Adam Melchor reveals his innermost feelings in ‘The Diary of Living,’ a remarkably honest, emotionally rich, and profoundly heartfelt album that transforms themes of grief, memory, and growth into outstanding folk music of the 21st century. The singer/songwriter engaged in a heartfelt dialogue with Atwood Magazine about paying tribute to departed friends, discovering his authentic self, and creating an album that is both unfiltered and unforgettable – a sincere, human homage to the individuals and experiences that have shaped him into who he is today.
Stream: ‘The Diary of Living’ – Adam Melchor
There’s something subtly revolutionary about naming an album The Diary of Living.
It’s not merely a glimpse of love, heartbreak, or a polished, social media-friendly snapshot of life; rather, it is a thorough, chaotic, and intricate reflection on what it means to exist in this moment, to be alive while carrying memory and significance in every breath. For Adam Melchor, his second studio album signifies more than just a creative evolution – it represents a person finally embracing their true identity. The songs on The Diary of Living do more than narrate stories; they bring them to life. They remember, they evoke pain, they provide healing. Above all, they celebrate life.
This is Melchor’s most exposed and candid work – singing for himself, for the loved ones he’s lost, for his family, and for the person he has become. There’s no facade or filters here. Just a man accompanied by his voice, guitar, and raw emotion – unrestrained and heartfelt. “This is the first album I’ve created where I genuinely feel, ‘Oh, this is who I am,’” Melchor shares with Atwood Magazine. “It’s the most ‘me’ thing I’ve ever done.” Across ten extraordinary tracks, the artist from LA, originally from New Jersey, invites us into his world, offering us a glimpse into his soul. The Diary of Living is not just an album; it’s a manifesto, a homecoming, a practice, a promise.
The Diary of Living – Adam Melchor
Living on borrowed time
Hoping you reach 18
Doesn’t it feel like a crime?
You barely had a daydream
And it cuts me
Closer than a razor blade
Driving through towns with familiar names
Two crooked smiles
Laughing in the headlights
Light seeped through the barren pines
When I asked if you were scared to die
You said you have to live
'Till you’re dead, right?
And I think you were right
I think you were right
— “Dead Right,” Adam Melchor
Released on May 2nd via R&R and Goodboy Records, The Diary of Living lives up to its title, presenting an affectionate, emotional, and authentically human collection of songs – one that transforms grief into grace, memory into melody, and pain into potential. Primarily written during a solitary cross-country drive while recovering from COVID, this follow-up to 2022’s debut LP Here Goes Nothing! emerged from solitude, contemplation, and the immediate desire to honor untold stories. “I have to sing for those who can no longer sing,” Melchor states. “If I can make their stories eternal – that’s incredible. So why haven’t I done that until now?”
From that grounded conviction arose a record that impresses not through flashiness, but through sincere emotion.
The opening track “Boardwalk Royalty” establishes the mood with a sense of yearning and rootedness, instantly drawing listeners into Melchor’s world from its opening notes. “Where the hell are you? / I thought you’d never ask / I am somewhere in between / the distant future and the past,” he sings, immediately stretching time into something both haunted and human. It’s an emotional opener – the kind of lyric that simultaneously tugs at your heart while splitting your soul wide open. “I’m thinking about what could have been / and what is done and over,” he continues, caught in the struggle between motion and memory, “while I’m chasing both the desert sun / and staying off the grid.” There's a beautifully dramatic quality about it – a representation of searching, belonging, and transformation. Melchor is not seeking nostalgia; he’s pursuing connection – a home found not in a location, but within people and moments shared.
The song crescendos in a cathartic conclusion, repeating the line in a meditative manner: “This is where I belong.” It’s not a question; it’s a statement that reorients the entire album from the very beginning. The Diary of Living doesn't start with a quest for home; it opens with the realization that home has already been uncovered. What follows is a reflection on what it means to stay – to hold space for love, for grief, for memory, and for personal growth. Melchor is not lost in these tracks. He is grounded –
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Adam Melchor unveils his innermost thoughts in ‘The Diary of Living,’ a strikingly sincere, emotionally rich, and profoundly genuine album that turns grief, memories, and personal growth into some of the finest folk music of the 21st century. The singer/songwriter engaged in a heartfelt discussion with Atwood Magazine about paying tribute to lost friends, embracing his authentic self, and creating a record that is both raw and unforgettable – a heartfelt, deeply human homage to the individuals and experiences that shaped him into who he is today.