Adam Stark isn’t one to take electronic music lightly. Having immersed himself in trance and progressive house since the ‘90s, the Denver-based DJ/producer knows firsthand the emotional impact of music when it’s made for the right reasons - so despite his ever-growing list of accomplishments, he’d prefer to leave his ego at the door.
Born in Fort Collins, Colorado, Stark was adopted straight from the hospital. Early in life his adoptive family bounced from the Greeley/Sterling area to Colorado Springs to Telluride before finally settling in Denver, around which time he discovered electronic music.
Feeling alienated from his childhood peers led him to seek solace in online interaction, and at a very young age he stumbled upon early trance artists such as Paul Van Dyk and ATB - whose music was not immediately accessible to American audiences through mainstream channels. The emotional intelligence of the genre immediately resonated with him, and electronic music culture became the focal point in his day-to-day life.
It wasn’t long afterwards that Stark began teaching himself to DJ on vinyl with belt-driven Stanton turntables, grinding the needle to dust while practicing transitions over and over again. In high school, he found work with a traditional production company that provided entertainment for birthday parties and weddings, setting up staging, lighting and gear. At one such event, he had the chance to play a short time slot - and upon feeling the crowd’s reaction from behind the decks, he knew that playing records was exactly what he wanted to do with his life.
Of course, the road ahead would not be without its pitfalls. While gaining his bearings in the local scene after high school, he worked for fast food restaurants and grocery stores while trying to structure his time around attending live music events. At a particular low point, Stark contemplated giving up altogether, and decided to attend an Armin Van Buuren performance at Beta Nightclub as a last hurrah of sorts. What he didn’t expect was that - just as it did in his formative years - the uplifting energy of trance would connect him to something bigger than himself, reinvigorating his passion for music and motivating him to carry on.
Fast forward to the present day, and not only has EDM exploded into mainstream consciousness but Stark has overcome any semblance of the childhood awkwardness that ever plagued him. A beloved and charismatic fixture of the Denver scene, he’s managed to work his way into countless avenues of the industry on a global scale as well. By building close ties with Beta Nightclub, as well as music download platform Beatport, he’s played every major nightclub in the Mile High City as well as well as becoming a familiar face at Colorado massives whether in the crowd on onstage.
These days, he draws more influence from artists with whom he rubs shoulders than those on some unattainable pedestal. A little-known tidbit of French DJ/producer Madeon’s rise to success is that Stark originally discovered him while working for Canadian progressive house DJ/producer Glenn Morrison - and had he not, the then-14-year-old talent’s parents would not have let him continue to pursue music. He also cites Israeli trance mainstay Maor Levi as a major influence, as the artist has become one of Anjunabeats’ fastest-rising exports.
As much as the politics of the music industry might mire the typical artist in callous cynicism, Stark still considers what he does to be a responsibility and privilege. A DJ’s DJ who holds true turntablism in high regard, he still beat matches the old-fashioned way and refuses to lean on live controllers unless they contribute to his showmanship as a performer. More importantly, whether warming up the decks for international headliners or holding down sets at more intimate gatherings, he views every single performance as an opportunity to connect with his audience emotionally. Stark plays music for the person in the crowd who absolutely needs it, because he knows firsthand the emotional impact that it can have.
Adam Stark has played in and around Denver at venues including The Church, Club Vinyl, Bar Standard, City Hall, The Aggie, Casselman’s, Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom (and attached venue The Other Side), Red Rocks Amphitheater, The Denver Coliseum, and the Colorado Convention Center. He frequently plays the main floor at Beta Nightclub, and hosts his own events occasionally on the second floor - for which he’s booked the likes of Adam K, Noel Sanger, Lea Luna and MLe as headliners. After a series of mashups that will kick off with his intertwining of Ferry Corsten’s “Ain’t No Stopping” with Zedd’s “Spectrum,” he’ll be taking the 2016 festival season by storm with debuts of originals that will prove a vibrant culmination of his generation-spanning influences.
