We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Adin Boyer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Adin below.
Adin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?
Kindness is one of the biggest values in my life, because I recognize how transformative it has been for me after years of being mercilessly bullied and misunderstood in childhood. In my speaking assemblies, I discuss the sheer power of kindness and how it overwhelmingly fuels my quality of life, in hopes that others can resonate. I’m tremendously lucky to be no stranger to kindness these days, but there is a moment from my experience on American Idol that really stands out to me that I will never forget it for as long as I live.
I consider myself equally as introverted as I am extroverted, but upon arrival in downtown LA for Hollywood Week, I retreated into an abnormally shy, socially anxious, and somewhat terrified bubble. The chaotic nature and complex logistics behind the scenes were already quite overwhelming for me during my audition in Las Vegas three months prior. But, I knew it was going to be even more of a challenge with the next round. I was the only person over 18 who had a parent with him, which in my case was for autism accommodations.
The first morning, it felt like everybody around me was being social except for me. I was sitting with my mom, apart from the crowd, in a massive warehouse-style holding room at the Los Angeles Theater, ready to retreat into my laptop to listen to music and work on lesson plans for my music theory students. I felt like I needed to do everything in my power to distract myself from the massive overwhelm of over 150 excited and social singers; especially with my cranky morning mood.
10 minutes into arrival in the holding room, a girl named Rachael approached me with the most caring disposition and a smile on her face, and immediately introduced herself and asked me a bunch of questions about me. I was immediately struck by how kind and genuine she was, and it helped me to open up to her very quickly. I knew she was going to be my best friend for life when unprompted, she said “hey, there’s a quiet area in the first-aid office downstairs if you’re feeling overstimulated by the way! Just in case you need to gather yourself, I know it’s quite loud in here!”
I was absolutely dumbfounded by that statement, and immediately started shedding tears. She’d seen me from afar in a state of distress and anxiety, practically clutching onto my mom, and could tell that I was having a hard time. From that moment, I opened up FULLY and stopped giving a crap what others thought of me. I slowly worked up the courage within the next hour to follow her toward a group of other people and introduce myself to others. I was almost obsessed with Monty Python at the time, so that’s all I felt like I could talk about with other people, especially while still in the anxious state. But I ended up never needing to retreat into a quiet area, because from that moment forward, I was disarmed.
Rachael was eliminated from Hollywood Week a day later and headed home, but we were texting constantly from that point forward, and she was cheering me on. She took a genuine interest in my music and raved about me to her family and friends back home. That made my heart soar even further. It was a genuine connection outside of my immediate family that I felt like I had been lacking for so long since I’d just moved back home after graduating college.
I think that that moment set off a ripple effect of kindness I started gradually feeling more and more from the people around me. I think part of that also came from my courage being blown up tenfold after meeting Rachael. From standing ovations after my first round, to ending up as the only member of a “trio” for a duet round (which came from another BEAUTIFUL act of kindness from my colleagues Jayna and Summer as I had been the odd one out), and the community becoming more and more tight-knit after two weeks in close quarters in the LA hotel; it turned into an almost-euphoric experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I credit Rachael for lighting a spark in me that I still have the courage to keep alight to this day over two years later.
Adin, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I owe my journey to my background in classical piano and voice. After I was diagnosed with autism at age 2, my family took notice of my natural musical inclination and ability to identify any pitch I heard in nature. I began classical piano lessons at age 5, and performed in several classical piano recitals, festivals, and competitions all over Southern California all throughout grade school. At age 8, I joined the All-American Boys’ Chorus, where I sang soprano 1 and performed in concerts all over California from ages 9-12. Shortly before I left the boys’ choir, I was accepted to the Classical Voice Conservatory at the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), where I attended for middle and high school, and continued to hone in on my vocal and piano chops. OCSA saved me from the severe bullying I experienced in my childhood, and I credit it as the place that saved my life.
Around the same time I was accepted to OCSA, I discovered Coldplay, and immediately became transfixed by their signature sound. Coldplay has been my biggest musical influence and inspiration throughout my life, and I knew deep down that the music I really wanted to create and perform would be reminiscent of their sound. I started writing songs around age 14, and alternative rock became a new musical endeavor I was so excited to hone in on alongside my classical piano and voice.
It took a lot of mental preparation as someone with major auditory sensitivity issues to prepare for my first-ever full-scale rock concert, which was Coldplay at the Rose Bowl in 2016. It turned into the most worthwhile challenge I’ve ever pursued overcoming, because I ended up having the happiest day of my life at the time. And that year, my songwriting pace increased exponentially, and my passion for learning how to be a singer-songwriter continued to grow more and more. Just before my final year of high school, I attended Interlochen Arts Camp’s 2-week singer-songwriter program, which led me to feel the strongest sense of community I’d ever felt among peers in my life, inspiring me astronomically further. My final year at OCSA, I took every musical opportunity I could find; from writing and performing an original choral piece, arranging a choral piece with a string quartet, writing a song with a string quartet, singing two roles in a Ravel opera, playing my first-ever singer-songwriter gigs in an ice cream shop, and much more.
I attended CalArts, where I majored in music performance and composition. My biggest goal there was to learn how to produce and design sounds, and eventually score for animations and films; but unfortunately the latter never happened, as shortly after beginning my 2nd year, the COVID lockdown began; just as I was hired to score my first piece of media. During this time, I took a long break from classical music, gradually lost motivation to score for media, and began obsessing over watching rock concert footage on YouTube. During this major global transition, I finally solidified my deepest passion and calling in life; being an alt-rock indie singer-songwriter.
I spent my final semester at CalArts arranging my favorite songs and covers for a rock band, which then culminated in my first-ever full-band singer-songwriter performance at my graduation recital. From that euphoric moment forward, I was completely locked in on my new musical goals; to learn everything I possibly could about how to make it as a singer-songwriter. I released my debut EP shortly after, played another show with my full band, and then was cast for American Idol, where I made it to the top 55. After Idol, I began solo touring on my own for the first time, and after releasing my second EP in January 2024, I hit the road again with a higher sense of confidence and self-actualization than ever before.
In 2024, I’ve played the most shows I ever have, many in several brand-new places I’d never been to before, with all sorts of varying lengths and types of audiences. From a trampoline park near the Mexico border, to a school district in rural northern Wisconsin, to Fenway Park in Boston; I’m still happy to go anywhere and everywhere! It’s required a lot of resilience, and the aspect of me I’m the proudest of of my ability to get through tough scenarios. I have had the greatest, most fulfilling year of my life, and I absolutely can’t wait for more adventures. One massive dream of mine is to open up for an artist on their tour and work with a professional team to perform at music venues all over the world. However, my biggest dream of all is to continue to use my unique and nurturing experience to inspire and uplift people of all neurotypes.
Currently, I build my singer-songwriter tours around speaking engagements I am contracted for across the country. I speak about various topics, like real-world anti-bullying practice, mentoring other autistic adults, my lived experience, my tools for success, and much more, all with a rock frontman flair and live original music performance! If you’d like to inquire about hiring me to perform or present at your venue/event, shoot me an e-mail to [email protected] and we can discuss the details! Feel free to visit my website adinboyer.com to learn more about me, and to check out my discography and media! More shows and beautiful days ahead…
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
On Idol, after the first round of Hollywood Week, I relived the trauma of being chronically excluded when all of the contestants had to find a partner for the next round. I also have a history of seriously struggling with group work and collaboration. It led to me having to step away and have an autism meltdown, which ended up being broadcast. But, the self-actualization I’d built up over so many years, along with the courage I was lovingly granted by my friend Rachael, gave me the courage to express it openly and feel proud of it.
Just when I had the slightest inkling that I felt like I could function again, I walked back into the theater, only to learn that I was the only one left without a partner. It was absolutely humiliating, and I felt so singled out; similar to how I’d constantly felt in elementary school. Jayna Brown and Summer Joy then welcomed me with the most open arms, to which a massive sense of relief started to settle; but then the work was on.
I melted down some more, and then went back to find Jayna and Summer. We were on a major crunch time, so they’d already picked a song. My adrenaline was carving through me at that point, so after making it through a grueling classwork-style conversation on how to start, we agreed on doing a divide-and-conquer approach. Jayna and Summer figured out harmonies as I learned the song laid down the musical foundation on my keyboard. The simultaneous professionalism and kindness they showed was off the charts. I felt so safe and relieved.
All three of us advanced to the final round of Hollywood. The glory we felt was something I’ll never forget for as long as I live. Their kindness helped me get through it as well, and I didn’t feel alone. I was included, FULLY, in a group setting… for the first time in my life. I put in some serious work, but so did Jayna and Summer. This team effort felt like a beacon of resilience.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of doing what I do is building connection and community. As someone with a lifelong struggle with connecting with others and finding senses of community, it means the world that my biggest passion can help me to fulfill it. It’s a win-win for all parties, too; to know that I’m making a difference in so many people’s lives means everything to me as well. I am constantly amazed at how many people my music and my story resonate with, and I couldn’t be more honored.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://adinboyer.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adinboyer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adinboyer
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7fwffoE9dbI3YbCs9d9GHg
- Other: TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@adinboyer
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/7MQLPkC1WEJIb1CQk9b4IX?si=eveXpOaxQJ-XayZTzmzSAA&nd=1&dlsi=a56c6e1c22d8444b
BandsInTown – https://www.bandsintown.com/a/15502398-adin-boyer?came_from=250&utm_medium=web&utm_source=artist_event_page&utm_campaign=artist
Image Credits
Shire Fong-Vig