Meet Adam Carpenter | Musician – Dealer Takes Four

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adam Carpenter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adam, what role has risk played in your life or career?
As musicians from Colorado we have been working our way through the music scene for over 15 years, we have learned that taking risks is an essential part of achieving success in the industry. But the road to success is not without its challenges, and sometimes, tragic losses.

Seven years ago, our band, James and The Devil, experienced the heartbreaking loss of our lead singer and best friend James Campbell to brain cancer. It was a devastating blow, and we took a break from music to grieve and find a way forward. Eventually, we decided to start playing again, but we felt like we needed a fresh start. We changed our band name to Dealer Takes Four, as a way to honor our friend’s memory while also moving forward as a new band. With electric guitarist and vocalist Brian Knapp stepping up as lead vocalist we have once again taken on the original music scene.

Taking this risk was not easy, but we knew it was the right decision for us. It allowed us to continue making music together while also honoring our friend’s legacy. We have learned that taking risks is necessary if we want to stand out and make a name for ourselves in the industry. Every time we take a risk, there is a chance of success or failure, but we always learn something valuable from the experience that we can apply to future opportunities.

In the original music industry, taking risks is part of the job. It’s a competitive industry, and if you want to succeed, you have to be willing to try new things, experiment with different sounds, and play in front of new audiences. But it’s important to be smart about the risks you take and to have a plan in place for both success and failure.

Our band’s history has been marked by both triumphs such as playing amazing venues and crowds from Red Rocks to 30,000 person music festivals and tragedies, but through it all, we have learned the importance of taking risks, pursuing our passions, and cherishing every moment we have together. Our experiences have taught us that life is short, and we must make the most of every opportunity that comes our way.

To all aspiring musicians and artists out there, I encourage you to take risks and pursue your dreams with passion and dedication. Believe in yourself, be willing to take chances, and don’t be afraid to try new things. Remember that even in the face of tragedy and loss, there is always hope and a way forward

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Dealer Takes Four is set apart from others by the unbreakable bond of our tight-knit brotherhood, forged through years of touring and playing throughout the Denver and Rocky Mountain music scenes. We have a burning passion for performing live music for any crowd, and it’s what drives us to keep making original music.

The path to where we are today was not easy, but we are grateful for the struggles we faced when we were young. Now that we have families and careers, we can afford to take our time recording and playing selectively for the crowds we want to reach. We’ve learned to value each other for the sacrifices we’ve made along the way, including taking time away from our families to record and play.

Along our journey, we have learned just how fortunate we are to have experienced what we have, and we cherish every moment spent together as a band. Even if no one showed up to our shows or listened to our music, we would still play and create for the love of the music and the art of creating something together as a group.

As a band, we encourage others to pursue their passions with the same tenacity and dedication that we bring to our music. We believe that anything is possible if you’re willing to work hard and take risks. We are a testament to the fact that with passion, hard work, and a little bit of luck, you can achieve your dreams.

So to anyone out there who is struggling to pursue their passion, we urge you to keep going. Even when it seems like no one is listening or paying attention, keep creating and keep pushing forward. In the end, it’s the love and passion you bring to your craft that truly sets you apart from the rest.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Having spent much of our time playing and snowboarding at resorts throughout the Rocky Mountains most of our favorites spots lie within the hills. With Winter Park, Copper, Breckenridge, Crested Butte and Durango’s Purgatory topping the list. If had time (and money) to spend that is where we love to enjoy or time. In the front range our local stage is at Rails End brewery where we have close ties to the whole team there and play popup shows regularly. Definitely one of our favorites!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This shout out is for two people: James Joseph Campbell, the lead singer of James and The Devil, who inspired us to make original music and taught us to seize the day and preach love and strength. Even after being diagnosed with brain cancer at the peak of the band’s career, Jim never lost his passion for music. He sang and played until the end. His legacy lives on in our music and the way we live our lives. We encourage others to find their passion and pursue it with all their heart, just as Jim taught us.

We are grateful for Brian Knapp, the lead singer of Dealer Takes Four, who serves in the Special Forces as an active duty military member while being a father of two and a husband. His music brought us together and inspires us to perform at our best. Despite being deployed out of the country, we stay in close contact and eagerly await his return this summer, the release of our new album, and our return to the stage. In the meantime, we continue to release new singles remotely, and we appreciate his dedication to our band and our country.

Website: https://linktr.ee/dealertakesfour

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dealertakes4/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dealerTakesFour

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dealertakesfour

Image Credits
Photos credit of Jon Geeslin for all the live shots and Erica Knapp for the forest band photo