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Folk dance rock, rough guitar finger pick’ n, smoothly bleeding vocals with a raspy edge, sometimes dancing music for the thinker, sometimes mellow and sombre, acoustic stomping, guitar slapping. Ideas that will make you question, melody that will have you singing by the last verse.

An accomplished student of music, Cousens embarked on his solo singing/songwriting career only a few years ago. Trained in both piano and brass, Cousens began playing guitar and writing music as a way to express his opinions on identity and social injustice.

Cousens uses music as a tool to question, and oftentimes challenge the status quo.

“I can’t stand ‘wallpaper music’,” Cousens said.

“Music doesn’t mean anything unless it touches people,” he said.

Although skilled at arranging orchestral pieces, Cousens sees lyrics as an efficient and enjoyable way to reach an audience and inspire change within them.

“It all comes down to people,” he said. “People are the most important thing in this world.”

Cousens’ live sets appeal to audiences of all ages, but for varying reasons. He certainly makes music for the thinking person. The additional strength in his work though, is that it is thoroughly delightful to listen to.

Audiences are not the only ones who appreciate Cousens’ ability and attitude. Over only two years, Cousens has an impressive list of critical achievements.

Support performances include Clare Bowditch, Tim Rogers, Dallas Crane’s Dave Larkin, The Angels, The Bedroom Philosopher and Bomba. Cousens also performed at the Southern Roots Festival in 2007, and was selected to play on the main stage at the 2007 Falls Festival in Marion Bay, Tasmania.

Adam Cousens track ‘When You Smile’ caught jtv’s attention and was used in a story they produced about young refugees. The segment was broadcast on jtv ABC TV earlier this year.

Recently Cousens was selected as a finalist in four categories in the Tasmanian Amplified Awards. He carried away the trophies for Best Song (Running Over Rooftops) Best Solo Artist, and Best Songwriter, an impressive haul.

Cousens’ songs “Getting Better” and “Judging Appropriately” both placed in the Top 10 of the National APRA songwriting awards 2006 in the folk category.

He also won the Mountain Festival 2006 Songwriters’ Competition with “Beautiful People”.

Cousens released his second EP “Running Over Rooftops” in November 2007 after the success of his debut EP “Beautiful People” in 2006 that sold over 3,500 copies at gigs alone.

Cousens returned from a tour of Europe and the United Kingdom in November 2006 and during 2007 he toured New Zealand and Melbourne.

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