Jude Adams
INTERVIEW
Tell us about one of the earliest memories of your career
I was always aware that I could sing, but whilst friends growing up always seemed to be in choirs or strumming guitars, I just sat and watched. My immediate family wasn’t musical so even if my parents recognized that I could hold a tune, no-one particularly encouraged it. I was a kid singing to pop songs and that was about it. However when I was approaching 50, my partner gave me a talking to – that my private passion for singing was something I needed to tackle and that I would regret it if I got to be old and hadn’t done anything about it.
A lack of confidence was the thing that had kept the voice in the closet and thinking that I had to reach for the skies. That hasn’t gone away entirely but I did do something about it. At the third time of trying, I finally started taking singing lessons in the autumn of 2008. My teacher succeeded in getting me on a stage to sing 6 cover songs with a band of session musicians at my 50th birthday party in April 2009 and in January 2010, I did my first public performance singing covers at a Charity event. As you will see from the overview at the bottom of this page my musical path wasn’t to run smoothly!
A lack of confidence was the thing that had kept the voice in the closet and thinking that I had to reach for the skies. That hasn’t gone away entirely but I did do something about it. At the third time of trying, I finally started taking singing lessons in the autumn of 2008. My teacher succeeded in getting me on a stage to sing 6 cover songs with a band of session musicians at my 50th birthday party in April 2009 and in January 2010, I did my first public performance singing covers at a Charity event. As you will see from the overview at the bottom of this page my musical path wasn’t to run smoothly!
How do you prepare yourself before you start a new project?
It depends what the project is. If it’s the idea for a new album then it’s about developing that idea. Finding inspiration for lyrics, waiting for “musical doodles” to come into my head. Gradually those ideas will evolve.
For my second album I was fortunate enough to spend 5 weeks in Cádiz in Spain which influenced and inspired several of the songs especially Strange People and The Window to Your Soul.
For my recently released album Freedom, each song is about a different type of Freedom and so it was about taking inspiration from what that word meant for me personally-coming out of a prolonged period of poor health being key. I also deliberately wanted the lyrics and the melody to have more freedom themselves and to be simpler than my previous work and, despite some of the sometimes challenging topics, for the vibe to be upbeat – it’s a blend of blues/bluegrass/country. I am definitely project driven, and don’t regard myself as a prolific writer. Added to which I am not a busy performer because of health constraints, so as a result preparation and vocal training tend to go through peaks and troughs to match with when recording and performing may be on the horizon.
For my second album I was fortunate enough to spend 5 weeks in Cádiz in Spain which influenced and inspired several of the songs especially Strange People and The Window to Your Soul.
For my recently released album Freedom, each song is about a different type of Freedom and so it was about taking inspiration from what that word meant for me personally-coming out of a prolonged period of poor health being key. I also deliberately wanted the lyrics and the melody to have more freedom themselves and to be simpler than my previous work and, despite some of the sometimes challenging topics, for the vibe to be upbeat – it’s a blend of blues/bluegrass/country. I am definitely project driven, and don’t regard myself as a prolific writer. Added to which I am not a busy performer because of health constraints, so as a result preparation and vocal training tend to go through peaks and troughs to match with when recording and performing may be on the horizon.
If you had to define yourself to the world, what would the headline be?
“Yes you can. Yes she did.” Starting to write and recording three albums of self penned material (so far) would have not even been a dream 10 years ago. The writing was an unexpected product of an illness and unfolded into a slightly unreal few years with three albums since 2016.
I still have to pinch myself to think that I have done that, have had remarkable musicians play on my albums and have had two albums mastered at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London. So…my belief is that where there is a will there generally is a way to turn fantasies into reality!
I still have to pinch myself to think that I have done that, have had remarkable musicians play on my albums and have had two albums mastered at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London. So…my belief is that where there is a will there generally is a way to turn fantasies into reality!
If you could write your own story, what would your destiny be? What goals would you like to achieve?
I daren’t even think about that! Performing is always somewhat mentally and emotionally challenging for me (hence why it took me so long to get round to it) but also physically challenging because I am constrained by my health. At the same time I find performing thrilling! As a kid fantasising, I imagined performing in really atmospheric shows, so for me, the more of a show, the better!
I managed that for the launch of my second album The Window to My Soul, had a mini tour arranged taking in London and Brighton following on from that in 2020. Unfortunately the pandemic scuppered the tour, and post pandemic challenges prevented me from having a launch for Freedom last year. So I’d really love to perform my next project at some exciting venues and in some exciting ways.
I managed that for the launch of my second album The Window to My Soul, had a mini tour arranged taking in London and Brighton following on from that in 2020. Unfortunately the pandemic scuppered the tour, and post pandemic challenges prevented me from having a launch for Freedom last year. So I’d really love to perform my next project at some exciting venues and in some exciting ways.
What does success mean to you?
I am happy to go project by project. Sure I would like to achieve commercial success but artistic integrity is more important and respect and recognition for my music.
How has the perspective of your dreams and objectives changed over the years?
10 years ago my only dream related to music was to be well enough again to sing in public. But then the writing started which changed everything.
My focus turned to writing and recording albums and then performing the material from those. Each album took me in a new direction, developing my skills each time. Overall I’d say my dreams are to express myself creatively in an ever more rounded and evolving ways.
My focus turned to writing and recording albums and then performing the material from those. Each album took me in a new direction, developing my skills each time. Overall I’d say my dreams are to express myself creatively in an ever more rounded and evolving ways.
What has been the most important learning during your career?
Give it a go, don’t over think it or think that perfection is the only outcome (once you think that’s close that bar always seems to get higher) and whatever your approach have some fun doing it.
Any upcoming projects you can tell us about?
My next project due to be recorded in March 2023 will be songs from my first 3 albums, but new acoustic versions, allowing the structure of the songs to shine through, and allowing me to explore my voice and a different style of singing and performing. The arrangements are ready and each track will have a solo instrument (piano or guitar) on them, thanks to a remarkable young musician called Chris Vince. I am in awe of what he has done – I didn’t think acoustic accompaniment could sound so amazing.
The fabulous production team will once again be the people I am proud to call “my team” – Chris Stagg and Georgia Train. There’s still quite a lot of prep for me to do between now and recording to get my voice into shape and work on the interpretation of the songs, but I love getting stuck into the work, knowing the final result will be both satisfying and fabulous.
The fabulous production team will once again be the people I am proud to call “my team” – Chris Stagg and Georgia Train. There’s still quite a lot of prep for me to do between now and recording to get my voice into shape and work on the interpretation of the songs, but I love getting stuck into the work, knowing the final result will be both satisfying and fabulous.
PROJECTS
ABOUT
The Most Extraordinary Adventure.
“Renaissance woman Jude Adams sings with panache and the zest of a soul sister who has lived a little and experienced a lot.” Rosie Millard OBE after the launch of album no 2 The Window to My Soul.
Jude is a singer-songwriter across various genres and would still describe what she does as a “professional hobby”. Having still never sung in a choir, never having played an instrument nor reading music and lacking the confidence to share a voice she knew she had Jude finally started singing aged 50 but only two years later in 2011 myalgic encephalomyelitis was diagnosed. Performing as with most areas of life came to an abrupt halt. Jude had qualified as an Interior Designer and was building up a significant freelance business amongst other things when health issues intervened.
Not one to be put off by the limitations presented to her Jude unexpectedly found herself writing poetry and then lyrics and coming up with musical doodles which she would hum or sing into her phone. Along with continuing where possible to work with a series of vocal coaches, Jude managed to learn about songwriting through online courses and 121 tuition and in 2016 brought out her first album This Girl, This Woman produced and arranged by renowned jazz composer and pianist, Janette Mason. The launch hosted by Rosie Millard OBE was supported by a successful Crowdfunding campaign and Arts Council England. This attracted quite a lot of media attention and inspired Jude to move forwards.
In 2017 Jude started performing a little again and continued writing new material.
The Window to My Soul followed in 2019 accompanied by a memoir of the same name and in October 2022 Jude’s third album Freedom was released.
Albums 2 and 3 also saw Jude developing her portfolio of visual art showing in person and with TWTMS, when the pandemic hit, online with The Alternative Spring Tour, before Zoom even became the norm!
At every stage of Jude’s musical adventure, through a natural curiosity and something of a fierce determination, she has set her bar higher – always seeking to learn more and develop her skills to become an accomplished and respected musician and singer. From starting to sing, starting to write – the music and words on 28/30 songs on her first 3 albums are her own – to becoming hands on in the production of her work.
For the last 5 years Jude has worked closely with Georgia Train (Burt Bacharach, Kaiser Chiefs, Bitter Ruin, Xenomania, Hookers Songs) as her vocal coach, mentor and one of her co-producers. A fourth project taking Jude in yet another musical direction is underway and is due to be recorded in March 2023 as she approaches her 65th year. One of Jude’s firm beliefs is that age should not get in the way of aspirations. “New talent should not always mean young talent.”
“Renaissance woman Jude Adams sings with panache and the zest of a soul sister who has lived a little and experienced a lot.” Rosie Millard OBE after the launch of album no 2 The Window to My Soul.
Jude is a singer-songwriter across various genres and would still describe what she does as a “professional hobby”. Having still never sung in a choir, never having played an instrument nor reading music and lacking the confidence to share a voice she knew she had Jude finally started singing aged 50 but only two years later in 2011 myalgic encephalomyelitis was diagnosed. Performing as with most areas of life came to an abrupt halt. Jude had qualified as an Interior Designer and was building up a significant freelance business amongst other things when health issues intervened.
Not one to be put off by the limitations presented to her Jude unexpectedly found herself writing poetry and then lyrics and coming up with musical doodles which she would hum or sing into her phone. Along with continuing where possible to work with a series of vocal coaches, Jude managed to learn about songwriting through online courses and 121 tuition and in 2016 brought out her first album This Girl, This Woman produced and arranged by renowned jazz composer and pianist, Janette Mason. The launch hosted by Rosie Millard OBE was supported by a successful Crowdfunding campaign and Arts Council England. This attracted quite a lot of media attention and inspired Jude to move forwards.
In 2017 Jude started performing a little again and continued writing new material.
The Window to My Soul followed in 2019 accompanied by a memoir of the same name and in October 2022 Jude’s third album Freedom was released.
Albums 2 and 3 also saw Jude developing her portfolio of visual art showing in person and with TWTMS, when the pandemic hit, online with The Alternative Spring Tour, before Zoom even became the norm!
At every stage of Jude’s musical adventure, through a natural curiosity and something of a fierce determination, she has set her bar higher – always seeking to learn more and develop her skills to become an accomplished and respected musician and singer. From starting to sing, starting to write – the music and words on 28/30 songs on her first 3 albums are her own – to becoming hands on in the production of her work.
For the last 5 years Jude has worked closely with Georgia Train (Burt Bacharach, Kaiser Chiefs, Bitter Ruin, Xenomania, Hookers Songs) as her vocal coach, mentor and one of her co-producers. A fourth project taking Jude in yet another musical direction is underway and is due to be recorded in March 2023 as she approaches her 65th year. One of Jude’s firm beliefs is that age should not get in the way of aspirations. “New talent should not always mean young talent.”