It all started with a drum machine in the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood of south Minneapolis. Since then, Adrian Garrison Williams, better known as Adriatic, has manifested his travels, knowledge and inspirations into a production sound that is very much in it’s own universe. Dark, atmospheric melodies with bouncy beats is the culmination of his Neo Trip-Hop blend.
The first recordings Adriatic composed were as a youth, with him making beats for his classmates afterschool. However, Adriatic himself quickly elevated into the Twin Cities music scene as a DJ for a slew of local talent. Simultaneously, his experimental rap band Pseudoubt was formed in 2013, releasing two albums and many singles over the course of 4 years. Adriatic got his first significant radio-play as the primary producer in Origami Bones. Adriatic became the youngest performer in Soundset Music Festival history when he performed in 2014.
After beginning college at Augsburg University in 2015, Adriatic began experimenting with blending both psych rock and LA beat-styled electronic, often taking the form of jam sessions with friends form other bands around the Twin Cities. 2016 saw the international release of Shrub, an limited-edition beat tape. In 2017, Adriatic toured and recorded with the Minneapolis electronic psych rock band Cool Pollution on the EP From Kosmos With Love which the band performed on Radio K. 2019, upon forming Automatic Records and Groove Scenario, Adriatic had back-to-back releases with west-coast legend Myka 9 of Freestyle Fellowship.
He produced two tracks for Oakland rap avatar Bukue One in 2020 on the album Scenic Route and relocated from south Minneapolis to the New York City area.
In 2021, Adriatic released a collaborative EP with Duisburg, Germany emcee Tecah One called Falkenfeder. He later produced the single “Onward” for Jada Brown, from their upcoming collaborative album titled Admiration.
Adriatic has performed on lineups with Mickey Avalon, Milo, Toki Wright, Poliça, Montana of 300, Dosh, Serengeti, Danger Ron & The Spins, Rich Garvey, Radio Ahlee (tour DJ 2009-2016), Destiny Roberts, and many more.