Nick Adema explores the turmoil of life and loss
in the modern city on Urban Chaos

When life becomes chaotic, a strange city can be simultaneously the best and the worst place to find oneself. If all you want to do is be alone with your thoughts, a crowded, hectic metropolis can seem overwhelming; at the same time, there’s no easier locale in which to be anonymous, even while surrounded by other people.

Those were some of the impressions racing through the mind of trombonist/composer Nick (Nicholas) Adema as he put together the music for his ambitious new album Urban Chaos.

Adema lost his mother in late 2022, not long after relocating from Ottawa, Canada to Amsterdam. “Urban Chaos captures the feeling of moving back to the city after going through all of this mayhem,” Adema says. The album is a follow-up to its 2021 predecessor, DemiLAN, which was named for his mother (Demetria Langis) and created in parallel with her illness.
“I almost quit music when my mom passed away,” Adema continues. “This album is about the process of moving on and realizing that what's done is done, while acknowledging all that she’s done to help me continue my music.”

credits

released October 4, 2024