New Zealand country music singer-songwriterJoy Adams, has had a long and eventful career. She has recorded over 20 successful albums, traveled the world performing, won numerous awards, had her songs recorded by other artists, been a DJ, a philanthropist with the StarBuddy Charitable Trust which she founded, and the list goes on and on.
Joy Adams has released her brand-new highly-anticipated 12-track album ‘Just One Little Thing’.
We sat down with Joy Adams to discuss her music and much more. Here is what she had to say:
Hey Joy Adams, welcome to FLEX! How are you?
Doing great thanks. I’m really excited about our new album
Congratulations on your brand-new album, ‘Just One Little Thing’ - what inspired this particular project?
Thank you. Well this album wasn’t really planned. I’d written a few songs that I’d asked Gary R Farmer to do backing tracks for, then I added a few cover songs I wanted to do in a live performance setting. Not long after that we started co-writing and having a bit of success with our songs on radio charts – so the idea of an album just evolved.
Did any event in particular inspire you to write this album?
Over the last couple of years I had been dealing with a few health issues and then of course COVID reared its ugly head. I live in a rural area. Writing songs was something to do to keep my sanity. And do you have to be in a certain mood to write?
For me, a song or idea will pop up out of nowhere. It could be from having a conversation with someone or reading a newspaper – maybe something on Facebook.
How was the recording and writing process?
This album has been a totally different way of recording for me and made so much easier with the guidance of my writing partner, Gary R Farmer, I’m used to a full on studio setting. Gary was the one who encouraged me to record raw vocals from home (something I have never done before). It was also a wonderful experience writing songs together. We’d have a chat and come up with a concept idea for a song. He’d write a piece of music, send it to me and I would write the lyrics. I am amazed at how well this has worked out for us and I’m so proud of the four songs we have co-written to date.
For viewers that don’t know Joy Adams, how would you describe your sound?
I am definitely from a more traditional country. I like fiddles and steel guitars and a song with a good story. I grew up listening to Connie Smith, Charley Pride, The Statler Brothers, George Jones. This is the kind of music I enjoy.
And what are some of those activities that you engage yourself in when you aren't writing or recording in the studio?
I am lucky enough to do radio shows from home for the New Zealand Country Music Radio Network as well as a separate show on Mix-Cloud called the NDXpress Country and Western Swing Show with Joy Adams. I’ve done radio for years and love it. Being in my garden is one of my lifes’ pleasures along with spending time with my grandson.