Adam Watts (musician)
Encyclopedia
Adam Watts is an American rock
and pop
artist, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and engineer. His songwriting and productions are featured on over 45 million records sold worldwide in the mainstream and contemporary Christian music
industries.
. He came from a musical family. His grandmother was a Hawaiian style steel guitar player and teacher, his mother plays accordion and piano, his father plays guitar and sings. His older brother plays guitar and his younger sister is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and producer. Adam began playing drums at the age of 10, inspired by the drummer in his brother's band which rehearsed in the home. Watts is a devout Christian. His faith is evident in much of his work as a songwriter.
Watts studied drumming throughout his late childhood and teens studying with various drum teachers including Glenn Young, John Hannon, Roy Burns, Evan Stone, Jim Wunderlich and Mike Jackson (in the Mission Viejo High School Drumline 1991-1994), Dave Weckl, Chad Wackerman, Joey Heredia. In 1993 he was the local winner of the Santa Ana Guitar Center Drum-Offs. In 1994 he won the National Will Calhoun Drum Solo Scholarship Contest Sponsored by Sonor Drums. In 1995, Watts attended Saddleback community college where he studied music and philosophy. Opting to leave after only one year to pursue a career in music full time.
Watts was the drummer of local Orange County band Bulkhead (along with OC Supertones bassist Tony Terusa) from 1994-1997. In 1996 Adam contributed drum tracks to Gannin Arnold's pop/rock indie solo release entitled "One". He played his drums in various funk and top 40 cover bands in the Orange County/L.A. club scene including The Strangers, Stone Jonez and Soul Shaker. It was around this time that he began writing songs, singing, producing his own music. He also began to play live (singing and playing guitar) with various backing musicians and band members including Gannin Arnold, Melvin Davis, Adam Marcello, Drew Hester, Andy Dodd, Bill Mohler, Nate Wood, Luke Agajanian and Derek Frank.
In 2000 he contributed drums to bassist Melvin Davis's jazz/fusion solo album Tomorrow's Yesterday and percussion to Pax217's album TwoSeventeen. In 2001 Adam and his sister Jenn Watts wrote the theme song for the movie Pootie Tang. This kick-started his career as a full time songwriter and producer. This year also saw the birth of his production company RED DECIBEL with Andy Dodd. Watts and Dodd produced Christian pop/rock artist Jeremy Camp
's 6 song indie E.P. which led to Jeremy's signing with BEC Recordings. Watts and Dodd produced and recorded the majority of Jeremy Camp's first two albums Stay and Carried Me in a three month span in Watt's childhood home in Mission Viejo, CA in late 2001. Stay and Carried Me were both eventually RIAA Certified Gold. Watts and Dodd continued working with Camp throughout his career on his albums Restored
, Beyond Measure
and Live Unplugged
. Watts and Dodd also produced various other contemporary Christian albums for 'Jadon Lavik
' and 'The OC Supertones and Maranatha Music.
In 2003, Watts and Dodd were connected to pop artist Jesse McCartney
through the independent A&R company TAXI. They wrote the songs Take Your Sweet TIme and Beautiful Soul
for McCartney which led to his signing with Disney's Hollywood Records
. Beautiful Soul became the title track and first single on Jesse's first Hollywood Records release. It went on to become a worldwide smash hit reaching number 5 on the Billboard Pop 100 Charts, number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100
, number 5 on Pop 100 Airplay
and number 23 on the Adult Contemporary Charts. The "Beautiful Soul" video spent the maximum amount of time (50 days) on MTV's Total Request Live top 10 videos show. The album Beautiful Soul
went Platinum in 2004. The song appeared on various compilations and soundtracks including the That's So Raven
Soundtrack, A Cinderella Story
Soundtrack and Kids Bop 7.
Watts signed a publishing deal with Walt Disney Music Publishing in 2004 and went on the write and/or produce (with Andy Dodd) on Aly and AJ's album Into The Rush
, High School Musical
1, 2 and 3, Hannah Montana
seasons 1, 2, 3 and 4, Jump In Soundtrack, Go Figure
Soundtrack, Everlife
's Walt Disney Records
self titled release and Ingram Hill
, The Chronicles Of Narnia Prince Caspian end titles song "This Is Home", co written with Switchfoot, Kelly Clarkson's "Can We Go Back", Camp Rock
1 & 2 and The Jonas Brothers among others.
To date, Watts and Dodd's songs and productions have appeared on over 50 million albums sold worldwide.
In partnership with filmmaker Daniel Chesnut, 2010 saw the formation of MiNDFRAME CREATiVE. The new company will focus on film projects including music videos and feature films.
In 2011 RED DECIBEL added songwriter, producer, guitarist Gannin Arnold to their team. In addition to writing and recording new artist Joel Piper, they are currently working with new Hollywood Records signing, all girl rock group Cherri Bomb on their debut album.
's best selling book The Purpose Driven Life
), and The Left Behind 2 Soundtrack. 2003 Watts signed to BEC Recordings
and released his critically acclaimed first album The Noise Inside. He was named one of Christianity Today
's Best New Artists in 2004. In 2005 Watts amicably left BEC Recordings to pursue an indie career. In 2006 Watts independently released his album "Sleeping Fire". Christianity Today gave it a rare 5 star review and named it one of the Best Albums of 2007.
After the breakup of his alt/rock project, FALLBORN in early 2010, Watts went to work on his third solo effort entitled "Murder Yesterday". The album released worldwide digitally, on September 21, 2010.
"Murder Yesterday" marks a return to Watts' singer-songwriter roots. While in the past Watts' used piano only intermittently, this album's material relies heavily on the instrument, as well as a more spacious, organic production style. The extensive collaboration with the Los Angeles based strings group, The Section Quartet (Foo Fighters, Snow Patrol, Ryan Adams) served to further distinguish "Murder Yesterday" from previous works.
Watt's toured through New York, Chicago, L.A. and Seattle as part of best-selling author Cornelia Funke's "Get Reckless Tour". Watts performed the song "Reckless" which was inspired by Funke's book of the same name.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
artist, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and engineer. His songwriting and productions are featured on over 45 million records sold worldwide in the mainstream and contemporary Christian music
Christian music
Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely across the world....
industries.
Biography
Adam Watts was born in Laguna Beach, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He came from a musical family. His grandmother was a Hawaiian style steel guitar player and teacher, his mother plays accordion and piano, his father plays guitar and sings. His older brother plays guitar and his younger sister is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and producer. Adam began playing drums at the age of 10, inspired by the drummer in his brother's band which rehearsed in the home. Watts is a devout Christian. His faith is evident in much of his work as a songwriter.
Watts studied drumming throughout his late childhood and teens studying with various drum teachers including Glenn Young, John Hannon, Roy Burns, Evan Stone, Jim Wunderlich and Mike Jackson (in the Mission Viejo High School Drumline 1991-1994), Dave Weckl, Chad Wackerman, Joey Heredia. In 1993 he was the local winner of the Santa Ana Guitar Center Drum-Offs. In 1994 he won the National Will Calhoun Drum Solo Scholarship Contest Sponsored by Sonor Drums. In 1995, Watts attended Saddleback community college where he studied music and philosophy. Opting to leave after only one year to pursue a career in music full time.
Watts was the drummer of local Orange County band Bulkhead (along with OC Supertones bassist Tony Terusa) from 1994-1997. In 1996 Adam contributed drum tracks to Gannin Arnold's pop/rock indie solo release entitled "One". He played his drums in various funk and top 40 cover bands in the Orange County/L.A. club scene including The Strangers, Stone Jonez and Soul Shaker. It was around this time that he began writing songs, singing, producing his own music. He also began to play live (singing and playing guitar) with various backing musicians and band members including Gannin Arnold, Melvin Davis, Adam Marcello, Drew Hester, Andy Dodd, Bill Mohler, Nate Wood, Luke Agajanian and Derek Frank.
In 2000 he contributed drums to bassist Melvin Davis's jazz/fusion solo album Tomorrow's Yesterday and percussion to Pax217's album TwoSeventeen. In 2001 Adam and his sister Jenn Watts wrote the theme song for the movie Pootie Tang. This kick-started his career as a full time songwriter and producer. This year also saw the birth of his production company RED DECIBEL with Andy Dodd. Watts and Dodd produced Christian pop/rock artist Jeremy Camp
Jeremy Camp
Jeremy Thomas Camp is a contemporary Christian musician from Lafayette, Indiana. Camp has released seven albums, four of them RIAA-certified as Gold and two are live albums, and 17 number-one hit songs...
's 6 song indie E.P. which led to Jeremy's signing with BEC Recordings. Watts and Dodd produced and recorded the majority of Jeremy Camp's first two albums Stay and Carried Me in a three month span in Watt's childhood home in Mission Viejo, CA in late 2001. Stay and Carried Me were both eventually RIAA Certified Gold. Watts and Dodd continued working with Camp throughout his career on his albums Restored
Restored
-Enhanced edition:-Deluxe gold edition:-Standard Australian release:-Awards:In 2006, the album was nominated for a Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year at the 37th GMA Dove Awards. The song "Lay Down My Pride" was also nominated for Rock Recorded Song of the Year....
, Beyond Measure
Beyond Measure
Beyond Measure is the fifth album by Jeremy Camp, released on October 31, 2006. It includes the singles "Tonight", "What It Means" and "Let It Fade".He recorded this album shortly after marrying his Adrienne...
and Live Unplugged
Live Unplugged
Live Unplugged is an unplugged album by Estonian rock band Smilers. It features both a CD and a DVD.- Track listing :# "Olen kuul" [I'm a bullet] # "Sinu süles" [In your lap]...
. Watts and Dodd also produced various other contemporary Christian albums for 'Jadon Lavik
Jadon Lavik
Jadon Lavik is a CCM singer-songwriter formerly signed with BEC Recordings.Lavik was on the If I Had One Chance to Tell You Something Tour with Rebecca St...
' and 'The OC Supertones and Maranatha Music.
In 2003, Watts and Dodd were connected to pop artist Jesse McCartney
Jesse McCartney
Jesse McCartney is an American singer-songwriter, actor and voice actor. McCartney achieved fame in the late 1990s on the daytime drama All My Children as JR Chandler. He later joined boy band Dream Street, and eventually branched out into a solo musical career...
through the independent A&R company TAXI. They wrote the songs Take Your Sweet TIme and Beautiful Soul
Beautiful Soul
- Taiwan Special Edition :* CD# "She's No You" – 3:35# "Beautiful Soul" – 3:50# "Get Your Shine On" – 3:35# "Take Your Sweet Time" – 3:44# "Without U" – 3:32# "Why Don't You Kiss Her?" – 4:11...
for McCartney which led to his signing with Disney's Hollywood Records
Hollywood Records
Hollywood Records is an American record label owned by Disney Music Group, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company.-History:Hollywood Records was founded in 1989 by then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner with the idea of expanding the music operations of the company and to develop and promote...
. Beautiful Soul became the title track and first single on Jesse's first Hollywood Records release. It went on to become a worldwide smash hit reaching number 5 on the Billboard Pop 100 Charts, number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, number 5 on Pop 100 Airplay
Pop 100 Airplay
The Pop 100 Airplay was a chart created in 2005 and released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It measured mainstream radio airplay, and was one of the three component charts, along with the Hot 100 Singles Sales and Hot Digital Songs charts, that determined the chart positions of singles...
and number 23 on the Adult Contemporary Charts. The "Beautiful Soul" video spent the maximum amount of time (50 days) on MTV's Total Request Live top 10 videos show. The album Beautiful Soul
Beautiful Soul
- Taiwan Special Edition :* CD# "She's No You" – 3:35# "Beautiful Soul" – 3:50# "Get Your Shine On" – 3:35# "Take Your Sweet Time" – 3:44# "Without U" – 3:32# "Why Don't You Kiss Her?" – 4:11...
went Platinum in 2004. The song appeared on various compilations and soundtracks including the That's So Raven
That's So Raven
That's So Raven is an American cable television teen sitcom/fantasy series. The show premiered on the Disney Channel on January 17, 2003, and ended on November 10, 2007. The show spawned Disney Channel's first spin-off series: Cory in the House...
Soundtrack, A Cinderella Story
A Cinderella Story
A Cinderella Story is a 2004 American romantic comedy film. The film stars Hilary Duff, Jennifer Coolidge, Chad Michael Murray and Regina King and was directed by Mark Rosman. The film's plot revolves around two Internet pen pals who meet at a school dance and fall in love but two different worlds...
Soundtrack and Kids Bop 7.
Watts signed a publishing deal with Walt Disney Music Publishing in 2004 and went on the write and/or produce (with Andy Dodd) on Aly and AJ's album Into The Rush
Into the Rush
Into the Rush is the debut studio album by American teen pop duo 78violet as Aly & AJ. The album was released on August 16, 2005 by Disney-owned label Hollywood Records. The album features fourteen tracks including the singles "Rush" and "Do You Believe in Magic"...
, High School Musical
High School Musical
High School Musical is a 2006 American television film, first in the High School Musical film franchise. Upon its release on January 20, 2006, it became the most successful film that Disney Channel Original Movie ever produced, with a television sequel High School Musical 2 released in 2007 and...
1, 2 and 3, Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana is an American television series, which debuted on March 24, 2006 on the Disney Channel. The series focuses on a girl who lives a double life as an average teenage school girl named Miley Stewart by day and a famous pop singer named Hannah Montana by night, concealing her real...
seasons 1, 2, 3 and 4, Jump In Soundtrack, Go Figure
Go Figure
Go Figure is a 1991 album by Spirit of the West. It was the band's first rock album, and their first with drummer Vince Ditrich.The album was a breakthrough success with Canadian fans of alternative rock, although it was controversial among the band's traditional folk music fan base. The album...
Soundtrack, Everlife
Everlife
Everlife is a pop rock band made of three sisters, Amber, Sarah, and Julia Ross.-Early:Everlife originated in Indiana, Pennsylvania. The band were formed in the winter of 1997 with Sarah on the drums, Amber on the guitar, and Julia on keyboard....
's Walt Disney Records
Walt Disney Records
Walt Disney Records is a family music record label owned by the Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Records was formed in 1956 as Disneyland Records. Before that time, Disney recordings were licensed out to a variety of other labels such as . It was Walt Disney’s brother Roy O...
self titled release and Ingram Hill
Ingram Hill
Ingram Hill is a rock band from Memphis, Tennessee.In the summer of 2000, after attending the University of Memphis childhood friends Justin Moore and Phil Bogard joined with Shea Sowell and Matt Chambless to form the band. They spent much of the next year and a half touring throughout the...
, The Chronicles Of Narnia Prince Caspian end titles song "This Is Home", co written with Switchfoot, Kelly Clarkson's "Can We Go Back", Camp Rock
Camp Rock
Camp Rock is a 2008 Disney Channel Original Movie starring the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato. The music is written by Julie Brown, Paul Brown, Regina Hicks and Karen Gist. The film is directed by Matthew Diamond and produced by Alan Sacks....
1 & 2 and The Jonas Brothers among others.
To date, Watts and Dodd's songs and productions have appeared on over 50 million albums sold worldwide.
In partnership with filmmaker Daniel Chesnut, 2010 saw the formation of MiNDFRAME CREATiVE. The new company will focus on film projects including music videos and feature films.
In 2011 RED DECIBEL added songwriter, producer, guitarist Gannin Arnold to their team. In addition to writing and recording new artist Joel Piper, they are currently working with new Hollywood Records signing, all girl rock group Cherri Bomb on their debut album.
Selected Song Discography
- "This Is Home" - Switchfoot (For the soundtrack to The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian)
- "Can We Go Back" - Kelly Clarkson
- "Let It Fade" - Jeremy Camp
- "Reckless" - Adam Watts
- "Murder Yesterday" - Adam Watts
- "Poison Soul" - FALLBORN
- "Carried Me" - Jeremy Camp
- "How Does It Feel" - Adam Watts
- "Critical Condition" - Adam Watts
- "Beautiful SoulBeautiful Soul- Taiwan Special Edition :* CD# "She's No You" – 3:35# "Beautiful Soul" – 3:50# "Get Your Shine On" – 3:35# "Take Your Sweet Time" – 3:44# "Without U" – 3:32# "Why Don't You Kiss Her?" – 4:11...
" - Jesse McCartney - "Take Your Sweet Time" - Jesse McCartney
- "Just So You KnowJust So You Know"Just So You Know" was the second and final single released from Jesse McCartney's second album, Right Where You Want Me. The single was written by Jesse McCartney, Adam Watts, Andy Dodd and Dory Lobel, and was never released in the U.S., due to lack of support from Jesse's record label, according...
" - Jesse McCartney - "Right Where You Want MeRight Where You Want Me"Right Where You Want Me" is the first single and only single released in the U.S from Jesse McCartney's second album, Right Where You Want Me. It is also the title song for the Disney Channel Original Movie Return to Halloweentown. It also appears on the Disney album Radio Disney: Party Jams...
" - Jesse McCartney - "What I've Been Looking for" - High School Musical
- "Gotta Go My Own Way" - High School Musical 2
- "Just Like You" - Hannah Montana - Season 1
- "Make Some Noise" Hannah Montana - Season 2
- "I Gotta Find You" - Joe JonasJoe JonasJoseph Adam "Joe" Jonas is a Pop American singer, musician, actor, and dancer. He is a member of the Jonas Brothers, a pop-rock band made up of him and his two brothers, Nick and Kevin...
(for the Disney Channel movie Camp RockCamp RockCamp Rock is a 2008 Disney Channel Original Movie starring the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato. The music is written by Julie Brown, Paul Brown, Regina Hicks and Karen Gist. The film is directed by Matthew Diamond and produced by Alan Sacks....
) - "This Is Me" - Demi Lovato (for the Disney Channel movie Camp RockCamp RockCamp Rock is a 2008 Disney Channel Original Movie starring the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato. The music is written by Julie Brown, Paul Brown, Regina Hicks and Karen Gist. The film is directed by Matthew Diamond and produced by Alan Sacks....
) - "It's Not Too Late" - Demi Lovato (for the Disney Channel movie Camp Rock 2: The Final JamCamp Rock 2: The Final JamCamp Rock 2: The Final Jam is a 2010 Disney Channel Original Movie and sequel to the 2008 film Camp Rock. Production commenced in August 2009 in Toronto, Ontario and at area summer camps. The movie premiered on on Disney Channel in the USA, along with a live simulcast on Radio Disney...
) - "This Is Our Song" - The Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato (for the Disney Channel movie Camp Rock 2: The Final JamCamp Rock 2: The Final JamCamp Rock 2: The Final Jam is a 2010 Disney Channel Original Movie and sequel to the 2008 film Camp Rock. Production commenced in August 2009 in Toronto, Ontario and at area summer camps. The movie premiered on on Disney Channel in the USA, along with a live simulcast on Radio Disney...
)
Adam Watts - Solo Artist
In 2002 Watts contributed as a solo artist to projects such as, Songs For A Purpose Driven Life (based on Rick WarrenRick Warren
Richard Duane "Rick" Warren is an American evangelical Christian minister and author. He is the founder and senior pastor of Saddleback Church, an evangelical megachurch located in Lake Forest, California, currently the eighth-largest church in the United States...
's best selling book The Purpose Driven Life
The Purpose Driven Life
The Purpose Driven Life is a devotional book written by Christian author Rick Warren and published by Zondervan. The book has been on the New York Times Best Seller list for advice books for one of the longest periods in history, while also topping the Wall Street Journal best seller charts as...
), and The Left Behind 2 Soundtrack. 2003 Watts signed to BEC Recordings
BEC Recordings
BEC Recordings is a Christian rock record label that is a subsidiary of Tooth and Nail Records. The label was formed in 1997 in partnership with the EMI Christian Music Group....
and released his critically acclaimed first album The Noise Inside. He was named one of Christianity Today
Christianity Today
Christianity Today is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Carol Stream, Illinois. It is the flagship publication of its parent company Christianity Today International, claiming circulation figures of 140,000 and readership of 290,000...
's Best New Artists in 2004. In 2005 Watts amicably left BEC Recordings to pursue an indie career. In 2006 Watts independently released his album "Sleeping Fire". Christianity Today gave it a rare 5 star review and named it one of the Best Albums of 2007.
After the breakup of his alt/rock project, FALLBORN in early 2010, Watts went to work on his third solo effort entitled "Murder Yesterday". The album released worldwide digitally, on September 21, 2010.
"Murder Yesterday" marks a return to Watts' singer-songwriter roots. While in the past Watts' used piano only intermittently, this album's material relies heavily on the instrument, as well as a more spacious, organic production style. The extensive collaboration with the Los Angeles based strings group, The Section Quartet (Foo Fighters, Snow Patrol, Ryan Adams) served to further distinguish "Murder Yesterday" from previous works.
Watt's toured through New York, Chicago, L.A. and Seattle as part of best-selling author Cornelia Funke's "Get Reckless Tour". Watts performed the song "Reckless" which was inspired by Funke's book of the same name.
The Noise Inside (2004)
- Would Be A Loser - 3:53
- God Of Grace - 4:01
- Meaningless Things - 4:30
- Beautiful Fall - 4:11
- Forgiven Now - 4:39
- Critical Condition - 4:56
- I Would Choose You - 4:05
- Rescue Me - 3:46
- With You - 3:37
- How Does It Feel? - 4:06
- Where We Were - 4:00
- I Wanna Be Like You - 2:56
- I Will Not Fear - 4:33
- Still - 6:03
Sleeping Fire (2006)
- Crawl - 3:43
- Something Better - 3:57
- My Prayer - 5:10
- Fly Fall Fly - 3:48
- Because Of You - 3:19
- Come Around Again - 4:33
- Sleeping Fire - 5:35
- To Believe - 4:07
- The Noise Inside - 4:57
- The End - 5:09
- Bear With Me - 4:23
- Real For Me - 4:16
- Storm Is Gone - 5:10
- Invisible Light - 4:20
Murder Yesterday (2010)
- Reckless - 3:23
- When Everything Else Is Gone - 4:49
- Love Simple - 3:35
- All I Want - 3:21
- The Hard Way - 3:33
- Unconditional - 4:00
- Murder Yesterday - 5:03
- You Say - 4:35
- Queen Misery - 4:11
- Invisible Light - 4:17
- Blink - 5:08