Anthony, the guy behind A D A M (A Dance After Midnight), found his passion for music as a teenager when he taught himself guitar. He was into bands like Blink-182 or U2 and went from playing in a rock band in Bordeaux to creating his solo synthwave project during the pandemic, using his own experiences to make heartfelt melodies. Influenced by cinematic atmospheres and 80s synth vibes, his music combines nostalgia with raw emotion.

What is the story of the person behind the artist named A D A M and how did music become your passion?
My name is Anthony, I’m 36, and I live in Bordeaux, France. I started playing guitar at 14 in the schoolyard, mostly trying to impress girls — even though I was extremely shy and not very good back then… so it didn’t really work (haha).
I learned everything by myself, listening to bands like Blink-182, Sum 41, Linkin Park, and U2. That’s when the passion truly started. When I moved to Bordeaux, I joined a rock band with a friend, and we released a few EPs together. Those were some amazing years.
During the pandemic, I created the solo project A Dance After Midnight (A D A M), with a more synthpop/synthwave direction. It’s a very personal project — I handle everything myself and use the songs to share real-life experiences. My debut EP will be released in May 2025.

Your latest release „Asthenia“ sounds great. What inspired you to create it?
Thank you so much! It means a lot to hear that people are connecting with it.
When I wrote Asthenia, I was going through a really dark time — between the pandemic, loneliness, and a breakup. Writing the song felt like an emotional exorcism.
I poured everything I love into it: emotion, striking melodies, U2-style delay guitars, Daft Punk-inspired tapping, epic chords… I’m really proud of this track.

What are some of the main influences or inspirations for your music?
My inspiration is a blend of several worlds. I grew up with pop-punk (Blink-182, Sum 41) and metal (Linkin Park), which probably shows in the guitar riffs I write.
Over time, I fell in love with artists like M83, Kavinsky, and The 1975 — their textures and cinematic atmospheres really stuck with me.
The Stranger Things soundtrack was also a big inspiration, especially for the 80s synth vibe I try to recreate.

How do you go about writing lyrics for your songs?
I always write down lyric ideas on my phone, both in English and French. Once the instrumental track is done, I go through my notes and try to define a theme.
That’s when I start writing the lyrics — and it’s honestly the hardest and most time-consuming part for me. Every word matters, even more so nowadays.

What are some of the tools or techniques you use to produce your music?
I produce everything from composition to mastering in my small home studio. I use Logic Pro, a mix of analog plugins and virtual instruments.
Sound design is key — it has to serve the artistic direction and stay coherent with the emotion of the track.
I usually start by playing around with melodies and chords on my acoustic guitar or piano. Then I record the drums and bass using my MIDI keyboard and build the rest around that.

What are some of the goals or dreams you have as an artist and what can we expect next from you?
Like many artists, my dream is to one day live from music. I took a sabbatical year to focus on this project, but I know that won’t be enough. Right now, my main goal is to touch people through my music. If someone feels the same emotion I did while creating a track — that’s the ultimate reward.
Sometimes I receive messages on Instagram from people who say they were truly moved by one of my songs. I’m not chasing fame — I’m chasing impact. And in that sense, I think I’ve already achieved a part of my dream.

Coming next, you’ll discover a story I’ve written across two EPs — GHOST STORY Part 1 and GHOST STORY Part 2. The first one will be released on May 16, 2025.
Ain’t no love story. It’s a ghost story.

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