Adem

It’s funny when people tell Adem Dalipi that because he’s only 16 he doesn’t know what love is. At that young age, the Belvidere-raised teen has a surprising grasp on the emotional intricacies in human interaction.

“I’ve been through relationships,” Dalipi said. “I’ve been through breakups. Some of them I still talk to, and some of them ended badly.” But all those past experiences have fueled the songwriting of the youthful artist.

“I’m bad at keeping my emotions in,” he said. “I tend to write them down as a way of expressing them, processing them.”

Two years ago, he sat down to pen the lyrics to what eventually became “Didn’t Wanna Love You,” the poppy summer groove out today.

“It was a response to something that happened. Saying ‘I wish I didn’t love you and put all that time into that relationship,’” he explained. “It’s about how much you need to focus on that and how it takes away from outside things you can do. You can be devoting that to spending time with family or hanging out with your homies. Or you could be practicing more. And then all of a sudden you get cheated on.”

“I was feeling really bad, and thought I can’t keep myself down,” Dalipi said. “So I sat down and wrote that song. It’s a big part of clearing my mind.”

Dalipi, who has also been performing with the South Suburban blues band The Instinct for the last few years, taps into his musical influences for the catchy “Didn’t Wanna Love You,” which starts off channeling ’80s pop but progresses to a smoky blues vibe in the chorus.

“I love all genres of music,” he said. “I have a huge blues influence, and I wanted to take that and put it into my own original stuff, too.”

The young artist, who has been playing guitar since the age of 9 before also picking up bass, keys and some drums, has musical chops that have earned him opportunities on big stages, starting with a solo performance at Byron Fest in 2016, gigs at Chicago Blues Fest in 2016 and 2017, and an invitation to audition for “American Idol.” He’s grown by listening to a wide variety of performers but especially loves studying his heroes, most notably John Mayer.

“I like to dive deep into their influences and backstories,” he said. “Mayer really developed over the years from an acoustic singer-songwriter to having blues influences and also touching on that vintage ’80s vibe. Seeing that has widened my eyes to opening myself to all these genres.”

Pretty insightful for someone who has been intensely focused on writing his own songs since he was 11.

“I know not everything’s going to be great,” he said. “Sometimes you get something you really like, and sometimes you know you gotta keep writing.” - Brian Shamie

The Radio One Chicago Artist Friday Feature puts the spotlight on a local artist, album, EP, or single track, in hopes of encouraging our listeners and readers to deep dive into the local music scene and discover more around the city.

Adem Dalipi is a Chicago based, blues-influenced singer/songwriter. After attending the 2015 Chicago Blues Festival he was particularly moved by Buddy Guy’s blistering performance and the rest is history. One thing led to another and Adem was later given the opportunity to perform at said festival that kicked it all off for him in both 2016 and 2017.

Along the likes of John Mayer, Allen Stone, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Adem’s performed all around the Chicagoland area including well known music venues like House of Blues, Navy Pier, and Reggie’s Rock Club. His latest single “Over and Over” was released at the end of May and is available on all streaming platforms and here on Radio One Chicago – check it out below! - Radio One Chicago Publisher

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Adem Dalipi probably won’t be intimidated by the judges table in the back of the room at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame when he takes his turn onstage for the 24th annual Tri-C High School Rock Off.

After all, the Illinois teenager has probably faced tougher critics, like Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. That was during his Hollywood performance as a contestant on the 2018-19 season of “American Idol.”

The Rock Off begins this Saturday with the first of three consecutive weekends of preliminary competition, leading to the Saturday, Feb. 29, Final Exam. Adem, who was still 15 when he began the road to his “Idol” golden ticket to Hollywood, gets his turn at the Rock Hall next week.

“It was crazy,” said the teen, calling from his basement in Belvidere, Illinois, about 75 miles from Chicago, to discuss his “Idol” time, and to explain why after having been on a big show like that, he’d take part in what essentially is a regional battle-of-the-bands.

“Actually, there’s not many opportunities for people in high school,” said Dalipi, who sings, plays guitar and writes all his band’s music.

An added benefit is the money that goes to the winner’s high school band. First place is worth $1,000 to the artist and $250 to his or her high school band program. Second place is $250 for the artist and $100 to the school band. Third place gets $100 cash. All of the case prizes are courtesy of Rock Off co-sponsor TuneCore.

“It’s a great opportunity to help our school because schools don’t have as much funding to help music programs,” he said.

Though he was cut from “Idol” after making it to Hollywood, Adem still looks at the experience as a positive one ... and one he will use as he continues to build his career, even in competitions like the Rock Off.

“Absolutely it will help down the road,” Adem said. “Having that experience pushes me up another step on the musicianship road and helps make me a little more open, telling everyone about my experience.”

He’s likely to be open about sharing that with Rock Off contestants if they want it, building on his contact with the “Idol” judges.

“Katy Perry was telling me that when she was 15, she got rejected a lot as well,” said Adem, who classifies himself as a singer-songwriter with pop and blues influences. “You’re not going to get yeses every time. It was definitely an eye opener.

“Lionel Richie enjoyed what I was doing, since he’s got an R&B/blues genre,” Adem said.

“I wasn’t really expecting to audition for ‘American Idol,’” he explained. “A producer on Instagram saw my cover of a John Mayer song I did and we did a private audition in in Ohio, in Columbus.

“That was my first audition in front of producers,” Adem said. “I made it past that, then the online audition and then the final audition before the celebrity round in Atlanta. Just making it that far was crazy for me.”

But when he did get a chance to show his stuff in Georgia, the stars aligned and he got that coveted “golden ticket.” He was cut on the first round, but Adem said he didn’t take it personally and instead is using it as a stepping stone.

“I was only 15 at the time, and I already had a phenomenal experience auditioning and meeting other musicians behind the scenes,” he said. “it really was an inspiration and helped me grow a lot as a musician and an artist.

“I left there thinking this isn’t the end of the road for me,” he said.

Right now, Adem is focused on bringing his vocals up to the level of his guitar skills, which isn’t that easy for a young man whose voice was still in that awkward stage.

“I know my guitar skills are ahead of my vocal skills, and I know it’s more of a singing competition, but I have the drive and work ethic to do it,” he said.

He also has a pretty solid base in his parents, Anka and Tim Dalipi.

“We travel a lot,” Adem said, explaining how he is working to follow his musical dream. “I’m fortunate that my parents have supported me since Day One.”

Adem, who “tested into college courses” at his local community college, which makes that travel a little easier, wrote his first song at the age of 11 and hasn’t slowed since then. He’s determined to have one thing waiting for him when it’s all done and he’s sitting in his rocking chair on a porch in the sunset years from now.

“I have dreams of touring,” he said. “That would be such a heartwarming memory to have, to know that I actually left footprints on the soil.”

And maybe his name on the list of Rock Off winners. - Chuck Yarborough