Adam Warner’s Trace Adkins Connection – Interview with Adam Warner [Country Artist] 2023
He was once asked if Trace Adkins was his dad…..no he’s not, but there is a connection to Trace Adkins in the form of music! Adam Warner went from the farm to the Marines to Nashville creating anthemic music including “Semper Fi” with Trace Adkins, “Welcome to the South” played at every Titans home game and his current song and video for “Split a Beer.” Break out the tissues for this one folks!
Sue Bonzell
He has shared the stage with Lee Brice, Jamie Johnson and trace Adkins and more. And he’s got a new song out guaranteed to make you cry. Adam Warner is here. Hey, Adam,
Adam Warner
thank you for having me. I’m glad we finally got together and
Sue Bonzell
we got to do this. I know we bumped into each other a couple of times here and there. And finally got you here in the studio. A we got to talk about this new song split a beer. Yeah, absolutely. Tell me about writing this song. And then we’re going to talk about that video. Because Oh, man, bring out the Kleenex. Yeah.
Adam Warner
So it’s kind of man, it’s kind of a funny way this song came about. We’re actually on a writer’s retreat. Back in my family farm. And we’re on day two. And the first day we stayed up until like three or four in the morning and been writing. And the following day, this was probably around 10 o’clock or so we’re just all stirring and starting to have coffee. One of my co writers was asking me because he knew my grandpa and I really close. And he was just kind of asking me about the property. Long story short, I was kind of telling him about the last week I spent with my grandpa and a man is actually right here in this room. And we were sitting outside on the screened in porch. And I told him I was like, Man, this is like I’m sitting with my grandpa was sitting and you’re sitting where I was sitting, I was like, this is actually the last place we split a beer. And as soon as I said that, we both kind of just like looked at each other and did the head tilt like a dog a little bit. And then I looked over my friend Mark, and he was like nobody say anything else. And he walked over and grabbed the guitar and walked outside. And he was just kind of like mumbling some stuff. And he was like, I don’t know what we’re gonna say. But this is the melody. So he came back in with that melody. And then we started writing it. And it took about two hours, I guess, or somewhere around in there. And we had it all knocked out. And I think what took so long is we kept having to walk outside to get away from the song for a second because it was choking everybody. Yeah, absolutely.
Sue Bonzell
Yeah. So you know, it’s kind of dedicated to those who lost someone, we’ve all lost someone, the video is very, very moving. Tell me about the video and all of the people that are featured in that video.
Adam Warner
Absolutely, yeah. So you know, again, like I wrote with my grandpa in mind, but also I wanted to do it in a way, you know, the unfortunate part of lives, the longer you’re around, you’re gonna end up losing people that are close to your friends or family or whatnot. And I wanted to do it in a way where, you know, we could recognize everybody that’s gone through that, we put a message out on Facebook, and we asked if people could send in pictures of loved ones or friends who they would enjoy splitting one more beer with if they had a chance. So we ended up getting around 300 and some odd submissions. And I’m pretty sure we got every picture in there. Wow. And yeah, it was it was tough. It was for me, I saw a lot of familiar faces and faces I didn’t know as well. But it was a very, very cool video, the way it came together. And it was an honor to be able to, you know, honor their memory through my song. So
Sue Bonzell
well, I did watch it. And I did need a Kleenex. So if you watch it, make sure you get the Kleenex. And so I kind of love like the contrast of that song being so emotional, like you said, you know, writing the song and yourself being emotional. You know, you’re a big, tough former Marine. I mean, you went from the farm, to the Marines. And then how did you get into country music?
Adam Warner
You know, music just in general has always been a part of my life. I started in a rock band, I think when I was like an eighth grade or something like that new three songs, and we wore him out. But in the Marine Corps, I was still writing music, obviously, not as frequently as I am now. But when I got out, wasn’t really something that I thought that I was going to pursue is like a career path. I knew I was going to go to college use my GI bill because that was my deal with my mom. She said if he joined, you have to go to college. Just promise me you’ll go and I said, Okay, kept my promise. And when I graduated, I was done in Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. I just started writing again, and then ran into a couple of like minded guys. So I still write with today. And really what got me my start is I wrote a couple of songs, and one of them piqued the interest of one of my friends. Now I can call a friend, trace Adkins. He didn’t end up recording it, but he brought me in and I didn’t know who I was meeting. And he was at a football game. And so we were at a Titans game. And he was doing the national anthem that day. And my manager brought me up. And, you know, we went through all the back tunnels or whatever. And I was like, What in the heck is he taking me? And we got to this suite. And I didn’t know anybody in there. And of course, trace was on the field because he was singing. So we’re sitting there and after the anthem was over, I was just like, oh, this is cool. This I gotta watch a cool football game. And it’s about that time I started feeling like, somebody was like breathing on my neck almost. And I turned around and my nose was about in his belly button. Now I looked up and I saw trace Adkins and I was like, Oh, Mr. Atkins, and he looks down to me and he goes, get out of my sweet I was a little scared of her. I was like, okay, and he’s like, I’m just joking. It’s Then we started talking about that song. And he just said that he asked if I’d sang the demo. And I said, Yeah, that was me. And he goes, Man, if I was you, I’d think about, you know, maybe putting that out yourself and seeing what happens. And so I figured if Chase tells you to do something like that, you might as well listen. So that’s kind of what got me started. Yeah, I’ve really been writing with the same core group of guys. From the beginning. I mean, Mark Adams, Mark Addison Chandler, he’s a good friend of mine. He’s also a special forces Army veteran. He CO produced that entire project and CO wrote, I think, nine of the 12 songs. And then my friend Josh Gallagher, he was on the voice. I always forget what season but
Sue Bonzell
there’s so many at this point, but he’s
Adam Warner
phenomenal. Taylor Goya is another one, Barrett Babor. And then John Caldwell. And that’s kind of like my little core group of guys. And we just really feed each other off of each other really well. And everybody really knows, you know, everybody’s style. So it makes it makes it really easy.
Sue Bonzell
So So split a beer is one song on the album, right? Um, how many how many songs on the album? 1212 12. That’s, that’s a, that’s like a regular size. Yeah,
Adam Warner
I was bummed. At first, I was just gonna do an EP, we’re gonna do like six songs and then went to another writer’s retreat. And we got like three more, and I was like, Matt, okay, I think I’m gonna record a couple of these. And then for you know, we’re like sitting at nine. I was like, we might as well just go for the full 12. There you go. And so we took back off to my farm one last time. And I think we got I think every song we wrote that weekend, not ended up getting cut. Not yet. I know. I got two and I think Mark’s got one. I think Josh has got one too.
Sue Bonzell
Wow. So that’s awesome. So okay, you also have a song that we can hear when we go to Nissan stadium for the Titans games. Let’s talk about that. I want to hear about
Adam Warner
Welcome to the south. Yeah. That’s another interesting song on how that came about to it was, I was on my way to a right to Nashville, and my manager called me. And he was like, Hey, what’s up, and I was like, stuck in traffic, what’s going on? And he was like, interesting phone call I just had and I was like, okay, and he was like, I just got done talking to John Robertson, the GM at the time. And he said, they’re looking for a new hype song for like, their fan experience at the Titans games. And I was like, Okay, I was like, does he have like a idea of what he’s looking forward and goes, nope, that’s like, okay, that’s perfect. That makes it easy here. So I was just like, yeah, as a man is like, I’m on my way to her right, right now, it’s like, those guys the idea and see if it’s something they want to try to tackle. And I was riding with Chapman Harvey that day and Quinn logins, and I kind of was mulling around some ideas in my head, and I came up with Welcome to the South because I played football. And you know, every coach always says, you know, this is our house that we protect our house. And I was like, well, House House and South rhyme. So it started somewhere, I guess. And that’s kind of where it came about. But yeah, that was one of those songs. It really wrote itself. Quinn and traveling are so fast. I was just kind of like spitballing one liners, and then you literally have to keep a phone on record the whole time. Because Quinn will just start going off on a tangent. You’re just like, oh, yeah, yeah. Would you just say? Yes, I don’t know. I don’t know. That’s kind of how that happened. I just, you know, luckily, I remembered that he’s one of those guys. And I hit record. And he just started just pretty much saying the song, like, all the way through and I was just like, I recorded all of that. And he goes, thank God because I don’t remember a thing I just said it was in the zone. He was yeah, he’s just one of those guys. He does. He just starts filling it and you just gotta be ready.
Sue Bonzell
That is pretty awesome. So if you you know, if you come to Nissan stadium here in Nashville, you’re gonna hear Adam water song. That’s pretty cool.
Adam Warner
Yeah, that’s really neat. That was. That was cool. Especially the first time just, they let me be out on the field. And when they played it, that was one of those surreal moments. I was just kind of looking around. I was like, Dang, this is crazy. I guess this really happened to a lot of people.
Sue Bonzell
All right, so you got the long hair. You did a remake of Charlie Daniels band, long haired country boy, which I think is outstanding. Thank you. I mean, it’s difficult. You know, you. You’ve said that before, it’s hard to compare to the original, especially Charlie Daniels. But dang. I mean, you did a great version of that song.
Adam Warner
Thank you. That’s what you know, that’s always been one of my favorites is to my mom. I remember my mom played it for me when I was a kid. It was I think, like, maybe the third or fourth song I ever learned on guitar, just because I liked it so much. And yeah, like you said, I was really nervous about re recording that one just because I mean, it’s Charlie for one and how are you ever going to come close to even matching that but I want to do it you know, keeping it as close to his version as possible, but also adding my own flavor to it as well without, you know, getting too crazy and I was really proud of it. But again, I was kind of nervous to put it out just for that simple fact that was me even in my opinion is like mine doesn’t come close to what Charlie originally did. But I do enjoy playing the song. So it was fun. It was a good experience. No,
Sue Bonzell
it is fun. And so Alright, so with that, so with the long hair, I gotta ask since you were in the Marines, yeah. So as soon as you were out of the Marines, did you just like immediately start growing your hair?
Adam Warner
Yeah, I remember. As soon I just got back from my second deployment. And I was processing out and they sent me to Quantico, Virginia. I was sitting in the first Sergeant’s office. And I think I had like three weeks left or something like that. And I hadn’t had a haircut in probably two weeks for someone walks in and he was like, Warner was like, What’s Up for Sauron? He was like, I know, we’ll get now he’s like, I can see that. He was, uh, yeah. And I had a haircut. In about three weeks. He goes kind of talk into the lease, trying to fade it a little bit. And I was like, yeah, go to the barber shop. So I literally went to the barber shop, and I was like, give me the lowest regulation. And it was literally like a, like, it’s just an edge. And I got in back to the office. And he was like, I appreciate the effort. Where there
Sue Bonzell
was effort. Yeah, right. Okay, so now you’ve gotten to, like you said, work with trace Adkins. So when I hear your voice, like, it sounds like it’s out of order, like 100% It’s you. But like, I get these little these little waves of trace Adkins and in Brantley Gilbert.
Adam Warner
Oh, yeah. There’s some growl in there, too. Yeah, that’s that’s a great compliment, too. Because I love both of those guys. And I guess it’s kind of like the what do they call like a catch? 22 Because it’s, there’s no greater compliment than being compared to somebody you really look up to. But it’s also like, Well, I hope that you know, I’m not always gonna be the guy that looks looks and sounds like a trace a little bit. But um, no, I mean, we’re right there. Trace I don’t think people realize until like, we’re side by side, and they’re like, man, you got a deep voice and I’m like, even traces in the room and we talk I still feel like a little kid next to that guy. I mean, his voice is so deep and it’s crazy. But um, yeah, like, the raspy you know, that kind of comes from being in rock bands and stuff too. So that’s a good one. I like the Brantley and trace comparison. And I love those guys.
Sue Bonzell
I mean, do Would you ever collaborate with with Brantley Gilbert Oh, god, yeah. Harvey
Adam Warner
Bradley. I’ve known Brantley. For a couple years. I know his manager way better than I know him. But he’s always been such a nice guy anytime I’ve met him and he helped me out. Last year. There’s a there’s a little kid from my hometown. And he’s the biggest Brantley Gilbert fan in the world. And he has Down Syndrome and like he puts his headphones on and literally will like putting on a Brantley Gilbert concert in his backyard. And one of my friends from back home, took some pictures of his kid, you know, performing. And then Brantley was coming through Evansville, Indiana, which is only like an hour from where I grew up. I sent those pictures over to him. I was like, Look, I was like, I know how hard it is to make time and do meet and greets. You know if you can meet this little kid, I was like, Man, you would just make his world and he just he sent me a message right back and said send me there send me their parents names and a contact size shirt bang. And they ended up making it happen. He got to meet him after the show. And I got they sent me the pictures and I was like alright, that’s cool. That made me happy. That is awesome. What a great story. Oh, yeah. Bradley’s top notch. Dude. He’s a good guy. Love him.
Sue Bonzell
That is awesome. Well, I Okay. I want to hear you sing. Yeah. So we’re gonna get you to play. And if you guys want to see that performance, I’m gonna put the link in the description so that you can see out a mortar play his new songs split a beer. All right now we’re going to take just a tiny, itsy bitsy break. And when we come back, we’re gonna play my world famous game, truth or truth. Its truth or truth. Okay, time to play truth or truth. Are you ready for this out? I think so. Okay, all right, you get to pick your own question. We’re gonna do a couple of them. You do one at a time.
Adam Warner
Let’s see here. What do we got? What’s the best lie you’ve ever told anyone? Oh, man. We’re gonna drop any names. But I was planning writers around one time. I was playing with this kid. Somebody was like, You got to give him a chance. Put him on. He’s great. And I was like, Alright, cool. And he got up a man. Poor guy. He couldn’t. He couldn’t carry a turn if he had a bucket full of. But the best lie ever told him was like, Dude, you’re great. Keep going. Would you do that? I haven’t talked to him in five years. So.
Sue Bonzell
Okay, well, at least you were encouraging about it. I mean, those are less like a good luck right?
Adam Warner
It’s hard. Yeah, I mean, I’m sure other people hear me and they’re just like, what’s it What’s this guy’s what’s yelled by him. He’s I’ve had off days. I’m sure what we will do. I hope they lie to me when I
Sue Bonzell
Well, you gotta have the certain people that are your height people. Yeah, that will lie to you. And then you get your other people that are like, look, I’m going to be honest. You go okay, fine. I can take it
Adam Warner
But he’s a young kid too. So I felt bad like saying like, do you need vocal lessons? And he was like, 18 at the time.
Sue Bonzell
She’ll figure it out. Yeah. Yeah, you got you got plenty of time. All right. All right.
Adam Warner
Let’s see what I’m gonna go with the strangest rumors. You’ve heard about yourself. Funny, I actually asked to do a trace. Somebody sent me a DM on I think it was Instagram. And they said, Is it true that trace is your dad. Oh, that’s funny. I said. Yes, absolutely. No,
Sue Bonzell
that’s the next best.
Adam Warner
I didn’t answer it. I just thought it was funny that I cracked up I was I showed my wife and then I sent a screenshot to him. He goes God, I hope not.
Sue Bonzell
I love him because he’s like, so harsh. But it also is like, you know, he’s got a hard to go. Oh, definitely.
Adam Warner
Yeah, so his humor cracks me up. I love it.
Sue Bonzell
Okay, that’s fine. I love it. Yeah, we’re gonna do one more.
Adam Warner
One more. Let’s see what if you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life. What would you choose? You know, that’s a that’s a tough one. But I would probably pick my surprise that I probably go with this group. They’re called elevation worship. And they’re a Christian band. And they have a song called graves to gardens. So I feel like if I was going to listen to one song for the rest of my life, it probably be a good idea to pick one that was about Gods. I think I would go with that one.
Sue Bonzell
I liked that answer a lot. Well, thank you. Very nice, very nice. Well, good. Well, I want to thank you so much for being here playing the game playing the song. You guys want to hear the performance The link is in the description. And of course, you know, like and subscribe because you know, we love you.
Adam Warner
Absolutely. Thanks again for having me. I’m glad we made it work. Absolutely. Good to see
Sue Bonzell
you here too. Thanks for watching up in country and supporting country music. You can continue to support us by hitting that subscribe button sharing this video or leave us a comment. And if you’d like to make a donation to keep the show going. There’s a link in the description.
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