We recently connected with Adam Budd and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Adam thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

For the past two years, I’ve embarked on projects that have become deeply meaningful to me. In 2022, I decided to encapsulate my year in one single project. A project I dubbed ‘twenty (twenty) two – year in review’ is a collection of photos from my year, songs, and titles that echo the emotions from those experiences–each taking the digital form of a working vinyl record. Eight in the standard version, and two more in the ‘deluxe edition’, this artistic venture holds integral moments in time from my year. What means the most, is that it felt like an original creation–uninfluenced by trends but originating from my inner being.

Building on that momentum, I needed a bolder motif behind this year’s project. 2023 became an expansion of last year’s idea: ‘What I Didn’t Know Was Possible.’ Carrying a powerful theme symbolized by a Bengal Tiger, it represents the courage and strength I discovered within myself. Similar to ‘twenty (twenty) two – year in review’, ‘What I Didn’t Know Was Possible’ contains carefully crafted digital designs, including an image or idea that carries a profound influence on my life, complemented by songs and titles that resonated with me in those moments.

What makes these projects so profoundly personal is that they’re uniquely mine. They aren’t just a project; they’re a reflection of my year, a testament to everything I’ve experienced, felt and become throughout 2023. This felt like my first idea in a considerable while that distinctively belonged to me; not one I created from social-media-trend pressure or a new rendition of another artist’s work. No, this tasted deliciously new. What made it intensely personal is that I exclusively am familiar with the backstories behind each design, making it intimately mine. If you’re curious to experience these visual stories, you can find them on my Instagram (@itsadambudd), with the latest one pinned to my profile! I hope you dive in and get inspired to create your own year-captured effigy.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hello to those unfamiliar with me and my work. I’m Adam Budd, a current resident of Nashville wearing the dual hats of Tour Manager and Visual Artist. My portfolio spans various visual art forms—painting, album art design, lyric videos, and photography—each medium lending a hand to my role as a Tour Manager.

As a Tour Manager, the responsibilities are typically more managerial, seldom calling upon visual creativity. However, my trusty camera, a lifelong companion since the age of 13, joined me on my inaugural tour with Georgia Webster on Kelsea Ballerini’s tour. Initially a casual practice capturing Georgia’s moments, it quickly became a crucial aspect of my role with her—shooting both on stage and documenting the tour’s journey. Since just earlier this year, my camera lens has pointed towards four artists on three different tours, including Georgia Webster on Kelsea Ballerini’s Heartfirst Tour, Griffen Palmer and Jake Scott on Brett Young’s tour, and Rayland Baxter on his enthralling fall tour.

My work doesn’t hinge on owning a pretentious camera; I’ve actually stuck with the same Canon Rebel T5 since my 16th Birthday. Honestly, I still don’t know how to use it all that well! However, I believe I possess a creative knack that goes beyond understanding the mechanics of a camera. My intuitive skill allows me to capture moments in a way that awaits my artistic touch in the editing room. These edits have an abundance of color, emotion, and streaks of on-stage lighting. Blurs, blinding lights, and belting bassists.

What I take most pride in is sticking to an unconventional style in an area of work dominated by the conventional. While it might not fit the mold of traditional concert photography, it’s a signature I proudly sign. Luckily, in continuing to stay allegiant to my creative style, the artists I’ve worked with have favored my style and have since used them for many Instagram posts, album covers, and promotional materials.

What I’ve learned in my creative journey is to surrender to the what I call the Great Creator. Using the mantra “I’ll take care of the quantity, you take care of the quality” before beginning the creative process has proven monumental for me and my work. I’ve learned that once you create and become what feels most like you, you’ll begin to attract those types of people, opportunities, and experiences to you – right to your very doorstep. I’ve learned how important it is to create, to share what you have to say, even if it is something only you will understand.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

What’s most rewarding about making art is surrendering to the organic evolution of a project; releasing the grip on the end goal of a work. True, I almost always have a blueprint for the project, but often my technical limitations fall short of the predetermined image. Embracing flexibility within my art has not been a linear journey–but rather an open-handed faith in the ebb and flow, trusting the creation to find its unique form.

Granting myself the liberty from the ceaseless goal-setting of society and instead embracing the fluctuation of art has been a profound source of healing. It’s almost paradoxical—the moment I release the pressure, let go of resistance, and dive into creation regardless, my techniques organically improve and my style makes itself known more boldly.

The ultimate reward of creating is conceiving something entirely personal, which comes from letting go and allowing it in. Yet, the real thrill lies with others connecting to it too. It is not in anticipating who might appreciate my work and creating it for that purpose, but letting it make itself and observing the unique reactions it evokes among those around me. Witnessing my creations resonate individually with those in my circle is fascinating. Finding what pieces resonate with different people is like seeing each other for the first time. The beauty in this approach, in unfolding naturally, I’m able to make something that might not have resonated as deeply if I had created it with resistance.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I believe society can best support artists and creatives to thrive by encouraging taking the time to play and create. Being creative is about taking chances. People who don’t understand creativity, who scrutinize those who pursue a creative career, would have quite the nothingness were it not for creatives who take the time to play, create, and try the unknown. Think about it: if no one was creating, despite what society says about creative careers, we wouldn’t have our favorite movies, books, music, TV shows. I could even expand this list to buildings and beautiful architecture, roadways, hiking trails, furniture, and clothing. All of these things exist because somebody took a risk. Somebody believed that little whisper in their ear saying, make, create, play, try. Instead of telling creatives to “be realistic”, I think we ought instead to say “be curious.”

I don’t believe in “non-creatives”. I believe some are more analytical, others more artistic. Not creative? No. I believe we are all creative. Creative in how best to move numbers around in your stock portfolio. Creative in finding the best route on your walk to the grocery store. Creative in winning a court case. Creative on when best to shoot the three-pointer. Creative in finding a cure. Creative in ways to recycle.

So, since we’re all creative, society can best support us by encouraging us to create what brings the most joy, the most interest, and by creating an open space to do so. In schools, I think this would prove the most beneficial. More arts, dance, and music class. But also, more math competitions, chess club, and science fairs. More play. More curiosity. More space to try and fail. Supporting our strengths and encouraging the nurturing of them can create a positive and thriving ecosystem for the future of our planet.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsadambudd/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-budd-4400/