We recently had the chance to connect with Adam Pendlington and have shared our conversation below.
Adam, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is a normal day like for you right now?
Right now, a typical day looks very different than it ever has before. My three best friends (Kate, Ian, and Stephen) and I have spent our entire adult lives as self-employed musicians and business owners. But this past year has brought challenges unlike any we’ve faced. A series of difficult, and in some cases necessary, events hit our band, which is also our business, hard. For a moment there, it felt like we might not recover.
But we did recover! And not only are we back on our feet, we’re more energized and creatively inspired than ever. We’re making music we truly believe in. Our most meaningful and possibly our best work to date.
So these days, a “normal” day means spending sunrise to sunset with my bandmates. We’re in the studio writing and recording, or in our “office”, which is basically just another corner of the studio, working on release plans and strategy. If we’re not there, we’re on the road. There aren’t many days off right now, but honestly, we wouldn’t want it any other way. The changes we’ve gone through, as painful as they were, feel like they’ve set us on a path we couldn’t have reached otherwise.
Put more simply, a normal day for me is a very enjoyable day making music with my friends
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Adam Pendlington. I’m a musician and business owner. I work with Run Katie Run and Highbeams, two bands from Atlanta that try to connect with as many people as possible through their live performances of original music.
Run Katie Run is currently working on a new album. The first single, Here I Come, is available everywhere and is already reaching more people than we imagined it could. It’s been a wonderful response.
At the same time, we’re planning a nationwide tour in 2026 to share our new music, which will coincide nicely with the new album release.
Beyond that, we’re fortunate enough to be putting our first European tour together. It’s an exciting time for us, we’re very grateful.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
Both of my parents taught me the most about work. I wouldn’t say I’m as hard of a work as either of them, but I learned many valuable lessons just by observing them. Take responsibility, lead by example, don’t complain (I personally love complaining, but I try to tone it down to be more like them)
They also balance life and work well. And they treat people well, always with respect. At the same time, they respect themselves and they value their own time. They were great examples to aspire to be like, in more ways than this.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
That everything ends, and sometimes way sooner than you’d ever expect. So I appreciate each day much more now.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
No. Like a lot of people I’m just more reserved and guarded around people I don’t knew that well. Of course, around close friends I’m a talkative goofball.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
At Run Katie Run shows, I love looking out across the faces in the audience and watching everyone light up in a smile. Kate Coleman, our lead singer/songwriter, puts on an awesome show. The only way I can describe the energy I watch ripple through the audience is joyful. They’re either happy returning fans, or newcomers who are falling in love with a new band.
I believe our “customers” or fans, would miss that feeling that comes with our music. They’re having a good time, we’re having a good time. We’d all miss that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.runkatierun.com/
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC0mrgMk4msIDy6au3BWiNTw
Image Credits
Elizabeth Kinkaid
