“I wanted to make music that could say everything I couldn’t, basically,” says Adam LP. “You write a love song and it says the things that you can’t say in person, so it’s got the feelings. I thought, ‘Why don’t I write an entire saga of trying to seduce someone or convey the sweetest, sentimental love but on an entire album?’ ”

 

Adam LP is originally from Cary, Illinois. He moved to Chicago eight years ago because his longtime friend Alexander Brettin from Mild-High Club had just started a band called Soft Candy. Brettin invited him to join in order to bring some swag to the band, Adam LP says.

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He eventually parted ways with Soft Candy but decided to stay in Chicago and start a band of his own. He wanted a fresh start and decided his sensual sound would put to rest the wavering identity that he carried.

 

“It seemed true to the style of music, but also I felt like it was a concept that people could understand. I had just left my old band so I was like, ‘Wow I don’t even know what to call myself or what it is I’m about to do,’ ” he says.

 

Finding connection with the term “wavy,” Adam LP felt inspired by the sexy, vibey feel the word embodies. He began his pursuit of other musicians who fit the style he wanted to create.

 

That’s where Arturo Calendar, the band’s bass player, came into play. Calendar and Adam LP had friends in common and were already familiar with each other. After spending some time together discussing music, Calendar decided that he was all in.

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Calendar’s psychedelic-soul inspired style of music was similar to Adam LP’s sound, and the collaboration brought about the birth of Wavy I.D.

 

Combining soul, funk and indie music allowed the band to play with their own understanding of these styles. Wavy I.D. is part of the expansive Chicago music scene, which pushes boundaries and creates an unpredictable sound in every composition and performance.

 

“In 10 years I believe experimental music will still be relevant because it’s new and fresh. It’s like no other genre of music and the unpredictability of it all will definitely keep the attention of fans,” says Bruce Finkelman, owner of  historic rock club The Empty Bottle.

 

Adam LP spends hours coming up with an idea before he executes it. He says his best ideas usually happen after he takes a walk around the block.

 

“It takes a lot of work; you have to try at least 10 terrible ideas before you get a good one. The best ideas usually come when I’m out in the world and not just sitting here,” he says.

 

The biggest obstacle when it comes to the band is himself, he says. As the lead singer of Wavy I.D., Adam LP obsesses over making sure everything is perfect.

 

“I’m an artist and I can be a diva and I can be impatient or I can be too obsessive. Since I’m driving the car, I’d say if anyone ever steers us off the road to success, it’s me. At the same time, everyone plays their part in making things difficult,” he says.

 

The band practices twice a week, reaching for new ideas through sound and feel.

 

“I spend a lot of time obsessing over tone and exclusion. I am a little obsessive, but I think it’s important. We’re not just punching power chords. There’s a gentleness to it that is really hard to pick up, so we focus a lot on feel,” he says.

 

Every artist has their own process for music production but Adam LP’s methods typically start with noodling on a instrument and playing around with music software.

 

“I want to make a groovy beat, and then I write on top of that, which is backwards for a lot of people,” he says.

 

As he pours his second cup of coffee, Adam LP reminisces about the first time the band performed in front of a large audience. Despite some technical difficulties, the show was still a success, due to the turnout and the crowd engagement with the band during the performance.

 

“When I’m on stage in front of a lot of people you can definitely feel energy in a room, and if you’re captivating people, you know,” he says.

 

While Adam L.P. isn’t in it for the fame, he’d like build an audience outside of Chicago and wouldn’t mind “charting on Pitchfork or making a radio hit,” he says.

 

“But it’s never been for money or fame or being the rock star that tours the world and plays the arena,” he says. “I just want to make music that moves people because that’s when I feel my soul is fulfilled.”