User:Songsfrompdx/Adam Zwig

Adam Zwig's multi-faceted career encompasses years of experience as a professional psychotherapist, hit song writer, recording artist and touring musician. The early part of his career (1980 - 1990) was spent in Europe. Since 1990 he has been based in the U.S.. Zwig is recognized as one of the international leading experts in personal growth and development as well as a popular singer-song writer. His biography states: "Zwig’s background includes living in Europe for 10 years, where he practiced psychotherapy and played shows—and even “busked” to support himself in his early days as a professional musician. He’s toured the U.S., Europe and Japan; recorded and co-produced a total of nine albums; placed the song (“Numb”) on NBC’s “Just Deal” for five years; was the Album Network’s Best Seller for CD sales in the Northwest; and has been featured in many national media outlets, including CNBC, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, Forbes, Hollywood Reporter, Gibson and many music publications. On the therapy side, Zwig has published 30 personal development articles; is an internationally renowned workshop leader and lecturer and the founder and director of Portland Health Services, a low income therapy clinic. Over the past few decades, Zwig has worked with thousands of people in workshops and private practice".

Early Years:

From 1980 - 1990, Zwig lived in Zurich, Switzerland. During that time he studied at the University of Zurich and the Jung Institute. He also studied through Saybrook Institute Graduate School in San Francisco and earned his doctorate in Psychology. Zwig began a private psychotherapy practice and gave workshops in Zurich, London, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Munich and Moscow. He also completed 5 years of post doctoral training before returning to the U.S.. In Zurich, Zwig busked on the streets and played small shows where he played early versions of songs that were to appear later on "Tornado Alley", the debut release by his band Shapeshifter (Meteor Records, 1998).

Early U.S. Years:

In 1991 Zwig opened the Portland Health Services, a low income therapy clinic. The clinic treated thousands of people over it's 5 year existence. He also wrote the award winning article "Body Based Methods for Dreamworking" (Tarcher, 1994). The article appeared as a chapter in the book "Dreamtime and Dreamwork (Tarcher, 1994).  From 1997-2002, Shapeshifter toured the U.S. and recorded 4 albums - one on Meteor Records in Portland, Oregon, and 3 on Pinch Hit Records in Los Angeles.   During that time Shapeshifter scored the radio hit, "My Enemy" and produced an award winning video. They entered the Album Networks' Best Sellers category for CD sales in the Northwest and garnered amazing press reviews where ever they went. Shapeshifter graced the front page of Napster and at one point "My Enemy" was the most downloaded song. Their song "Numb" was on NBC's "Just Deal" for five years. With Shapeshifter, Zwig was also on albums with such notables as Cyress Hill, Elliot Smith and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin.

Middle Years:

In 2002 Zwig decided to go solo in both his teaching and his music. In his therapeutic work, he began developing a ground breaking approach to personal growth and development, specifically with regards to dealing with adversity. He published 30 personal development articles, however, he did not release his work in book form until 2011. He lectured and taught workshops in the U.S., England, France, Germany, Italy, Holland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Moscow and Canada.

He also began recording solo albums and touring with a new band. Since 2002, Zwig has released four critically acclaimed albums. The first, on Conscious Records, was "Pictures of the Gone America" (2002), which melds folk style lyrics with blues. Portland's Willamette Week said the album..."could perk up ears far beyond Puddletown. Zwig's got chops and brains to his credit and his music fuses blues into a hip-hop groove so smoothly he makes it look like he invented the idea." The album also led to the release of "Live and Unplugged" (2004), a live concert recording. The second, was "Koan" (2005), which maintains some of the bluesy vibe of "Pictures..." but heads more in the folk- rock direction in the vein of la Bob Dylan and Neil Young. Zwig co-produced the album with Jon Plum who has worked with Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Mellissa Etheridge and many others. Columbia Records recording artists Brandi Carlile and Tim Hanseroth sing backing vocals and Candle Box's Scott Mercado plays drums along with L.A.'s Brandon Harper. Magnasphere Magaizine called "Koan" "a breath of fresh air in an otherwise conformist musical environment." The third, was "Cast Iron Letters" (2007), which continues the direction of "Koan" and mines perrenial human themes through laid back raw roots rock. Seattle Musician said, "this is Zwig's masterpiece, a compelling combination of pedal steel guitar influenced country folk rock and the lyrical politics of love and social justice". The album was critically acclaimed in the U.S. press and scored three Top 10 commercial radio hits, with "Castaways", "Who Killed Michael Vaughn", and "Once a True Love".

2009 - Present:

Reflecting his stated belief that music and personal development are in essence different aspects of the same process, Zwig’s new book "Garbage, Gold and God" (Publisher / year? need reference), and album "Visions of the Shimmering Night" (Conscious Records, 2010), are testaments to the creative way he merges his two lives. The book presents a scientific methodology for his approach to human problems. The album is a personal exploration using these methods. The album was produced by grammy winner Stuart Sikes (Loretta Lynn, White Stripes, Modest Mouse), and grammy winner David Bianco (Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Mick Jagger, U2, Johnny Cash). The first single, "Everybody Love" was the # 1 most added song to the Adult Contemporary format. It peaked at #   on the National Top 200. The second single was "Waiting on Heaven", which is currently at #. The videos for the singles have a 2011 release date. There is also a 2011 tour planned.

Shapeshifter Recordings:

Solo Records Visions of the Shimmering Night: Volume One (2010) - produced by Stuart Sikes and David Bianco

Cast Iron Letters (2007) - produced by Jonathan Plum

Koan (2005) - produced by Jonathan Plum

Live and Unplugged (2004) - produced by Jonathan Plum

Pictures of the Gone America (2002) - produced by Jonathan Plum