Adam Greuel on Music, Connection, Authenticity, and Why AI is the Antithesis
This episode, I talk with Adam Greuel about a topic close to the heart of my own work right now: authenticity and connection in art. Adam is best known for his time with Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, but he also plays with The High Hawks, Rucksack Revolution, and a whole host of other incredible projects.
Our conversation centers on what it means to truly connect with an audience and how you cultivate that relationship. Adam shares his process for being a great frontman, which he says involves synthesizing everything that's happening in the room and showing up without a rigid plan. He adjusts his performance to meet people "where they're at," viewing the job like being a good friend.
Adam explains how he adopts a different creative persona for each band he’s in. Just like different parts of yourself come out when you are with different groups of friends, his musical projects bring out different sides of his artistic self. This approach helps him maintain a diverse, fresh output that ranges from the emotional folk of Rucksack Revolution to the "six beers deep" rock of his harder projects.
We also dive into the state of the world right now. Adam discusses the power of live music to be a source of "love and joy" in a time of great divisiveness, noting the unique, shared experience people find when they step away from their phones. He talks about how this spirit is especially strong in the Upper Midwest music scene, a scene he believes rivals the legendary songwriting cultures of places like Texas.
Finally, we hit the Dirty Little Secret, where Adam explains why AI is a major source of anxiety for him. He shares his skepticism about its ability to be truly authentic and why he believes it poses a threat to the human element of songwriting. We close out with Adam’s reflections on the importance of taking a break from the rat race to find richness in nature, like bundling up for winter fly fishing in a Wisconsin river.
If you are interested in a conversation about the nuances of connection, the power of a local scene, and what we risk losing when authenticity is commodified, this episode is for you.
