In many ways, John Adams is the quintessential California composer. He has spent a statistically-significant part of his career writing in and about the state—a number of his works reference deep-cut California history and landscapes. But for John, a New England native, building a decades-long creative life in California was never really the plan.

We sat down with John to chat about his early days in the state, from a blue-collar job working the docks of Oakland, through a teaching stint at the young San Francisco Conservatory, to his musical and stylistic breakthrough. John shares stories about some of his most influential early pieces, including a bout with hangover, honeybee, and world premiere-induced anaphylaxis. To this day, John remains inspired by California, its native and adopted creatives, and where the music industry as a whole has landed. 

John Adams portrait by Deborah O’Grady.