Guitar Wiz Adam Skeppar: Tasteful Musicality and Flash
It’s a gift to know what you want out of life. Being driven by a passionate intent is rarely easy but often fulfilling. Adam Skeppar has always known what he wanted. He relates, “From the very moment I first picked up the guitar, it was always the dream to become a musician. My friends and I played along to Concert DVD’s in my Dad’s home theatre setup and I always wanted to play in front of that kind of crowd. It wasn’t until later that I really got a vision for what I wanted to do and my interests branched off to different genres and a deeper understanding of music.” What this statement so perfectly encapsulates is Adam’s youthful and perhaps naïve excitement that matured as he did, culminating in his modern day career as an internationally acclaimed live and studio musician. Any musician will tell you that the artist’s path is fraught with challenges but for those who persevere and excel, it’s the creative path to enlightenment. With hit records, television appearances, and concert performances to huge crowds, Adam Skeppar continues to prove that being a “rockstar” is as healthy as ever.
Those early viewings and “co-performances” of bands like Europe, Kiss, and Iron Maiden presented an intoxicating pursuit that was followed by Adam’s pursuit of Pop, RnB, Soul, and Funk styles. Sighting influences ranging from John Mayer to Jimi Hendrix and Mateus Asato, Skeppar is often recognized for his emotive style that incorporates unexpected aspects. As he states, “I can play lots of genres but it’s important to me to brings something no one else can while always playing musically appropriate and serving the song.” It’s this ethos which has brought many different artists to seek out this exceptional Swedish guitarist to contribute his sound to theirs.
When singer Bianca Ryan won ABC’s America’s Got Talent, there was an immediate need to put together a backing band of premier musicians to capitalize on the attention she was receiving (AGT averages ten million viewers). Ryan and her team quickly procured Adam for the prestigious guitar chair in the band and a series of high profile performances ensued. From radio to live televised performances and appearances on Perez Hilton’s “Backyard Sessions”, Skeppar was Bianca’s one constant musical accompanist. Ryan’s music ranges from pop/folk to R&B and Jazz/Soul as heard in her cover of the Beatles “All My Lovin” featuring only voice and guitar.
In a complete gear switch but equally as demanding is Adam’s work with The Reasn. This artist who promotes himself as “The voice of his generation” is not short on bravado or talent. Existing in the experimental realm similar to David Bowie and Prince, The Reasn has a strong musical persona and demands the most tasteful and virtuosic musicians to comprise his backing band. Blending Pop, R&B, Rock, Alternative, and Hip-hop, The Reasn creates the kind of innovative cocktail that reshapes popular music. The hit song “Slow”(more than 200,000 streams on Spotify) features Adam’s inter-genre derived solo and represents his ability to tailor himself to nearly any artist with intense dedication. Many of the songs for The Reasn’s full length release have been recorded by Skeppar and some of the most acclaimed studio musicians in Los Angeles. International tours and playing many of America’s iconic music venues indicate that The Reasn possesses the global marketability found in the most popular of the industry.
The sold out capacity crowds and recording sessions are gratifying and validating for any musician. When posed the question about the most meaningful moment for him thus far, it’s one that brings him full circle to his boyhood pretend moments. Adam communicates, “I’m always excited to be challenged to come up with a part that excites an artist and the audience. I must admit that in 2018 I had a particularly poignant experience. I found myself onstage jamming with one of the most well-known and iconic guitarist of all time, Steve Vai. I had marveled at his playing as a young boy. I played a song of his at my high school graduation and now, here I was playing alongside him. We shared a real musical moment and I realized that I had achieved a place where I was standing next to one of my heroes and we were sharing mutual respect. Even though you’ve played to screaming crowds and recording in famous studios, it takes a moment like that to jar you and remind you that you can achieve your dream with hard work and dedication. It’s the kind of thing I hope we all can experience in our lives.”
