Justin Adams Quotes

When I was growing up, my idea of Led Zeppelin was all epic lasers, castles, and ten-minute drum solos - that sort of thing.

I always wanted to know what the music behind some music was, or where it came from, and that gave me a point of reference for understanding the music I was listening to.

I think it's quite jarring and exciting when you see someone in the thrall of being completely transported by the music they're sharing with you.

One of my interests is to understand what constitutes the vibe of a place and what makes one concert different from another.

On a very technical level, I am a geek who is interested in the intricacy of rhythm playing, so I like comparing and working out its details.

I don't want to copy the people I admire - I'd rather find out what inspired them and try to find my own way through it.

The closer you get to the source, the more you begin to understand its essential nature.

I like to go to old versions and find out what effect beats and scales have on your body, how they can transport you.

Going to Morocco was massive; that's where I really found music which had the African syncopation and swing mixed with Arabic strains, and together they had this transporting, bittersweet quality.

I am not scared of making mistakes.

I think the origins of music have probably to do with magic and transcendence as well.

I think where you play is important.

I am very sensitive to music, so I can quite easily allow myself to access that space in which I am completely taken over. And you can get quite a reaction out of the crowd when you do that.

I think entertainment is a perfectly noble occupation.

Sometimes language is not enough.

In a lot of African instruments, you find a rattle, and sound engineers have a hard time making sense of it.

I have much clearer memories of my time in Egypt: songs on the radio, the rhythms that accompanied belly dancers, the sound of the adhan - the Muslim call to prayer. I just soaked it all up.

I do understand the perspective of die-hard fans who complain that we don't play the same as the record, but at the same time I think fans are getting an amazing deal.