We had the good fortune of connecting with Adi Meyerson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adi, how has your work-life balance changed over time?

When I was younger and first starting out I used to think that life and work was the same thing. I think that’s common among artists and creatives, when your livelihood and your passion become the same thing. After a few years I realized that I was starting to burn out, and that I was running out of creative space.

over the past few years and especially after the pandemic and being in isolation I realized how much I needed to take time for myself and change that woke/life balance. If you don’t live life you won’t have a story to tell in your art. Now I try to to take time to take care of my body and my spirit, rest when I need it and do other things that are not music in order to be a better artist. It can be really hard sometimes but Iv’e been trying to make it a priority and not treat rest like it’s something I have to earn.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a bassist, composer, songwriter and overall artists. My music falls under the Jazz umbrella for the most part, but I have also been venturing out into the more commercial aspects of today’s music as a composer/producer/songwriter. I try to always bring something personal into the music I create, no matter what I’m doing. Even if the story of the song is told from someone else’s perspective or being written for someone else I still try to have it be as honest and personal as possible. I like to write and create improvised music, and take inspiration from all different parts of my everyday experience. It can be people, food, nature, the weather, the sound of the street – honestly anything that makes me feel something at that moment. I also am a fan of visual art and started out as a painter, so I do love finding ways to incorporate visual art in my music. I have a neurological “condition” called synesthesia, where I see colors when I hear pitches. I’ve been experimenting with that as a compositional tool and it’s been producing some interesting and different ideas.

Although I’ve worked hard to get to where I am today, I feel like I’m just getting started on my artistic journey. I learned most of what I know through trial and error and figuring out what works for me and what doesn’t by simply doing it. The biggest lesson iv’e learned is to always stay true to yourself and vision and stay honest & vulnerable. If your art is honest it will reach the people it’s meant to reach and touch the ones who need it the most.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’ve lived in NY for almost a decade at this point, so I feel like I know a few good local spots. I’d try to show them everything the city has to offer from the eyes of a local – try to hit as many neighborhoods as possible, take the subway and walk a lot. On a nice Summer night, We could get some cocktails at Little branch, grab a slice at Joe’s pizza, preferably after midnight, check out some jazz in the west village and do a little club hopping. If they are feeling really ambitious we can end the night at Coppelia, a 24 hr Spanish diner on 14th st, then grab some doughnuts from the doughnut pub next door at 4 AM and find a cute stoop to sit on and watch the sunrise.

On another day, I’d take them up to Harlem, or to Brooklyn, get some food and some good coffee in a cool hipster-looking spot, explore the small side streets and go sit in central park or down by the river on the west side. Another fun & maybe the only touristy thing I like to do in the city is walk the Brooklyn bridge. I like starting on the Brooklyn side and walking towards Manhattan, during the sunset or around 1 or 2 am, when there arn’t many people around.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I had some cool teachers throughout the years that took chances on me and encouraged me to pursue a career in music, And i am extremely grateful for them. My teacher in Israel, Amit Golan was the first one who really took a big chance on me and accepted me to a music program when I was only playing for 3 months, and showed me what loving music really means. I also want to shout out my teacher, sir Ron Carter, who taught me how to be discipline and really helped me get a lot of things together on the bass and in life.
in all seriousness, I also want to shout out all the people who didn’t believe in me, I really don’t like being told I can’t do something, so by doing that I was pushed to work harder and be better. so thank you!

Website: www.adimeyersonmusic.com

Instagram: @adibop

Twitter: @adimeyerson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdiMeyersonmusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf0I36sk6yY692M9QQFZ_qQ

Image Credits
Main Image – Ronald Stewart Image 1 (white suit) – Ronald Stewart Image 2 (Black colorful jacket blue backdrop) – Anna Voe Ray Image 3 (bria Skonberg band) – unknown Image 4 (electric bass, Fie;ded summerstage show)- Joseph Buscarello Image 5 & 6 (B&W recording studio) – Anna Yatskevich Image 7 – Album art by Adi Meyerson

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