Q&A with Adam Dorn

This newsletter’s SONA member profile is on Steering Committee member Adam Dorn!

Q) What kinds of cool projects do you get to work on?

A) Originally I come from an artist and full songwriting background, so it’s been weird to transition out of that into writing music to where it’s about serving the picture.

These days I do all instrumental music and underscore. The projects range from music for a pixar amusement park ride to music for documentaries…TV/Film.

Q) Why did you end up moving into Instrumental music?

A) The lovely realities of our royalty-based music industry. After a successful run of licensing, royalties for my music (full songs) from my artist career began dipping and fees started going down.

I was always a guitar player as well and started to reached out to music supervisors to drum up work for instrumental music and it was a really slow process. People assume that if you do one thing, that’s all you are able to do. Slowly, through persistence and my skill set, I finally started getting them to stop thinking of me as Adam the artist or remixer and to give me a shot a other stuff.

Q) What would be some advice you would give to up and coming songwriters with regards to making a living doing music?

Being in the music biz has always been difficult. Always like rollerblading up vaseline mountains. The constants that I think are important to songwriters, producers and musicians are building a good community and constantly strive to learn more about the tools you can use and theory of music. Constantly write with other people, collaborate and immerse yourself. And don’t forget to make some simple goals.

When you’re first starting out, figure out a way to get yourself around people you admire in a non-stalker way. I’m a 2nd generation musician. My dad wrote a letter to head of capitol for Ray Charles saying he had some ideas. I wrote a letter too when I got old enough to people I admired. You’d be amazed how much access you can get by simply reaching out.

An don’t forget – a good attitude, good work ethic — will get you a really long way. Work always has points in time when it slows down. Always keep exploring your creativity.

Q) Why is being part of SONA important to you?

It’s all about community, educating, supporting eachother and hopefully effecting change legislatively. It’s a also a great community that’s there for one another to offer support and advice.

It’s truly been an incredible experience to be surrounded by people who I would never have crossed paths with. I’m happy that I’m not too sheltered in my own studio to not have met such a soulful community.

SONA is as much about the community as the people who are trying to make changes against the evil people — this is who I choose to be in a fox hole with.