Adam Tilzer Premieres His Defiant Single “I’m Gonna Start a Cult”

This is Adam Tilzer’s moment, and he’s making of it exactly what he wants it to be. The longtime producer turned solo artist is debuting his new single “I’m Gonna Start a Cult” today from his forthcoming debut solo album Cult Leader.

As the song title suggests, there is a certain degree of levity within its words and composition. And that is played out throughout the lyrics, which you can tell right off the bat as Tilzer exclaims, “I guess I’ve started a cult / I swear it’s the good kind.”

When you’ve had a career like Tilzer’s, it’s not surprising you’d have a lot of musical ideas kicking around in your head. He is known for his production and engineering work with dozens of artists. He has produced over 300 songs, so he is well-practiced at the art of music making.

Discussing the song, Tilzer states:

“The idea for this song actually kicked off the process and idea for starting my debut solo album. I’ve been lucky enough to produce and work with a crew of people who constantly support and lift each other up, and because of this, people have nicknamed us ‘the cult.’ Lyrically, this gave me an opportunity to air my grievances with the world while simultaneously boasting about what a good crew of people we have and encouraging others to join us.

“Originally, the music for this song was going to be for Jordan Popky, but during the first writing session, the concept came to me, and she encouraged me to keep it for myself. She also contributed to the lyric writing process.”

Thematically, Cult Leader takes an interesting look at what he feels is wrong with modern-day society. The album is his attempt to figure out how to exist within it. There are silver linings to be found in life, and Tilzer is very in tune with his. There is strength to be found in community and connection, even if two people are sharing the same angst.

Set to be released on June 13th, Cult Leader was inspired by the many talented musicians that Tilzer works with. Within the work they do, they have formed a close-knit community that he affectionately refers to as his cult. Throughout the album, that group of musicians is often given the spotlight, with over two dozen artists contributing to this project. Everyone he asked to be on he asked for a specific reason. He wanted their talents showcased, with little instruction from him. There was a lot of room for improvisation, and he was surprised each time by what they came up with. He viewed Cult Leader as an opportunity to bring his friends together in an effort to chase his own vision. And the results will speak for themselves when the record is released in June.

Adam Tilzer “I’m Gonna Start a Cult” single artwork