I’m particularly drawn to the music of Peru and Bulgaria. The music of Trinidad and Tobago has really captured my imagination, of course, and I have even learned to play some local rhythms on djembe! In the Western classical tradition I like orchestral music by Brahms, Stravinsky and Richard Strauss.”
WT:After ‘The Old Yard’ what’s next for Adam Walters?
AW:“Well I’ve become really interested in the music of the Spiritual Baptist and Orisha traditions and I find all the passion of the singing style to be quite incredible. I’m always looking for something that I haven’t heard before and that‘s always quite exciting. I’m writing a piece now, and it’s to be performed at APA at the end of March, that's influenced by the church services of the Spiritual Baptists. That's my starting point. The music does not sound like the music you’d hear in the churches but I’ve taken some ideas and influences from what happens in the services. For example, at any given moment someone can start a new hymn. No one knows who’s going to start and what that hymn’s going to be. In my piece I’m going to have short sections and on the spur of the moment the performers are going to have to choose which section they’re going to play next so we get the same idea as what happens with hymn singing in the Baptist services. I’m hoping to have a hand bell and djembe in the score as well because these instruments are a big part of what I’ve heard in many Spiritual Baptist services I’ve been to in Trinidad.”
WT: What have you found to be the best thing about Trinidad & Tobago?
AW:“The warmth of the people, all the friends I’ve made, the warmth of the weather.” [ Laughs ] “I feel very much at home in Trinidad, though I still need to improve my way of speaking Trini, as I’m not quite there yet.” [ laughs ]
WT:I suppose you do use technology, what would be the one piece of gear you could not live without?
AW:“That would be my laptop, and my music software.”
WT:What would be your most favorite thing to eat?
AW:“That would be East Indian Curry!”
WT:Where is your favorite place to relax and maybe compose?
AW:“I like being wherever my family is.”
WT: Name one person you would like to meet.
AW:“Someone who can give me a good price on repairing my car - I hit a lamp post when leaving All Stars car park a few days ago!”
WT:Any favorite quotes?
AW: “Live each day as if it were your last"
WT: What annoys you the most, your pet peeve for example?
AW:“Arrogance in people.”
WT:Any favorite performances you have seen that really stands out for you?
AW:“I would say, The Paramin Blue Devils, Carnival Monday 2012 and 2013, and ‘The Rite Of Spring’ conducted by Pierre Boulez at the Festival Hall in London when I was still at high school. These were pretty amazing, electrifying performances.”