Our Vintage Film

Adam Swink is an emerging young musician and songwriter from Washington, DC, who released his first EP entitled “Not What It Seems” in November 2006. The CD received rave reviews and Adam began selling out DC area venues such as Jammin’ Java. Adam is hard at work on his new EP, Seasonal Delivery, due out in May. Having just played a show with One Tree Hill’s Kate Voegele, 17 year old Adam Swink sat down with Fizzkicks for an uninhibited look into his music.
Fizzkicks: Tell Me a little bit about how you got started in music?
Adam: I guess my first real inspiration was Michael Jackson, I really liked his music and moves. I always tried to imitate him which got me interested in dancing. I ended up getting into Hip-Hop dancing, focusing on Poppin’ and Lockin’ and then also began to play piano. I started to use my piano (electric keyboard) to make Hip-Hop beats. Then the greatest thing happened to me one day when I was taking piano lessons. The owner of Jammin’ Java was subbing in for my teacher and I really liked his method, I asked him if he was taking on new students and he’s been my songwriting mentor ever since. Actually he’s now my producer.
Fizzkicks: Is that Daniel Brindley?
Adam: Yeah. He kinda pulled me away from the Hip Hop Scene and helped me progress to the Pop, Rock, Acoustic sound. At that time I only knew how to play the piano and really wanted to work on my voice. Daniel introduced me to Mary Ann Redmond who I credit for a lot, she has taught me so much. She has the most amazing, soulful voice. Man, she really polished me up, even on my first lesson! Currently I’m not taking lessons with her because I’m taking Music Theory classes so I can write better songs (laughs). I’m also taking this academy class called Computer and Music Technology and basically you learn all about recording technology.
Fizzkicks: How would you Categorize your music?
Adam: Pop, Acoustic, Alternative.
Fizzkicks: Who are some of your musical influences?
Adam: Jacks Mannequin and Duncan Sheik. Imogen Heap and The Postal Service have influenced the EP I’m working on right now b/c it has some electronical elements to it.
Fizzkicks: Are your songs a reflection of your personal expirences?
Adam: Almost all my songs are a reflection of my personal expirences, or my friends.
Fizzkicks: How about your writing process?
Adam: I don’t really have one! (laughs) Maybe I’ll write an idea down when I’m in class, you know, about what’s happening in my life…and pull it out later. If something really strong happens to me I try to write about it right away. Usually it takes a few weeks for a song to get down. I guess my writing process is slow because I like everything to be perfect, I’m not one of those people who can write a song in 15 minutes. I’m not John Lennon or Paul McCartney. (laughs)
Fizzkicks: What drives you?Adam: Creating something, something I made, from the way I’m feeling about an event in my life…it’s just amazing. I play (music) everyday, I just really enjoy it!

Fizzkicks: Your song, “I Can’t Bear,” won first place in the Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Contest (Young Artist Category). What made you chose that song?
Adam: It’s the best song off of my EP and it’s just so personal to me. I wrote it during my freshman year when I really had hit a low point, became anti-social, the whole boy/girl thing…you know. It’s just the truth, if you listen to the lyrics- it’s all about me.
Fizzkicks: Which one of your songs do you feel connects best with your audience?
Adam: I notice that a lot of people will sing along to “Save Me” at shows and they tell me how much they like it. People will tell me that “I Can’t Bear” is their favorite. There’s a song I’m working on called “Abstract.” It’s about the Six Degree Theory, how the universe is connected, God…I think people really connect with that.
Fizzkicks: When you look into the future, where do you see your music career in four years?
Adam: As of right now I’m looking at music schools, Berkley, Columbia, USC. I’d like to major in Producing and minor in Music Business. I really just want to make it big, without a music label, by getting my name out there. I guess if that happens before college then I’ll take a year off and just play (music). It’s really a split decision right now.
Fizzkicks: What would you really like to accomplish this year?
Adam: I’d really like to have my name out there…to like every school in my county. Playing shows at venues that I haven’t played before and, of course, releasing another album.
Fizzkicks: What is your all time favorite album?
Adam: It probably doesn’t count but it’s a mixed tape I got from a girl who broke my heart. It’s about 40 songs that I really didn’t like at the time, but have grown on me and I almost feel like I have become the music she put on that CD.
Fizzkicks: Your recorded your song, “Save Me” in your basement. Do you prefer the “basement” sound over a studio sound?
Adam: Well mo - www.fizzkicks.com

MilkBoy Coffee plays host to Philadelphia Songwriters Project 2009 Finals Competition
Main Line Media News
Published: Wednesday, June 3, 2009
By Caitlin Chasar
“American Idol” may be over for the season, but there’s a similar contest happening right on the Main Line filled with talented songwriters from the Philadelphia area. The Philadelphia Songwriters Project has done an excellent job in organizing the competition. A PSP committee opened up submissions from local songwriters of any age, genre and level of experience until mid-April. There were over 200 submissions coming from all over the world, including the United Arab Emirates and Ireland. Round 1 submissions were reviewed by a professional musician panel and the panel selected their twelve favorite artists. The semi-finalists were announced at a live show at Milkboy Coffee on May 11.

The semi-finalists are from many genres including rock, alternative, pop, jazz, soul, ambient instrumentals, percussion, folk, classical, and Gypsy-Klezmer and all different age groups from late teens to senior citizens. The twelve finalists included Dante Bucci, Kelly Ruth, Brian Dilts, Jon Dichter, the Jones Girls, Dawn Iulg, Angella Irwin, Andrea Carlson, Ross Bellenoit, Jim Maher, Leon Mitchell and Adam Swink.

Most of the contestants that are participating in this competition are from the Philadelphia area and have performed in several local shows.
When you hear these artists perform, you realize how determined and devoted they are to making it big in the music industry. Most have MySpace pages filled with music they ‘ve written and recorded and other information to promote their music.

As for experience in the songwriting business, there is clearly an array of levels. Take Adam Swink, an 18 year old alternative-pop songwriter who began his career at age 12 when he traded his PlayStation for an audio system. That ‘s just one example of a participant ‘s dedication to success.
On the other side of the experience spectrum are The Jones Girls, a Soul/R&B trio of sisters originally from Detroit who have gone through many trials to get where they are today. They began creating hits in the ’70s and have worked as background singers with an array of well-known artists including Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin and Teddy Prendergrass. But they have also had their own success, including breaking the Billboard Top 40 and hitting the R&B charts more than ten times. Shirley Jones of the Jones Girls has had a successful solo career as well, having a#1 R&B hit on Billboard with Do You Get Enough Love. The group has ties in Philadelphia as part of the Philadelphia International Record Label. Artists like Patti Labelle, the O ‘Jays and the Jacksons have all be a part of the Philadelphia International Label. The Jones Girls could pose as a serious contender to the rest of the competitors.

But the Jones Girls and Adam Swink are only two of the twelve competitors vying for a spot in becoming one of the six finalists. There are ten other performers you can sample at this competition. This type of stripped down talent is far different than the “American Idol” singers covering famous artists ‘ songs. In the final round, these twelve musicians will be vying for the six winning slots.

June 7 marks the final round of the competition and the audience and professional musician panel will be responsible for selecting the six winners of the 2009 Philadelphia Songwriters Program competition. Each performer will play two songs so you can get a feel for what they really sound like.
The prizes for the six top winners are that they will be performing at three major music festivals along the east coast. These concerts are at the Kimmel Center Summer Solstice, the Bethlehem Musik fest, and the Philadelphia Folk Festival. These concerts are viewed as some of the most prestigious concerts around.

You can catch these twelve talented singer-songwriters on Sunday, June 7 at 4 p.m. at Milkboy Coffee in Ardmore. This show will be especially exciting because the six winners will be announced at this concert. Tickets are available for purchase in advance or at the day of the show at Milkboy Coffee for $10 each. In order to buy tickets in advance or for more information about the Philadelphia Songwriters Project, please visit www.phillysongwriters.com.
- Main Line Media

MilkBoy Coffee plays host to Philadelphia Songwriters Project 2009 Finals Competition
Main Line Media News
Published: Wednesday, June 3, 2009
By Caitlin Chasar
“American Idol” may be over for the season, but there’s a similar contest happening right on the Main Line filled with talented songwriters from the Philadelphia area. The Philadelphia Songwriters Project has done an excellent job in organizing the competition. A PSP committee opened up submissions from local songwriters of any age, genre and level of experience until mid-April. There were over 200 submissions coming from all over the world, including the United Arab Emirates and Ireland. Round 1 submissions were reviewed by a professional musician panel and the panel selected their twelve favorite artists. The semi-finalists were announced at a live show at Milkboy Coffee on May 11.

The semi-finalists are from many genres including rock, alternative, pop, jazz, soul, ambient instrumentals, percussion, folk, classical, and Gypsy-Klezmer and all different age groups from late teens to senior citizens. The twelve finalists included Dante Bucci, Kelly Ruth, Brian Dilts, Jon Dichter, the Jones Girls, Dawn Iulg, Angella Irwin, Andrea Carlson, Ross Bellenoit, Jim Maher, Leon Mitchell and Adam Swink.

Most of the contestants that are participating in this competition are from the Philadelphia area and have performed in several local shows.
When you hear these artists perform, you realize how determined and devoted they are to making it big in the music industry. Most have MySpace pages filled with music they ‘ve written and recorded and other information to promote their music.

As for experience in the songwriting business, there is clearly an array of levels. Take Adam Swink, an 18 year old alternative-pop songwriter who began his career at age 12 when he traded his PlayStation for an audio system. That ‘s just one example of a participant ‘s dedication to success.
On the other side of the experience spectrum are The Jones Girls, a Soul/R&B trio of sisters originally from Detroit who have gone through many trials to get where they are today. They began creating hits in the ’70s and have worked as background singers with an array of well-known artists including Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin and Teddy Prendergrass. But they have also had their own success, including breaking the Billboard Top 40 and hitting the R&B charts more than ten times. Shirley Jones of the Jones Girls has had a successful solo career as well, having a#1 R&B hit on Billboard with Do You Get Enough Love. The group has ties in Philadelphia as part of the Philadelphia International Record Label. Artists like Patti Labelle, the O ‘Jays and the Jacksons have all be a part of the Philadelphia International Label. The Jones Girls could pose as a serious contender to the rest of the competitors.

But the Jones Girls and Adam Swink are only two of the twelve competitors vying for a spot in becoming one of the six finalists. There are ten other performers you can sample at this competition. This type of stripped down talent is far different than the “American Idol” singers covering famous artists ‘ songs. In the final round, these twelve musicians will be vying for the six winning slots.

June 7 marks the final round of the competition and the audience and professional musician panel will be responsible for selecting the six winners of the 2009 Philadelphia Songwriters Program competition. Each performer will play two songs so you can get a feel for what they really sound like.
The prizes for the six top winners are that they will be performing at three major music festivals along the east coast. These concerts are at the Kimmel Center Summer Solstice, the Bethlehem Musik fest, and the Philadelphia Folk Festival. These concerts are viewed as some of the most prestigious concerts around.

You can catch these twelve talented singer-songwriters on Sunday, June 7 at 4 p.m. at Milkboy Coffee in Ardmore. This show will be especially exciting because the six winners will be announced at this concert. Tickets are available for purchase in advance or at the day of the show at Milkboy Coffee for $10 each. In order to buy tickets in advance or for more information about the Philadelphia Songwriters Project, please visit www.phillysongwriters.com.
- Main Line Media

Catch Our Vintage Film playing at 2:30 p.m. at the Jaeger Stage at Sunday's Fashion Meets Music Festival. Watch the video player above as they sing "Blur" live on Sunday's Good Day Columbus! GDC Links: - Our Vintage Film on the Web, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instragram SoundCloud - Good Day Columbus on ABC News 6