Indie band Strutman Lane’s music is an incredible blend of genres such as soul, pop and funk that leaves listeners dazzled. The up-and-coming DC-based band releases original songs, as well as swankified covers of big hits such as Taylor Swift’s “Lavender Haze.” This week, Mitzpeh sat down with the band’s lead singer, Adam Landa, a proud CESJDS and University of Maryland alumni. Adam has been infatuated with all things music since getting his first guitar at the age of six, and formed Strutman Lane during his junior year of college. We talked Jewish heritage, the songwriting process and the challenges of trying to make it in the music industry. Read further in this exclusive interview to learn more about a UMD alumni trying to turn his dream into a career. 

Can you tell me a little bit about your Jewish background?

I grew up in the Bethesda, Maryland area and went to JDS. My family belonged to a Conservative synagogue in the area and kept a kosher home, but we didn’t keep Shabbat. We mainly went to synagogue for the bigger holidays and events. I also had both sets of grandparents nearby, and they went to Beth Shalom, so I’ve been kind of tied to that Potomac community. 

Can you tell me a little bit about your musical journey?

My music journey started when my dad gave me a guitar for my sixth birthday, which was actually his first guitar. From the moment I got it I couldn’t put it down. I immediately started songwriting and making up tunes. I joined my first band when I was in fifth grade. I formed my first band in high school, and then formed Strutman Lane towards the end of college. I sing as well, but guitar has always been my primary instrument. I also play some piano, bass and drums. At the University of Maryland I majored in bioengineering, but I’ve always been trying to stay involved in music, so I minored in jazz guitar.

How did Strutman Lane come together?

I’ve always liked the idea of being in a band, ever since my dad turned me on to the Beatles when I was young. My junior year of college, it had been a few years since my high school band had broken up, and I really wanted to kind of get back to playing with a group. I formed the original group with a couple guys from the University of Maryland jazz department and some guys from George Mason [University]. We called ourselves Strutman Lane because it’s the street we used to practice on by my house in Bethesda. Since then, our original sax player moved to North Carolina, and our drummer moved to Nashville, so we have picked up some new people since originally forming. We started out as a band of four, but now there are about 10 people that perform with us at our big shows. In total, we have me on guitar and vocals, a bass player, another guitar player, a keyboardist, a drummer, sax and trumpet, and some backup singers and a percussionist. So it’s turned into a pretty big group.

How would you describe Strutman Lane’s musical style to someone who’s never heard it before?

We fit into that soul, pop, funk world, with some with a hint of jazz influences. I think we do a really good job of balancing making music that’s interesting and captivating for musicians, but also catchy and accessible. So if you like catchy trumpet and sax lines, groove music with a strong backbeat and three-part vocal harmonies, I think you’d dig our sound for sure. 

Who are some of your band’s musical inspirations?

That’s a good question, because we have such a diverse group of people. Some of the big names that come out are Stevie Wonder and Steely Dan. In high school I was totally obsessed with Vulfpeck, so there’s really no way that their stuff doesn’t creep into my songwriting. 

What’s your band’s songwriting process like?

I’ve written most of the songs, and we have a few people also starting to contribute more and more, which is really exciting to me. Most of it, I would say, is coming to the band with a song, and it’s kind of fleshed out in terms of the melody, words and chords. But even though I usually provide the skeleton to the band, there have been cases where it’s changed pretty drastically, just because it’s such a collaborative process in rehearsal. For example, I remember I brought one of our songs called “Our Love,” and the bass player came up with the bass part that ended up being what made the song so great.

Do you guys do this full time or do you supplement with other jobs as well?

A lot of the guys teach music in other places, and our trumpet player is actually in the army blues band full time. Our sax player also happens to be a full-blown radiologist which is pretty cool. We are all kind of spread out across the professional world which makes things more fun and exciting. 

What are you most excited about in terms of going on tour, and are there any particular cities or venues you’re looking forward to the most?

I don’t know if there’s one. I mean, every city is kind of unique, and I’m excited to see the energy that each one has. I have heard from friends that have gone on tour and stuff, it’s like you can really feel a vibe change to the city. There’s also such a special bonding experience that comes with going on tour which I’m really excited about. 

Do you have any memorable or funny moments from past performances that you would want to share?

We hand out disposable cameras at our shows. So the past couple shows, we’ve just gotten absolutely hilarious shots of the audience, which is like, both funny and also sweet and endearing, because it’s kind of like a window into the authentic experience that people are having.

Do you have any Jewish musical icons? 

Growing up I listened to a lot of David Broza, and I think that Paul Simon of Simon and Garfunkel has had a huge impact on my songwriting. 

How did your Jewish identity influence your music and your career?

There’s just so much singing, you know, in synagogue and in Jewish culture and on holidays and stuff like that, that it felt kind of beaten into me in a good way. I mean, I’m sure you feel similarly, but it’s kind of like always surrounding you.

What are your overall aspirations for Strutman Lane?

I love the group so much that I’d really like to get to a point where it can be a full-time gig and pay the bills. Even though it comes with its own set of struggles, like having to tour for ‘x’ amount of months every single year which can get pretty exhausting, if I could do something I am this passionate about full time I would be a really happy camper. 

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

Right now I want to say Prince. I think he’s just one of those people that did everything so well. He was just a real knockout guitar player. I feel like that doesn’t get talked enough about. Either him or Quincy Jones. 

Finally, what advice do you have for aspiring musicians, people you know that are trying to start out in the music business?

Write as much as you can. Listen to as much music as you can and force yourself to listen to music that you don’t like because it’s important to open your ears to as much music as possible, both present and past. I would also say don’t wait until things are perfect to start or you never will. The earlier you start and the more work you put in the happier you will be later on. And make sure you love it, you know?