Meet Adrian Michael: Musician, Artist

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

Hi Adrian, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
When it comes to legacy, it can be a tough subject to quantify. There are so many different avenues in life one can take and so many different lessons one could give. It’s all incredibly subjective, so the only thing you can do is live by your own beliefs and experiences. With that being said I’d want to leave a legacy of self-acceptance, hope and learning to trust oneself. All too much in life when we pursue goal or ideals, we can be swept up in how failure and comparison can affect us negatively over the good it teaches. More often than not (especially in an artistic industry) it’s easy to see others success and feel like you’ll never be there or encounter failure after failure, tempting you to give into the idea that you aren’t good enough. While we know “not being good enough” is mainly mental and everyone is special, climbing out of that valley can be a lifelong struggle. Success is what you make it and you have to approach everything one step at a time. I hope to show others through my words (and actions) that your worth in life is NOT determined by media, your parents, what others think, unfair ideas of success or what you think you’re “supposed” to be good at. Sometimes what you think is the right thing for you isn’t and that failure is meant to push you somewhere greater. We’re all special in our own right and we all have far more power in us than we allow ourselves to realize. I want to leave a legacy of that idea: Seizing the amazing power of humanity that we all hold but more often than not fail to see. Life is about the journey (as cliché as it is) because we ultimately have a pretty good idea of our destination, so learn to trust yourself, be yourself and understand that you have more power than you realize to be a light in the world.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m primarily a drummer but I’ve since then branched out into producing my own beats/music, learning guitar/bass, rapping and anything else I could get my hands on. I mean, I just love music and its intricacies overall so I’m always excited to hear and see new things. Just like a good handful of us, I got to where I am through a lot of hard work and most important: failure. Without failing as much as I have and taking the time to really evaluate myself and what I can bring to the table. It most certainly wasn’t easy but I don’t think I’d want it any other way because without those setbacks, I don’t think I would have learned any valuable lessons to pass on. I’ve learned how to accept myself over the years, further sharpen my strengths and develop strategies to address my weaknesses. I want the world to know that you shouldn’t give up. Whether you fail or not is a part of the journey we all have to face in our own unique way. Try your best to live without regrets.

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’m typically a homebody BUT I’ve been out and about thanks to some great friends. Honestly I would start with DTLA, up to Hollywood to see what the city is really about. Taking walks on Hollywood and Highland is an experience in itself. There’s the Hollywood Bowl, The Observatory, tons of amazing restaurants as well as street food, amazing live music and just a ton of things I would try to get to as far as the city goes within the week. Then the last few days I would set up trips to see the “real” California as I’ve been told. So essentially visiting the beaches and coastal attractions to round out the experience of being here because California is more than just a city. It has a lot to more to it than that. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have a huge list of individuals I’d love to thank but I’ll keep it as short as possible First and foremost I’d have to dedicate a shoutout to my mother. As a single mother who had to raise three children and a fierce never give up attitude, I’ve gained a tenacity that got me through a lot of crazy things in life that I would not have made it through without her as a guide and example of strength. Second my Partner: Alexa Aliotta She has seen the best and the absolute worst of me. She’s always been supportive and never waivered in giving me tough advice when I needed it and comfort when I was low. I’ve learned a lot about life through her eyes and experiences. She has practically saved my life a number of times. I can’t thank her enough. Lastly on the big 3 is my mentor She’s like a second mother to me, and an extremely strong force in my navigation through life. She rekindled the spark of believing in myself even when I kept messing up and is always there when I need her. And to everyone else who I’ve ever made music with, played live shows with, recorded with, had conversations about how crazy life is and everyone in between, thank you.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iplaythings/

Image Credits
Photo Credits: Mike Nelson