Following the release of his heavy hitting single ‘Rubber Band’, London based multi-instrumentalist Adam French brings his upcoming second album and genre-blending sound to Pelham Street on 27th January 2024. We thought we should get to know him a bit better!
Hey Adam! Welcome to The Bodega, how are you feeling ahead of the tour?
Hello there! I’m excited to be touring again, it’s been a little while. Can’t wait to come back to Nottingham!
This January run of shows will be your first UK shows for three years. Fill us in, what have you been up to since you last came to Notts?
I know! Covid hindered 2020 plans like it did for everyone, but we’re all bored of hearing about that. I’ve spent the last 2 years writing and producing my next album. I’ve also gotten into writing and producing music for other artists as well as writing a few bits and bobs for movies, TV and Netflix etc.
Any memories from previous shows in Notts?
The first time I played in Nottingham was at Dot To Dot Festival in 2018, maybe 19? I had no idea what to expect, but was greeted by a full room in the basement of Rock City, it was honestly one of the most enjoyable shows I’d ever played. The warmth, the community, the welcoming. Nottingham holds a special place in my heart, for sure.
You recently released your explosive new single ‘Rubber Band’, how did that song come into fruition and was it something you’ve been working on for a while?
I actually wrote ‘Rubber Band’ in 2022, but I was still trying to figure out what my next album would look, feel and sound like. In the months that followed, everything got a shot of ‘loud’ and I started writing songs that felt more influenced by my youth and the bands I grew up on. My first album was a departure from my previous band, so everything was down, subtle and softer. I fell in love with real strings in the process of making my debut ‘The Backfoot and The Rapture’ so once we’d recorded cello for ‘Rubber Band’ I had a pretty good idea of what album 2 should feel like. My youthful, rebellious angst with a touch of melancholy.
What goes into tour preparation for you and do you find that a run of shows is a good opportunity to test out new material?
Always. We’ll rehearse until it’s as water tight as possible, then it’s down to the people that matter to decide whether the songs are good enough or not. Fans warming to new songs is a beautiful thing. We haven’t been egged off yet so hopefully the new stuff is doing what it should be doing…
Talking of new material, can we expect to hear any new tracks soon?
Absolutely, I have a new single dropping this side of Christmas, and before you ask – it’s not a Christmas song. It’ll be a part of the tour, along with several other new dittys that I’m hoping the good people of Nottingham will approve of.
Lastly, are there any wild pre show rituals we should know about / be prepared for?
Not massively, we always ensure that the fridge is suitably stocked with Peroni for the aftershow, then beforehand I’ll polish off about 7 brews an hour, usually Tetley in the lead up… It’s as close to a ritual as I’ve ever been. Rock and roll! Though, I do have it on good authority that Nottingham loves a knees up, so I’m very much looking forward to coming back.
Have a great show we’ll see you soon!
Thanks for having me, See you in Jan!
A x
Tickets for Adam French on 27th January are available here.
New single ‘Inevitable’ is out on Friday 19th January.
Interview by Fin Heighton-Jupp.