When I first pressed play on Adam Wedd’s Merchant Man, I was greeted not by a polished studio facade, but by the honest hum of someone who’s spent nights chasing a melody and mornings over a cup of tea, hit record on a whim. This EP feels like a window into Adam’s world, a place where every chord and lyric carries a story. Four tracks shine brightest for me, each offering a different glimpse into his heart.
The ride kicks off in high gear with Pedal to the Metal, and you can almost feel the wind whipping past. It’s a playful anthem born on the streets of Camden, co-written outside the Dublin Castle Pub. Adam and Leo Abrahamsen concocted its rip-roaring energy under streetlights, and it shows. The thumping bass and cheeky lyrics about careening through London on a toy car between Christmas and New Year give it a joyful, carefree spirit. You can picture Adam laughing as he sings, and that sense of fun is infectious, by the end, you’re ready to buckle up and join the joyride.
Then there’s Shaped by the Stars, which slows things down into a warm, reflective glow. Written with friends in Stockholm, this song is all about the invisible forces that mold us, friends, moments, dreams. Adam’s voice here is gentle, brushing against acoustic guitars and hushed harmonies. The music video, filmed in a flat being emptied, adds a tender, bittersweet edge. It’s the kind of track you play when you need to remember where you came from, and where you’re headed.
On a cloudy morning in my kitchen, I stumbled upon Duvet Days, and felt like Adam was right there, sharing a cup of tea. There’s no big production here, just a simple melody and heartfelt words about seeking comfort when life pulls you away. It reminds you that sometimes the best creativity comes when you let go of expectations and just let your feelings guide you.
Finally, Begin Again offers a hopeful close. Engineered and performed with Sam Beer, its steady drums and warm bass cradle Adam’s lyrics about starting fresh. You can almost see him stepping onto a new path, guitar slung over his shoulder, eyes forward. Lines like “Every sunrise writes a new chapter” feel sincere, not cliché, because they come from lived experience, tour buses, late-night writing sessions, and the ever-changing life of a songwriter.
Through these four tracks, Adam Wedd proves he’s not chasing trends, he’s telling stories. From the wild adventures of Pedal to the Metal to the quiet introspection of Duvet Days, his EP Merchant Man feels like a conversation over coffee with someone who’s both an adventurer and a poet. Each song is a vivid snapshot: the thrill of discovery, the comfort of home, the pull of fresh starts, and the bonds that shape us.
Merchant Man isn’t just a collection of tunes, it’s a heartfelt introduction to an artist who writes with honesty, humor, and warmth. Whether you’re racing down city streets or savoring a quiet morning, Adam’s stories will meet you right where you are.