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WHO IS ADAM PAYNE?

"Acoustic singer-songwriter Adam Payne...should appeal to fans of Ben Harper and newcomer Ryan Shaw. That means it's neo-soul with a jam band vibe..." -Boston Globe

The problem with rising acoustic talents is that a lot of them sound the same; but there is no mistaking the sultry sounds of Adam Payne. With a smile and sound as big as his afro, Adam entertains full crowds with his fusion of Funk, R&B, Folk, and Acoustic. There's no denying his musical talents so the question is, who is he?

Adam is about as eclectic as his sound. He was born in Lynn, Massachusetts to an Italian mother and African American father. In the late eighties, Adam and his family moved to Sarasota, Florida. By the age of 8, Adam drew his musical inspiration not from haughty music teachers, such as Mozart or Beethoven, but from Saturday morning cartoons, Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario. Adam picked up the piano as he mimicked the music from cartoons and video games. During his senior year of High School he took on the drums, and later in college, he picked up the guitar. Although music is a major part of who he is, there's much more to him than that.

Adam earned a B.A. in Psychology with a Minor in Statistics and was a founding father of the Eta Psi chapter of Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Central Florida. He continued on to earn a M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Payne has shared the show-bill with the Avett Brothers, Slim Kid Tre from the Pharcyde, Ghost Face Killa, Ben Harper and others.  He has collaborated with Artists all over the globe, and lends his writing, production and vocal talents to projects across many genres including producing and composing the music for a documentary film about the Rwandan Genocide entitled 'Coexist.'

Adam is also active in the community, and supports a myriad of causes.  Payne is the founder of the Benefit for Jane, a cause which raises funds and awareness of Kidney Cancer in honor of his late mother and is sponsored by the Kidney Cancer Association. 

On three separate occasions, Payne was featured on CBS Channel 4 Boston's 'Sundays with Liz Walker' and he was also generously recognized in the Boston Globe. In addition, Payne attended the MIDEM Music Conference in Cannes, France where he spoke on a panel about brands and their interest in independent artists. 

These days, Adam can be found vibing out solo, or with full band 2ADAM12.  His solo show is always entertaining, with Adam making up songs on the spot with words from the audience, doing on-the-fly guitar, vocal, and percussion loop arrangements, or simply delivering the message of an original tune or eclectic cover. The full band presents some of the finest players in the Greater Boston area, with pieces ranging from the standard four to the gargantuan eight.  No matter the line-up, an Adam Payne show is surely one to remember.

So who is Adam Payne? He'll make you dance, make you smile, and help you with your homework all in one day. He's the Northeast's resident father of Soul Rock and he's coming to a venue near you.
-Amanda Crump.

2ADAM12 [Pronounced "TWO ADAM TWELVE"]

2ADAM12 represents the full band version of Adam Payne's songs with a backdrop of some of the Boston area's best musicians.

"With their Sophomore effort, 'Formalities,' 2ADAM12 lets the soul shine through. Ethereal organs, a funky rhythm section, and smoothed-out guitars blend with Payne's signature hip hop/r&b vocal stylings & songwriting for twelve powerful songs centering on the obligatory duties of life."

"If the Meters and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers squared off in a petrie dish with Sam Cooke and Ben Harper as referees, they would form the multicellular organism known as 2ADAM12." "At the border which separates Funk from Rock, there sit 4 gents who come together and deliver a cross-section of something exciting, fresh, and nourishing to the ears. Their name is 2ADAM12..." R.E. Cheshire, CT

"...2Adam12 brings the same kind of expertise to their music as the Neville Brothers. Which is to say, everything is focused around the groove, which is the paramount ingredient that makes all the other elements work..."
-Jay Miller, The Patriot Ledger

"The self-titled debut is a musical manifesto for the band's huge sound... The album features a slew of embellishments that brings each track to its highest level. From the chilling Hammond organ on "Passive Aggression" to the ultra-funky horn ensembles on the "If You Want to Love Me," the album utilizes every available tool to heighten the band's sound. While many tracks features guest spots from outside musicians, most of the band's complexity comes from its core."
-Patrick Walsh, The Vanguard