Adam Bolt Writes Songs That Mean Something

Posted March 09, 2023 by Billy Chandler

His first stage was the lunchroom.

Adam Bolt is a singer/songwriter with a new album coming out. He tells stories with his songs that will make you laugh and make you cry – and that’s what he loves most. “I don’t like to write a sad song without a resolution. But I also don’t want to be all happy all the time. You need both for balance.”

Adam began getting serious about music in high school when a bunch of his classmates started performing battle rap in the lunchroom. “They were getting a lot of attention, and I wanted some of that!” He enjoys playing with words, so the format was a great first endeavor at real songwriting. Eventually, he and some of his buddies formed a little rap band and they recorded after school.

These days his music is more likely to remind you more of John Prine than Ice-T. He says his songs are something of a personal journal – and his fans can get insight on his life’s challenges and successes by listening closely to what he’s writing about.

These days he is writing from an especially good place in his life; he recently got married and he finds that the experience of assuming more responsibility has actually increased his creativity. “After I got married it seemed like there were a lot of new songs just flowing out of me.”

He also says this new life situation is allowing him to learn more about the power of positivity – and he’s starting to take himself and his music more seriously. And that is leading to new opportunities. He recently played as the opener for a huge concert headlined by the popular band 49 Winchester. And he’s getting ready to play at the Paramount.

The new album was recorded live at the old Smyth Chapel Church in Emory (it’s no longer a church, but it is an event facility), and it will be available soon on all streaming sources. He jokes that he might make CDs available as “a nostalgia thing. Folks can use it for a coaster!”

Enjoy a conversation with Adam on the Duck Pond Wall podcast, and learn the touching story behind one of his signature songs, Coke for the Road.

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Adam Bolt
Emory & Henry Class of 2012

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Adam Bolt Writes Songs That Mean Something

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