Bio

Born in Central New York, Adam started playing guitar in elementary school. His brother and father also played guitar and bass. His older brother had “too many guitars,” so he was told to give one to his younger brother. By the time Adam was in high school he started composing his own songs and lyrics.

Adam now resides in Philadelphia where he is working on a full album. Adam also has his hand in a few other projects.

Adam Has been making music for over 20 years.

Solo Discography:

  • Oceanside- 99′
  • Never Unloved- 02′
  • Unsaid- 02′
  • Altruistic Prison- 04′
  • Best of EP- (99-05)
  • 10 years 10 Songs 09′

Q -AND- A

Q: What is your culture?

Adam Rivera:  I guess I was raised by TV and video game Culture.  A “Generation X-er”:  I learned to create and think for myself, in a time when TV ceased to interest me.  (Around the same time MTV stopped playing music videos regularly).  I never had a creatively nurturing home growing up.  While my brother and father were also musically inclined, they turned their noses up at showing me much in the way of technique or theory.  I was left to figure it out on my own for the most part. Growing up and developing my style, I’d often be told that I was playing “too fast.”  But I never wanted to slow down my music.  I discovered the anti-folk scene in New York City in 2004, and for once I did not feel like I had to do anything different to “sound good” or fit in.

Q: What is your first musical memory?

AR: There are a few early musical memories I have that I feel were important in my life.  The very 1st musical memory, I can recall, was singing along to my mom’s music as a very young boy in the early 80′s- Pat Benatar, Stevie Wonder, Bonnie Taylor and others.  Later when I was about 7 I remember playing on the neighbor’s toy piano for what seemed like hours. And when I was 12 years old I received my first guitar as a hand me down from my brother.

Q: Was music a part of your home growing up? Why or why not?

AR: Definitely.  My dad played bass, my brother played guitar and my mom just really loved music.

Q: What is the first song you remember listening to the lyrics to?

AR: I started paying attention to lyrics early, but I usually misheard them. I am not sure what that first song was. However, I though Pat Benatar’s “Love is a Battlefield” was “love is a Centipede.” I also thought Van Halen’s “Running with the Devil” was “Running with the Bed.”

Q:  What is the first CD you owned? Cassette tape? Record? 8 track?

AR: The 1st cassette I ever owned was Michel Jackson’s “Thriller.”  My mom bought that and a cassette player for me and my brother. The 1st cassette I ever bought with my own money was Green Day’s “Dookie.”  If I had to guess what my first CD was I’d say maybe Bjork, Rage against the Machine, or Smashing Pumpkins.  I’m not too sure.

Q: At present, what is your favorite song?

AR: That’s hard to say.  But if I had to narrow it down to one band, one song, I’d have to say- They Might Be Giants: Destination Moon.

Q: At present how do you use music in your daily life?

AR: I use music to cheer me up, get me energized, or to relax.

Q: Describe your best musical experience to date.

AR: Playing at the Sidewalk Cafe on the open stage and getting offered a show after a huge crowd reaction. I felt like I found my niche.