Friday 13 March 2015

The Pulse And The Beat

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago in this post, Home Free was founded by the brothers Chris and Adam Rupp. Adam is the younger of the two, and he is the pulse and the beat of Home Free. He is the drummer, and the drums.

Adam has a bachelor’s of arts degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in St Peter, Minnesota, with a focus on trumpet. Gustavus Adolphus College is an art school that is ranked among the top 100 liberal art schools in USA today. The school is firmly rooted in Swedish heritage and is actually named after the Swedish King Gustav II Adolf

When Home Free was founded, in 2000, Adam was singing with the others, until they discovered vocal percussion. Adam was chosen to learn how to make drum sounds using only his mouth. He spent hours listening to other vocal percussionists, to begin with Jeff Thatcher and Rockapella, analysing every sound and nuance, practising to make them himself. After 2 years he was able to percuss along with Jeff, while listening to the album Rockapella; In Concert. Being a trumpet major helped him a lot with the mechanicals and the muscular use of the art form.

Later he went on to learn from other percussionists and also discovered beatboxing (a more contemporary form of vocal percussion where other sounds than drums are also used).

Today he is very likely one of the best vocal percussionists/beatboxers in the world.

This first video is filmed live at one of Home Free’s most recent concerts, on March 7. This is Adam’s solo. This is craziness, in my opinion. This is brilliance. Enjoy! 





Thank you Heidi Rancour for catching it on film, and for letting me use it! You can check out all the songs from this concert on her YouTube channel!

The second video is an official Home Free video where you can listen to Adam using his skills in a song. Every time you hear a song by Home Free, and you hear a drum sound, stop your thoughts and remember that that sound is made by a man and his mouth. This is one of my favourites. A cover of Kenny Chesney's American Kids.




So, what do you think? Isn't he amazing? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. 

Love//
Carina

wikipedia, and YouTube





4 comments:

  1. I never get tired of listening/watching Adam........he simply blows me away with his talent, thank you Carina and Heidi #veryhappybunny x

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  2. I know! Before seeing Adam do his solo, I didn't get it. But then I saw it, and I have kept watching any clip I can find with his solo.

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  3. Adam's solo is what sold my Brother-In-Law as a Home Free fan. He is just so amazingly talented. I don't know how they would sound without his keeping the beat, but I am glad I will never have to find out. My granddaughter was so amazed by Adam that she switched to percussion in the school band and has now made Nationals and has received many medals and awards. She says she owes it all to Adam because he showed her how great percussion is! ...I think she is right!! Thank you Adam and Home Free, we are fans for life!!

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  4. Your words were perfect!!..I found he also used to sit in w/bands, played solid bass & sometimes filled in on keys & drums & has beatboxed in clubs! Being handsome's just the cherry on top of all that talent!!
    My fav. vid is now: Adam Rupp Iowa Fair 8-17-15! :)

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