Meet Clay Adams in Downtown Phoenix

Today we’d like to introduce you to Clay Adams.

Clay, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am an Australian Hiphop artist based in Phoenix; I’m known for my music, hosting/promoting events and helping to build the beat community in 2016-17 through my monthly events: BeatLAB. Before moving to Phoenix, I lived in Melbourne, Australia where we first launched the BeatLAB concept at a Japanese Bar named Horse Bazaar with my good friend Walla C. In 2018 I left Arizona to go traveling through Southeast Asia and Europe for 4 months and since returning have been focusing back on my presence in the Hiphop scene and expanding my connections out of state.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Being in the music industry is never smooth sailing plus coming into a Hiphop/music scene as an outsider can create extra hurdles. Luckily for myself, I instantly drew positive attention being the only (possibly the first) Australian rapper activity a part of Arizona’s Hiphop scene and bringing a fresh attitude to how I felt gigs and interaction between artists should go down.

The main hurdles I’ve had is working with venues, don’t get me wrong there is so many great venues out there but coming from Melbourne where most venues have a budget to offer artists upfront to a city where some venues want to split profits, some didn’t want to pay and some didn’t pay their bills and would force us to cancel events 5 mins before doors opened. At the height of the BeatLAB movement in PHX, other promoters would want us to organize producers for a showcase on their event, but they would request certain beatmakers and then be a bit grumpy at myself when their event didn’t bring as many punters as they wanted, I guess everyone wants a piece of the pie haha

Is there anyone, in particular, you would like to recognize? Mentors, etc.?
I’ve realized over the last five years, that there is always a want or a need for a concept that may exist in other cities so, in actuality, original concepts are had to formulate out of thin air these days. For myself and BeatLAB co-founder: Walla C, we first saw an opening for the Beatmaker Showcase nights when we first moved to Melbourne, We had both met each other at a Night Called “Beat Lounge” and took the inspiration of the good times we had there and recreated it again and again. Walla C became a very important part of my music when we started collaborating together and would soon form a collective called Lab Co. When I moved out to Arizona, The first people who networked and gave me the first opportunities to Preform and continue to bring the BeatLAB brand out were Whitt Tucker, Arza Artizo, Respect The Underground and Bob Domestic who allowed us to run BeatLAB as a monthly event at Tempe Tavern for two years. There has been so much support over the years that its hard to name everyone but continued support by Brunch Collect, GUILD, Lab Co, AOTA, RTU, and long-time Arizona collaborator Cory Hill.

Contact Info:

• Email: clayadamsmusic@gmail.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/clayadamsmusic
• Facebook: facebook.com/clayadamsmusic

Image Credit:
Dylan Toon (under society)
Asa sorbert (GUILD)
Hector Luis (Brunch Collect)

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition, please let us know here.