosen a single yet?

Tim/Adema: No, that’s something we will decide while we’re mixing it this month.

The Gauntlet: Are all of you living in Bakersfield still?

Dave/Adema: We all live in Bakersfield, except for Tim. Tim lives in Sierra Madre,CA. I lived in LA and Orange County for a few years, off and on, but Bakersfield is home. I like being' a "big fish in a small pond"! lol

The Gauntlet: Some amazing bands have come out of Bakersfield, such as yourselves and Korn.

Tim/Adema: Don’t forget Ryan Schuck from Orgy and Julien-K

The Gauntlet: Adema has put out some great videos in the past. What are the plans for any future ones?

Tim/Adema: We have some ideas right now for videos that are brilliant in my mind and we are gonna do at least one next year, hopefully two.

The Gauntlet: I saw on Myspace that you have been doing a few shows. Will you guys be planning on touring most of 2012? What are the plans as far as that goes?

Tim/Adema: What’s Myspace again?..jussst kidding. We will be touring a bunch next year. Spring and Summer for sure and we always seem to go out in the winter. We also have dates posted on all of the “family” of Adema social networking sites and if you have a rock club in your town chances are we’re coming.

Dave/Adema: We just wrapped up a few weeks of club gigs, right before Thanksgiving. Putting the finishing touches on the EP in December, enjoying Christmas with our families, and we're goin' FULL TILT in 2012!!!

The Gauntlet: Thank you so much for the interview. Before I let you go would you like to add or say anything?

Tim/Adema: Thank you for having us. And as always thanks to all our fans for their support.

Dave/Adema: Yes, Thank you guys and we will see you soon! ADEMA is back let’s get ready for 2012!

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