ADRIENNE WOODS
We’ve all been there – dancing in our living rooms, singing along in the car, sitting
in silence as tears fall while the things we feel yet cannot say flow through our headphones. No
matter what genre or artist we prefer, we have all been impacted in some way by music. For
some of us, like Adrienne Woods, music is in our DNA.
As the daughter of musicians, Adrienne is no stranger to music. “I heard it being played live
even while I was in the womb!” Music is an internal and inseparable part of Adrienne’s being.
At age 3, she began to play the violin. This was short-lived, however, as her violin was destroyed
with drum sticks after her brother teased her that he was better than she was. “He still is an
amazing violin and viola player.” By age 4, Adrienne had discovered her real love. “Everything
worked out for the best. I cannot imagine being a violinist, my heart truly belongs to the cello.”
When she entered middle school, Adrienne was given a radio and, at that moment, things
changed. “Suddenly, a whole other world opened up to me… from pop to rock, hip-hop and
jazz.” The older she became, the more she studied the cello. During her college years at the
University of South Carolina, she connected with fellow musicians who loved many different
genres of music. Adrienne pursued jazz, which led her to learn how to improvise and play
more rock and pop styles. From her teenaged years through college, Adrienne played in major
orchestras and gigs throughout South Carolina. “Playing really became my passion when I
started writing my own music and performing with bands and on their albums. I love collaborating with other people. People who write their own music play straight from the heart with
real conviction.” In 2009, Adrienne composed her own album, Day and Night. Each song is an
original piece with her singing and playing in a rock and indie style.
Currently, Adrienne is a freelance cellist living out her dreams in Los Angeles. “After I left
college, I attended a jazz festival called the Henry Mancini Institute. That summer, as I explored
Los Angeles and played with top-notch professional musicians, I decided I was going to move
there to pursue my dream. I was already doing what I would have for the rest of my life in South
Carolina (playing in orchestras and freelancing), but L.A. had many more opportunities and
amazing, creative people willing to try to live their dreams.” These days, Adrienne stays busy
playing for recording sessions, television shows, live performances and award shows. She
began teaching young children and perf orming at recordings and weddings, which eventually led to shows such as “American Idol” and
“The Voice.” As time passed, “I played the Gram-
“
my heart
truly belongs
to the cello.
mys with Adele and also with Pink. I loved playing The Tonight Show with Jewel, Chris Daughtry,
and Shaggy, and working for Kanye West on ‘VH1
Storytellers.’ I also did some touring with the
Jonas Brothers and Sully Erna of Godsmack.
Back in Los Angeles, I’ve recorded with other artists like Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg,
and Michael Buble’s Live at the Wiltern album. You can even see my image playing in
shows like CSI, How I Met Your Mother, Glee, Scandal, and several videos from Josh Groban, Frank Ocean, Kanye West and more. These experiences have been a particularly
interesting addition to the normal career of a cellist, for sure.”
Most recently, Adrienne has toured with both John Legend and Ariana Grande – two very
different artists. “I had never toured more than 10 weeks, so touring with John Legend was a
huge learning experience and amazing for traveling the world. Being on the road can be difficult, but setting a great routine with exercise, staying in touch by phone/internet, and aligning
with like-minded friends on the road helps a lot.” Adrienne was surprised when she received the
call to be a part of Ariana’s world tour shortly after arriving home from John’s. “Playing with
Ariana Grande and John Legend were definitely amazing experiences. They are both experts
at their craft, great human beings, and each experience was a unique one. John Legend had a
stripped-down, beautiful, acoustic setting and Ariana had a giant light show with video screen
eye-candy, pyro, dancers and even cat ears for the audience that lit up in time to the music.
Each setting led to my growth as a musician.” No matter where her career takes her, Adrienne
will always have a special place in her heart for her hometown. “The people from the South
are one-of-a-kind. If you aren’t from there, you won’t understand the levels of friendliness,
hospitality, and manners or the down-to-earth people. I like to visit every once in a while to
remind myself of the pace and grace of the South.”
Being a musician is more than just reading notes and attending rehearsals. “The most
memorable moments for me are playing with artists and musicians with whom I have a real
connection. When I back-up someone who is singing or playing their heart out, it gives me
chills up and down my spine. Whether I’m playing with a celebrity or just another musician,
what matters to me is the connection and the level of heart they can display while performing.”
Adrienne wouldn’t be the passionate performer she is today without the help of her parents,
who are completely supportive and encouraging.
Her greatest challenge is the unknown... “trusting the universe to keep providing you with
jobs and inspiration to do what you do. There is no written law, paycheck, or guarantee that
you will be working at any time. So you have to be smart and try to plan your life, not worrying about whether you will get called for the future.” After arriving home after Ariana’s tour,
Adrienne began working on her home studio. “I am going to shift my next level into creating
music. My husband has a drone, and we have already been at work filming several amazing
things in Los Angeles and preparing to make music videos, tutorials for music, and more. I am
also developing the cello as not just a classical instrument, but an entity in which I can share
real-time visuals, cutting-edge technology, and awe-inspiring music.”
Adrienne’s gift of music enriches her life every day. “I was blessed to get an early education
through my family to open up myself to play cello for so many different artists of every type.
I cherish all my memories of playing with them, growing and developing myself continually as
an artist.”
Adrienne Woods, daughter of Drs. Benjamin and Sherry Woods, was born and raised in Florence, South Carolina. She currently resides in Los Angeles, California, with
her husband Andrew and two dogs. In addition to being a freelance cellist, Adrienne owns and operates Dragonstone Jewelry, where she custom makes pieces from
natural stones. To stay up-to-date with Adrienne, visit www.adriennewoods.com or visit her pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Periscope.
SHEMAGAZINE.COM
DECEMBER 2015
51