As a story teller Adam Traum wraps his catchy hooks with infectious grooves. His songs have a consistent verve, which reflects his belief in music as an essential element of the human experience. The material Adam writes evokes images of an Americana landscape spinning tales of love, heartbreak, beauty and the occasional observational diatribe. When he performs live Adam brings his sunny disposition and genuine love of playing music to the stage. His tasteful instrumental chops and relaxed but powerful voice are a great compliment to his well-crafted songs.
The rootstock of Traum's music germinated in the fertile ground of the Catskill Mountains. He was raised in a musical family in Woodstock, New York, with a front row seat to music history. His passion for music was enhanced by going to many festivals and shows in his formative years. As an aspiring guitarist Traum was always welcome to pick along at jam sessions with family friends, many of whom happened to be musical luminaries.
Traum regularly raided his father's record collection listening to the masters of electric blues, country and folk in addition to regular doses of rock albums he got at the local record store. He would spend hours playing along and figuring out his favorite riffs. Thanks to the time spent exploring these musical avenues, he became a well-rounded musician able to nimbly shift between genres.
After tenures in several rock bands as a young musician, Traum found the truth, beauty and honesty in the roots music he was raised around. One year at MerleFest in North Carolina, he had a musical epiphany after seeing Tony Rice play guitar. No gimmicks, no effects: just wood and steel! It was music made by people, for people. The authenticity of that performance is the benchmark he continually strives for whether playing acoustic or electric music.