Adam Gnade on the Realities of Life as an Artist

Trying to integrate love and improve the world

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TW Creative Director John Vogel interviews musician and author Adam Gnade. The two discuss the realities of life as an artist—including the idea of the starving artist, avoiding lifestyle creep, and making the world a better place.

Adam Gnade is a San Diego, California–born American musician and author currently living on a farm in rural Kansas. He defines his music as “talking-songs,” which he describes as a mix of the spoken vocals of talking blues songs with country music, Appalachian folk, noise, psychedelic folk, and drone music influences. His work is issued as a series of records and books, which continue the stories of each other’s characters and further develop plot lines. Considered a regionalist writer, he writes mostly about San Diego, a bordertown city in Southern California, namely the area around the U.S./Mexico border, although many of his stories take place to the south of San Diego in the city of Tijuana, Mexico. Adam also writes stories that take place across the continental United States; however, according to interviews, these stories always reflect the Californian’s experience on the road.

His books include Simple Steps to a Life Less Shitty, The Internet Newspaper, and After Tonight, Everything Will Be Different. His newest novel, I Wish to Say Lovely Things, comes out today, Valentine’s Day.

In this week’s episode, John and Adam discuss the process of being an artist within modern-day society. They talk about the romanticization of being a starving artist and how that mindset fails to serve artists; instead, it allows them to starve and creates an unhelpful culture. It’s easier for privileged people to create art because they have the means to fund their life outside of their art.

Adam recognizes his own privilege within this episode. He states that he is privileged to be able to be an artist rather than having to get a 9-to-5 job out of necessity. His work has always been valued—sometimes overvalued—and he has always received recognition for his work.

Adam also talks about the fear of other people and about the importance of doing what he can to assuage those fears. He talks about what the worst of these fears can bring, hoping to make the world a better place, especially for the children in his life and the generations to come. Adam believes that there is a certain amount of responsibility that adults have to the next generation. He knows that he cannot solve all the problems in the world but hopes that he can start somewhere. 

Adam also discusses lifestyle creep and predicting when his books will do well. He wants to make sure that he keeps a level head and that he does not allow himself to overspend just because he’s making more money. His goal is to enjoy the money that he has, which gives him the freedom to do whatever he wants. He talks about not needing more than his freedom and that as long as his needs and wants are met, he doesn’t need to have anything more than that. 

Tune in to this episode of the Talking Writing podcast to hear more about Adam’s artistic journey and the realities of life as an artist.

For more information, visit Adam Gnade’s website.

Podcast production for this episode was provided by Sarah Tulloch and her podcast production company, CCST.

All of the interlude music aside from the opening and closing theme come from Adam Gnade’s album The World of Today and the World of Tomorrow, which you can find on his Bandcamp.