Adam Roth was already hard at work on his debut solo EP when the right band name came to him. He was sitting in the studio, staring at an image of a calavera—a decorative skull often used in the annual Mexican celebration of the dead, Día de los Muertos—and thinking about what music has meant to him during difficult times. “A lot of this music was written during a time when I was grieving,” he says, explaining that his father passed away just before the pandemic began in 2020, and that he was dealing with other personal challenges as well around the same point. “Music’s always been a vehicle to help me get through the hard times and struggles, and it’s always sort of been a salvation, away from pain and suffering, whether it was a breakup when I was younger, or whether it’s death. Music has literally been my Deathcruiser.”
Many know Adam from his time as vocalist of Swedish-American alt outfit Grizfolk, who released 3 studio albums and toured the globe over the past decade. Deathcruiser is a more personal, gritty project rooted firmly in Americana, written largely as a response to loss and struggle in an already precarious era. The forthcoming Deathcruiser EP, a five-song heat check from Roth, balances careful Nashville balladry with Springsteenian fireworks, and features Heartbreakers drummer Steve Ferrone, whose unmistakable playing helps lift the songs into the arena-worthy stratosphere. It’s a collection about death that’s meant to inspire life.
“For me this song conjures the emotions of missing and yearning the physical touch of someone special,” says Roth on the new single.
What have you missed about touring?
There’s a feeling of moving forward when you’re touring. I miss the excitement and the adrenaline. Perhaps it’s also the way I’ve grown to understand what being an artist is all about. The live show, to me, has always been the most important part. It’s how I connect with the fans on a deeper level. It’s also how I connect with the songs in a more realistic way.
What’s the first concert you ever attended? What do you remember about it?
The first concert I attended was Aerosmith on the Get A Grip tour. It was the most insane thing I’ve ever seen. I remember the intro music coming on right when the lights went off. The curtain finally dropped and Joe Perry came out with the most screaming guitar that I’ve ever heard. I knew that day that I didn’t want to be in school. The only thing I wanted to do was be in a band.
Do you try to make the most of being in a city, or do you prefer to just rest up?
Since quitting drinking 4 years ago, I try to make the most of wherever I am when I’m on tour. I wake up early and do yoga, then check out a coffee shop and get a nice morning walk in. This is one of the things I miss about touring a lot.
Recent release you cannot stop listening to?
I listen to a lot of Sturgill Simpson’s new music. I grew up listening to bluegrass, and at one point I was in a bluegrass rock band. There’s something so pure about his songs and the recordings. There’s no gimmicks, it’s just an honest feel good groove, a few chords and the truth. I’d highly recommend checking out his Cuttin’ Grass release…
Do you have any songwriting tips you can share?
Don’t be afraid to re-write a song until it feels 100% great. I highly recommend writing with as many people as you can. You learn so much about the craft of writing music by working with others, particularly those that have been working at it for longer. Also, you don’t need to be an advanced writer to create a great song that resonates with people. Sometimes it’s actually better to forget everything you know and just let it flow out, even if it sounds weird.
Do you start off with the music or lyrics first? Why?
Lately, I’ll start writing only after I have an idea that I want to write about. It could be a word, or a phrase. I have a long list of ideas and song titles in my iPhone notes. With all that said, sometimes I prefer to just start strumming and see what happens when I let words intuitively come out. I guess it just depends on how I’m feeling that day!
Deathcruiser — Instagram