"I’m in a good place now" - Kilkenny musician bounces back after life-altering experience

Adam Nolan is a well-known Kilkenny artist and musician who has always embraced living life freely and expanding his own consciousness.

That freedom has opened up a lot of doors for Adam, but also nearly claimed his life.

Does his face ring a bell? You might recognise him from the many days he has spent playing saxophone on the streets of Kilkenny.

He’s also very active in the Kilkenny music scene, and has used his online social media platform in recent times to highlight local artists and creatives.

Adam’s primary passion and outlet is through his jazz music, with every album he releases bringing authentic new experiences to the table.

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Adam is a both a natural improviser and composer, and possesses an effortless energy and captivating aura.

He took up the saxophone at the tender age of 14, finding a love in the expressive nature and worlds the instrument opened up to him.

After finishing his Bachelor of Honours (Music) Degree in Jazz Performance and Composition at WIT in 2015, he fully unleashed his artistic passion.

Adam lets his music speak for itself, and he always ensures that there is no room for ego to permeate his work or creative process.

Adam, outside of his work, is a very interesting character, and that shines through when you speak with him.

He is bold and honest in equal measure, resonating both calmness and frenetic energy in a way that is difficult to put into writing.

“It’s what life is about for me, to experience, and this music is the real experience. There’s no faking this stuff,” he explained.

Adam released his first album back in 2018, aptly titled Expanding the Consciousness.

He has recorded more than 15 albums since.

Adam’s new self-released documentary, Already Famous, is cathartic in its composition, and looks back at some of these albums.

“I’ve released so many albums that I could be famous, but I’m not,” Adam said. “That’s why I called it Already Famous; it’s more of a mindset.”

This new documentary comes after a major period of trauma in Adam’s life that he had no choice but to navigate, and that experience nearly broke him for good.

The trauma came about after an innocent effort by Adam to expand his consciousness through a psychoactive plants (acacia root and jurema), as part of a shared ritual, but he reacted badly to the trip.

The experience left him with extreme paranoia and recurrent psychosis.

“I had recurring psychosis for about seven months afterwards. It was the worst, the worst ever.

“I started to feel like my life was cursed. I got really back into Catholicism, trying to pray it away. I didn’t want to take medication either at the time because I thought it would mess me up more.

“Eventually it got so bad that I said ‘f*** this’ and made a decision to try to end it all.”

A subsequent fall from a major height left Adam with 16 major injuries. He woke up in a hospital in Dublin after emerging from a coma.

“I broke my back, I broke my elbow, my wrist, two legs and ankles,” he said.

After that incident, Adam began the recovery process, with medication, cognitive behavioural therapy and general mindfulness playing a major role.

“I’m in a good place now. I’m still recovering physically but mentally I’m in a good place,” he said.

Adam describes himself as being much more resilient and a stronger person now, thankful that he can still explore his passions as an artist.

He continues to not let experiences like these define him, whether they are good or bad. Instead, they inform him. They are paths to greater enlightenment and creation.

Ongoing Projects
Already Famous is available to watch on the AdamNolanOfficial YouTube Channel.

Adam is also currently in the middle of a tour entitled The Shaman’s Adventure.

His new rap song 'Blessed' is releasing on March 28, whilst his latest album, Tribal Chaos is available to listen to now.

As well as that, Adam is currently producing and selling beats to other artists.

Make sure to also follow him on Instagram (@AdamNolanOfficial) and Facebook (Adam Nolan) for further updates.

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