Episode Overview

Podcast: Takin’ A Walk – Music History with Buzz Knight
Episode Title: Join Buzz Knight and Adam Met from AJR on a Journey of Creative Freedom and Inspiring Music Stories
Date: January 8, 2026
Guest: Adam Met (AJR)

Main Theme:
This episode delves into creative independence, artistic evolution, and authentic community building in music. Adam Met, one of the founding members of AJR, shares insights about forging an untraditional music career with his brothers, drawing inspiration from legendary songwriters, and the intersection of activism, storytelling, and fandom in his new book "Amplify." The conversation covers Adam’s journey from busking in New York to performing in arenas, his views on protest music and storytelling, and his unique path balancing musicianship and climate advocacy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power and Freedom of Creative Independence

• AJR’s DIY Ethos:

  • AJR started by producing, recording, and releasing music independently, “from their living room to sold out arenas.” (Buzz Knight, 00:00)
  • Adam highlights how creating outside of traditional industry channels allowed continual reinvention and risk-taking.

• Quote:

  • "They didn't wait for the music industry to give them permission. They gave themselves a fresh start by creating their own lane… rewriting the playbook on what it means to be an independent artist." (Buzz Knight, 00:20)

2. Influence of Early Life and New York City

• Street Performing & Washington Square Park:

  • Adam recalls how performing among eclectic street artists shaped his worldview and career.
    • "It almost felt like a variety show when I was a kid that I could walk through the park and get all of this different entertainment… We got our start street performing in Washington Square park as well." (Adam Met, 06:45)

• Creative Leash & Family Support:

  • Adam credits his parents, especially his father’s music collection, for fostering free creative expression.
    • “Our parents were very supportive of any creative pursuit that we had… not only encouraged… but given the kind of full space to do as we were growing up.” (Adam Met, 08:13)

• Professional Dance Background:

  • Started as a professional tap dancer before music.
    • “Something I don't talk about often is that I was a professional dancer before I got into the music world.” (Adam Met, 08:44)

3. The Lasting Impact of Musical Heroes

• Walk with Paul Simon:

  • Adam’s dream is a silent walk with Paul Simon.
    • “I just want to see what it's like to be in his presence and take a walk with him.” (Adam Met, 04:31)

• First Live Concert Memory:

  • Witnessing Paul Simon perform live left a “transformative” impression.
    • "Seeing the person sing the songs that I grew up listening to on vinyl on my dad's record player… I will absolutely never forget that." (Adam Met, 09:16)

• On Songwriting & Storytelling:

  • Simon’s "equal parts of simplicity and complexity of the lyrics" inspired Adam’s own approach.
    • “He tells very specific stories, but tells them in a way that feels like popcorn to the ear… you really know when you're hearing a Paul Simon song, and that's because of the vocal and the lyrics.” (Adam Met, 10:01)

4. Protest, Reflection, and the Power of Story in Song

• Artists as Social Mirrors:

  • Adam discusses the difference between art as a “mirror” of society and as direct activism (“protest music”).
    • “There are all of these people who project their own solutions or questions… artists can't help but write about the things that are going on in their lives and in their world.” (Adam Met, 11:56)

• The Evolution of Protest Music:

  • While explicit protest songs are rare on today's charts, Adam sees echoes of activism in contemporary music.
    • “I argue that there's even more protest music on [the Hot 100] now. Even though those songs in their entirety are not protest songs, there are lines here and there about that reflection of society.” (Adam Met, 13:28)

5. Lessons from “Amplify”: Authenticity and Community

• Phil Ochs & Bob Dylan:

  • Adam praises Phil Ochs’s “blatantness” and commitment to truth in songwriting, contrasted with Dylan’s approach.
    • “He stood on that ledge often by himself… Even Bob Dylan was critical… called Phil Oaks a singing journalist.” (Adam Met, 15:04)
  • Shares a personal story of his family seeing Ochs live.

• Community Building Beyond the Buzzword:

  • Real community comes from shared action, not just fan engagement for its own sake.
    • “Community building happens through action… there's a difference in saying let's… do something for the sake of doing something as opposed to let's do something on our way to trying to get something done.” (Adam Met, 21:23)

• Example: COVID Relief through Fan Engagement

  • AJR used fan data to target medical debt relief in their fans' hardest-hit zip codes.
    • "We know exactly where our fans are… we ended up alleviating over seven and a half million dollars worth of medical debt in the communities where we have the most fans." (Adam Met, 24:22)

• The Role of Superfans:

  • Superfans are essential movement builders and evangelists.
    • "The model that we found that works really well looks more like a hurricane than a ladder… bring them in really close, give them all of the tools to then have them go back out in the world and be evangelizers for the movement." (Adam Met, 26:11)

6. Balancing Band, Academia & Advocacy

• Stepping Back from AJR Shows:
  • Adam discusses the support (and disappointment) from fans as he takes select breaks for his academic and advocacy work.
    • “The number of people… saying that they started studying environmental science because I was the one who introduced the field… Even if there are just a handful… then I've done my work right.” (Adam Met, 28:32)

7. Civic Engagement & Optimism

• Importance of Local Involvement:
  • Adam encourages fans to engage in local politics, where votes make a tangible impact.
    • "Your power at the local level is thousands of times more than your power at the federal level... my call to action for you would be go look up when your next local election is and look at the people who are running because that is going to make some of the biggest difference in your own life." (Adam Met, 31:01)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On walking with Paul Simon:

• “I just want to see what it's like to be in his presence and take a walk with him.” (Adam Met, 04:31)

On parental support:

• “Our parents were very supportive of any creative pursuit that we had… given the kind of full space to do as we were growing up.” (Adam Met, 08:13)

On “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard”:

• “That song is just so crispy in its lyrics, but the lyrics are so impactful and true, and they're kind of about the neighborhood where he grew up.” (Adam Met, 10:36)

On protest music:

• “A lot of artists are very intentional about the way that they do that, meaning they decide whether, okay, this piece of art that I'm doing is going to be a mirror to society… and then they can also be intentional about something like protest music.” (Adam Met, 11:56)

On Phil Ochs:

• “He is one of my favorite artists of all time. All of his albums are great… He was so drunk, couldn't remember any of the lyrics… Everything he did like up until that point was with so much intentionality, engaging around the Democratic National Convention…” (Adam Met, 15:04)

On community building:

• “Community building happens through action and happens through reaction and happens because of the things that people actually do.” (Adam Met, 21:23)

On superfans:

• "When you give them the tools, they feel ownership over it in a way that they become evangelizers… That is so much more powerful than any amount of ads that you can run on Instagram." (Adam Met, 27:11)

On fans supporting his academic/advocacy work:

• “There were thousands of comments… so supportive that I'm going to do this work… Even if there are just a handful of those people, then I've done my work right.” (Adam Met, 28:32)

On local political action:

• "Your power at the local level is thousands of times more than your power at the federal level… go look up when your next local election is and look at the people who are running because that is going to make some of the biggest difference in your own life." (Adam Met, 31:01)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 04:01 – Signature question: Who would Adam like to take a walk with?
• 06:45 – Street performance roots and memories of Washington Square Park
• 08:13 – Creative support from parents and family background
• 09:16 – First transformative concert (Paul Simon at BAM)
• 10:01 – On the songwriting genius of Paul Simon
• 11:56 – The role of artists as societal mirrors and the history of protest music
• 15:04 – Phil Ochs, authenticity in protest, and family memories
• 21:23 – Community building: action vs. activity
• 24:22 – How AJR used fan data to target COVID relief
• 26:11 – The influence and necessity of superfans
• 28:32 – Adam’s academic work and sitting out select AJR concerts
• 31:01 – Call to action: the critical role of local civic engagement

Episode Summary

The episode is an intimate, insightful walk through Adam Met’s musical and personal journey. He emphasizes the importance of artistic autonomy, the lessons learned from musical legends, the enduring impact of protest and storytelling in music, and the nuts-and-bolts of genuine community building. Adam’s reflections on balancing fame, academic curiosity, and advocacy provide inspiration for anyone interested in music, social impact, or personal reinvention. His call for action—both in life and citizenship—underscores the episode’s spirit of proactive, creative freedom.