Meet Adam Chester

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Adam Chester. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Adam, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
If I have an idea, I’ll run it into wall after wall. Looking for that ONE spot where there’s a little crack in the wall. Barely visible. Yet penetrable. And if for any reason, the idea gets stalled, my mind doesn’t abandon that idea. It hangs on to it and moves on to the next idea. And the next idea. I guess I’ve started comparing myself to that character from that old black and white television show called The Honeymooners, starring Jackie Gleason. He played Ralph Kramden. A guy who always thinks his next big idea is gonna take both he and his wife to where all of their dreams can finally come true. But where I differ from Ralph is that I don’t care anymore if these big ideas take off right now. I’m more concerned that they take off after I’m gone, so at least my kids can tell people I might have been a genius.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I have always been a musician to the core. Sometimes the entire world feels like some sort of super tragic compelling engaging musical that someone needs to write. But then again, I feel that way about my day jobs too. They’ve all deserved to be made into their own primetime sitcoms.
My piano playing gigs deserve THEIR own shows too with all of the characters I’ve gotten to “not really know but know” over the years. And let’s not forget about my home life! Well, that IS becoming a feature film at this point but we can talk about that when it actually happens.
I believe the goal for us all should be to enjoy whatever we’re doing, try not to hurt one another, and make an effort to come hear me play at The Sunset Marquis on a Tuesday night in Hollywood!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The death of my 43 year old father from pancreatic cancer when I was 8 years old changed everything. At a very young age, it made me grapple with the finite nature of everything, brought me closer and then further apart with my mother, and centered me in music and comedy based on things that go wrong.

The 2nd impactful moment in my life turned out to be the music video I made with Scott Alexander and Howard Besserman at USC for my song, “Think I’m Goin’ Crazy”. That truly started my professional life as an artist as it got me on MTV! From there I was meeting and recording with Barry White, and then working with Sir Elton John from 2005 to the current day.
Having had posters of Elton all over my bedroom walls from the age of 12 to 18, that was my ultimate career dream come true. So my advice for folks who are just beginning their journey is that you must believe that everything happens for a reason. When you stop TRYING TO BE something or someone, you’ll find out exactly who you are and what you’re meant to do. And I highly suggest investing in some posters of things that interest you to hang on your walls.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I look to collaborate with people who have no filters. If you have something to say? Then say it! I also need to work with someone who is fine with being a true partner who sees not only their own potential, but appreciates and values the potential in creating something new, together.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Pic 1 – Main Pic- by Rory Lewis Pic 2 – Me hitting my mother with a cane- Debbie Richard Alexander the other pics are uncredited.

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