Adam Simmons

How long have you been living locally? What suburb are you in?

We moved into Northcote back in 1997. First we were in Separation St, at about the narrowest point in the street - I think the only reason we could afford it was a mixture of the street being quite a thoroughfare, plus the old tip was still in operation… luckily for us the agent’s story about it being turned into a park did come through a couple of years later. But now we’re down near Merri Creek.

What do you love about your home town/suburb?

As a place to live, its suited our lifestyles really well. The fact we have a billabong and creek behind us helps us forget we’re so close to the city - except that we have easy access to that. As a place known for having a high number of artists, I can testify to the fact that many of my performances, rehearsals and colleagues are often just a few short minutes away. It has gentrified somewhat over the past 23 years - I remember when you could always get a park on High St in front of the small handful of restaurants in the street, including Toto’s Pizza Restaurant. Now its a bit different, but there is still a good mix of old and new, without having gone over the top.

What genre of music do you generally play? 

I’m probably most thought of as a jazz musician, and maybe on the more contemporary to experimental side, but I have played pretty much everything including blues, latin, punk, thrash, Persian, Indian, traditional Zen Buddhist, musical theatre, country, rock, classical, noise and more.

Are you a solo artist and/or do you play with a band? Would you like to list them?

I do perform solo often, but more often leading my own ensembles, Origami, a jazz trio,  and the more expansive Adam Simmons Creative Music Ensemble. A bunch of other groups I play with include: The Pearly Shells, Crushing Thatch, The Gene Tree Project, Jules Boult, Pugsley Buzzard,  

Where is your favourite live music venue to play locally?

Oooh… don’t make me play favourites!! Bar 303 has been pivotal over many years and I still enjoy playing in the front bar occasionally. Northcote Social Club is great for a not-too sticky carpet showcase gig, or Thornbury Theatre is great for when you want a real sense of occasion. Northcote Uniting Church offers a beautiful, resonant space to fill. But Eastmint may be the friendliest with their intimate setting and the yummy hospitality they offer. 

Where is your favourite live music venue to play in world-wide?

Well, Alchemia in Krakow feels like I could be in Northcote (just more vodka!), Apollo Jazz Club in Tokyo fits less than a dozen people though has such a vibe, playing in the Sydney Opera House is a real buzz, but one of my favourites places in the world has to be Le Vallon Dore in New Caledonia - a touch of bohemia in the tropics and the parties can go to dawn.

If you could play with any other musician in the world, who would it be?

You’re making me work! I’ve been fortunate to play with many great artists, including some of my childhood (and adult) heroes - and really, I'd be happy to play with any one of them again and again. But still on the wishlist - English artist, Robert Wyatt, NY no-wave iconoclast, Arto Lindsay, Sevdaliza whose MOFO gig knocked me out or Swamp Dogg, who is an unsung legend from the USA.

Some artists have part time/full time jobs when they are not gigging – do you have one? (and do you want to share it?)

I’ve always juggled a range of activities, but It all comes from skills required for surviving as an artist - I teach shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) and woodwinds on a casual basis at University of Melbourne and privately. I have been a festival director for the likes of Wangaratta Festival of Jazz & Blues and Festival of Slow Music. I do a range freelance recordings/performances/workshops. After 30+ years of experience, I am now offering mentoring, grant-writing advice and advocacy via my arts consultancy, The Usefulness of Art. 

What hobby have you taken up during isolation? (eg. baking sourdough!)

I wish… too many Zoom meetings! But for a period there I was doing a daily ritual of a Facebook Live video of my folding origami… I’m trying to just get back to playing my instruments again on a more regular basis.

What are you looking forward to doing again, post COVID-19 restrictions?

Sharing music in live situations again. I love recordings and I love that technology makes things accessible, but for me they are not the same as live performance. Art is about communicating, sharing and connecting - it goes both ways between the artist and the audience and I believe that has become even more apparent during this pandemic.

What has been your favourite thing about isolation?

Zoom and the fact we’re all in together - literally! It is a blessing and curse, but because of technology, everyone around the world is meeting in the same virtual office/study/lounge room. And I don’t have to travel anywhere to get to the next meeting

What has been the hardest part about isolation?

At the beginning, the disruption of several years of planning for a year of international travel as well as a new music festival. More lingering though is a low-level of physical anxiety caused in part by the general uncertainty of the future and an existential crisis about whether my purpose for being an artist, ie. bringing people together to connect through a shared, communal experience, will ever be realised in the manner we have had till now. 

If people want to learn more about your music where can they head to?

I’m pretty easy to find with a quick Google, just don’t mix me up with the off-Broadway singer or the UK racing car driver of the same name. My website gives an idea of my activities (www.adamsimmons.com). For my music the best is to support me via Bandcamp (fatrain.bandcamp.com) which is a really supportive platform for artists for both physical and digital formats, and you can “try before you buy”. And I’ve just begun to embrace streaming services like Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/1zkwrfokBqKmgpuI8iqiPj?si=1vguxCWVTOCUNIXiF92PnQ, Apple Music and the like - look for Adam Simmons and/or Origami. If you don’t believe that I’ve played all those styles of music, then maybe check out “100:25:1”, my 2015 project involving 100 of Melbourne’s fantastically diverse musicians (www.100251.com.au).

I’ve actually got a CD being released on Aug 28 - “Zatoczka - Tribute to Komeda” via Bandcamp/Spotify

- Bandcamp (pre-order and you can listen to the first two singles) - https://fatrain.bandcamp.com/album/zatoczka-tribute-to-komeda

- Spotify - single link: https://open.spotify.com/track/0rhPJc3VIXyVw62kJ7i6ry?si=D9wqURaYTmOCUXYN0lYRiA

- Teaser vid (footage filmed around Merri Creek by Jean Poole): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3tHF7WiXWI