Singer/songwriter Adam Schmitt first won acclaim in the early '90s, when his 1991 debut album World So Bright and 1993 follow-up Illiterature had critics hailing him as a young pop genius. Now - 8 years after ending the contract with Reprise he's now back with a new CD on Parasol Records. So we sent Rick Huisseune with a first calss plane over the ocean to check him up.

You are the same age as i am, aren't you from the Cheap Trick hometown Chicago ?

I was born in Chicago, but I now live in Champaign, Illinois, which is about 120 miles south of Chicago.

Cheap Trick are from Rockford, Illinois, which is about 60 miles west of Chicago.

Were you ever part of a band, or did you had plans to join a band after 1993 ? Yes,

I was in bands before my solo albums...The Farmboys, Pop The Balloon, The Elvis Brothers, Mine.

Did you received much airplay with WORLD SO BRIGHT and ILLITERATURE, and how many copies did both albums sold, did you get much promotion ?

Both albums got some radio play, and a little bit of promotion, also some really nice reviews, but neither album sold particularly well.

Did you actually toured with both albums ? If so with what other bands did you play live ?

There was about a six-week tour following the first album, and a few 'mini-tours' following the second album.

I always think you become so melodic towards to the end of your albums, on your debut it was SCARLET STREET, AT SEASON'S END and the terrific ELIZABETH EINSTEIN which should've been a major world hitsingle !!!! Is this the special ADAM SCHMITT trademark ?

Hmmm...I don't know if it's a trademark necessarily, but in general. I think you're right about my albums fitting that description. For some reason, the last three songs are kind of different than the previous songs.

This time it's WORLD AS ENEMY, TIMELESS and LOOKING FOR FATE, last song is too short according to me because it's too beautiful to end all of a sudden, why did you do this ?

Thanks... maybe someday I can do a "dance" or "club" version and splice in a few extra choruses.

I do think BRILLIANCE IN FAILURE is a great awesome song too, explain these lyrics to our readers please ...

It's an overly critical and negative statement in a way - "the best at being the worst" - but it's also a resigned and positive statement, too - "at least the best at something!"To what other artists of thesedays do you prefer to listen at home?

Pretty much everything. And, especially if I'm recording someone, I find I listen to them alot.

How did you came in touch with the PARASOL label ?