Mark Adams

We give you Mark Adams. To say that Adams is a jack of all trades could be a massive understatement, but before we get to all that we’d like to offer, front and center, that Adams is a top-shelf Visionary Of Song, and his brand new album, Panjanatan, (title snatched from a Sri Lankan riddle), is proof.

Due out digitally on July 27th, Panjantan is a virtual bus ride through offbeat romantic sentiment and relatable philosophical ideas— stories and thoughts we all know, but relayed in a delightfully new way, and through beat crazed, textural movements. From the album’s opener, “Nationwide”, we have an idea of what we’re getting into “…
Our love is nationwide,” Adams proclaims—an elusive song about generosity that we all get, regardless. Who thinks of this stuff? Move onto “The Bus Argument” his way of conveying the irony of impermanence while poking at anoft-used metaphor. “Oil On Mars” comes off, at first listen, as a futuristic fantasy, but delve into the bridge about the “space tanker on a petrol run,” we wonder if Adams is making a much heavier statement.

As for some history, Adams moved from Chico State in Northern California to LA with a degree in cinema studies and a lifetime of music-making. While working as a movie usher for the Regent Theatre chain, he wrote a script that later got optioned for development. Having nudged his way up to the art department for Regent’s film sets, Adams wrote a mock soundtrack for a comedy western Rowdy Girls while working as prop-master andended up starring in the film and writing the soundtrack.This all led to a new gig by NYC Indie film pioneers Troma as their content editor for west coast film and web division. He’s since written both scripts and music for avariety of low budget projects and attended the Cannes Film Festival (twice) promoting his music and film endeavors.

Soon afterwards, Adams started his unholy union with acclaimed music maker David Vaught on a collaboration of experimental music. Vaught, a seasoned musician with multiple film and songwriting credits, and a massive discography has been a well-respected figure in the LA music scene for decades.

Vaught’s contribution to the Panjanatan album tracks are an essential compliment to the songwriting, meeting Adams’ multi-textural thought process with depth and movement to such an extent that Adams credited him as co-writer of the album.

Prior to Panjanatan, Adams helmed the acclaimed alt-country group Rancho Deluxe who’ve recorded 3 well-received albums and have toured the states and Europe.

If that’s not enough, Mark was hired on by Sony to cut sound effects for such top shows like Arrested Development, Rescue Me and Deadwood, and as an extra added universal bonus, met his wife, Ciera Lamborn, a soprano at the Los Angeles Opera under General Director Placido Domingo.

Inspired by a few friends who had done the same, Mark and Ciera made a move up to the central coast (his hometown of Paso Robles) to start work on his own winery, which he later would call Ledge Vineyards: http://www.ledgevineyards.com/ while keeping his gig at Sony doing sound design and creative development and commuting down to LA.

In between marriage, his Sony job, touring with Rancho Deluxe and lassoing a few other stars from the sky, Adams landed yet another gig at Saxum Wineries as assistant winemaker under longtime friend and wine ninja Justin Smith. In 2010, Saxum would enjoy the illustrious credit ofWine Spectator’s Winery Of The Year.

Now, not to get too convoluted, but follow…

In 2010, Mark released a solo record under the name One Time Spaceman that received raves from the press and collected some respectable airplay across the country. On its wings, he embarked on a solo tour of Europe and later, actually started a band under the same moniker. Shortly thereafter, (slipping on the other hat), Adams was hired by 3 Finger Wines in Napa, who decided that One Time Spaceman would be a good name for a wine brand, which would later score a 90 from Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar, The First Ledge Vineyards, as a whole, scores a 92.

The brand and vineyard are now enjoying national distribution and a growing buzz.

Panjanatan, recorded with David Vaught, will be released at the end of July, as mentioned.

God knows what else, but when it comes to Mark Adams, you can bet money on the fact that there will be something else to talk about.