David Adison

**Adison David "Swan" Whitley** was a singer, multi-instrumentalist, ambient artist and graphic artist from Titirangi, West Auckland; he performed under the alias David Adison, and was a member of NIISA, Heroes for Sale, milk and CHEATS.

Whitley was a prominent and influential member of the Auckland music scene until his death on the 14th of February 2018.

## History

### Musical start (2009-2011)

Adison Whitley had been playing guitar since he was 12-years-old, influenced by Jack White, Isaac Brock, Johnny Greenwood, Kevin Shields, Junior Kimbourgh, R.L. Burnslide and Buddy Guy.

 Whitley discovered his love for the arts at Green Bay High School, thanks to Head of Departments in Music and Drama, Jeni Little and Teresa Callaghan respectively. At the age of 14, Whitley entered Smokefree Rockquest with his first band, and second in their regional final.

### Heroes for Sale & Smokefree Rockquest (2011-2012)

In their final year of high school, Whitley and Fraser Hunter started the band Heroes for Sale and entered Smokefree Rockquest again. The duo won the people's choice award and recorded their first single "I Wish You Knew Jim Morrison" at Neil Finn's Roundhead Studios. The single was released on the 9th of October 2012, and later a music video was released on the 11th of March 2013, made by Thunderlips at Candlelit Pictures.

### David Adison & *Heroes for Sale* EP (2013-2015)

In 2013, Tom Dennison joined Heroes for Sale.

On the 3rd of February 2014, Whitley released "Cells", his first single under the alias David Adison, an ambient project inspired by the likes of Brian Eno, David Byrne, Johnny Greenwood and Kevin Shields.

On the 28th of August 2014, Heroes for Sale released their self-titled EP, *Heroes for Sale*, with a release show at the King's Arms featuring support from Miss June, Randa, and Roidz.

On the 31st of August, Heroes for Sale released the single "EVICTION", dedicated to a previous apartment, 41 Pine Street.

### *Nothing to Be Done.* & *Multiplicity* (2016-2017)

Heroes for Sale were one of 84 bands from 28 countries selected for Converse Rubber Tracks, they recorded eight tracks worth of material at Studio 301 in Sydney in September 2015. The tracks were mostly written in the two weeks proceeding the recording session, and were recorded in two takes each.

 On the 26th of February 2016, Whitley appeared in the music video for Roidz's "Do You Wanna Make Out With Me", the lead single from their album "S-E-L-F-E-S-T-E-E-M".

On the 27th of May 2016, Heroes for Sale released "Meatsweats" and "Smoke and Dry", the two singles from their debut album *Nothing to Be Done.*, the result of their Converse Rubber Tracks recording session. The singles and the album were mixed by Jonathan Pearce of The Beths, and were mastered by Reuben Winter of milk and Totems. *Nothing to Be Done.* was released on the 15th of July that year.

On the 17th of March 2017, Whitley played as David Adison on 95bFM's Breakfast Club, in promotion of his upcoming album *Multiplicity*. "Deadfish", the lead single from the album, was released on the 3rd of April, the song reached number 1 on the 95bFM top 10. The album was released on the 4th of May 2017. On the 20th of May 2017, Whitley featured on 95bFM's Long Player, discussing the different layers and tracks to the album.

On the 23rd of July 2017, Whitley, Winter and Charlie, as NIISA released their debut album *NIISO.* On the 25th of August 2017 David Adison played with Drorgan and Totems at the Audio Foundation.

### Death & legacy (2018-Present)

On the 14th of February 2018, Whitley committed suicide.

Less than a week after his death, Joe Locke's P.H.F. shared the single "COMMS", dedicated to Whitley.

Posthumously his unreleased albums and EPs were released on Bandcamp for free download by his friends and collaborators Winter and Charlie. The two also released the compilation album of Whitley's solo work, *Forever and Always Rings True*, on the 24th of March; *"a* showcase of his progression, his moods, his self-understanding, of his beauty." with all proceeds donated to the NZ Music Commission. Charlie (OPI), Caroles, Greenfog, P.H.F., and Flameboy played Swan Fest, a fundraising eventfor the New Zealand Music Foundation Wellbeing Service in Whitley's memory and release party for the *Forever and Always Rings True* cassette, produced by Prison Tapes. $2000 was raised and donated on the night.

A Givealittle campaign was started in Whitley's memory so that he would live on through the development and deployment of a holistic teenage mental wellbeing programme that would be piloted at Green Bay High School; 88 donors raised $3,399.33.

On the 28th of January 2019, Winter's milk released their self-titled album Milk. The album was dedicated to Whitley, with Whitley having played guitar on the lead single "Sugar Glider".

## Discography

### As David Adison

#### Albums

* *Multiplicity* (2017) - Self-released
* *Be Still and Know Wednesday to Ring True* (2018, Posthumous)
* David Addison (2021, Posthumous) - Self-released

#### Compilations

* *Forever and Always Rings True* (2018, Posthumous) - Prison Tapes

#### EPs

* *Tears/for/dog Next/to/nothing* (2017)
* *Scotch Realistic* (2017)
* *ACKTII - EP* (2018, Posthumous)
* *Marie Jeanne and Her Timely Prose - EP* (2018, Posthumous)
* *Bad Morals - EP* (2018, Posthumous)
* *Tarot - EP* (2018, Posthumous)

#### Singles

* *Cells* (2014)
* *Deadfish* (2017)

### With Heroes for Sale

#### Singles

* *I Wish You Knew Jim Morrison* (2012)
* *EVICTION* (2015)
* *Meatsweats///Smoke and Dry* (2016)

### With NIISA

#### Albums

* *NIISO* (2017) - Prison Tapes

As featured artist

* Roidz - It's So Easy (From *FIGHT NIGHT*, 2019)
* milk - Sugar Glider (From *Milk*, 2019)

## Links

* Facebook
* Bandcamp 1, Bandcamp 2
* Spotify
* Music Helps

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Adison Whitley, Brotherhood of the Guitar, http://brotherhoodoftheguitar.com/?team=adison-whitley
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Let's get behind teenage mental wellbeing, Givealittle, https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/lets-get-behind-teenage-mental-wellbeing
3. ↑ Heroes for Sale, I Wish You Knew Jim Morrison, Bandcamp, 9/10/2012, https://heroesforsale.bandcamp.com/track/i-wish-you-knew-jim-morrison
4. ↑ I WISH YOU KNEW JIM MORRISON - Heroes For Sale (OFFICIAL VIDEO), FRAZAFRAYZE, 11/3/2013, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9uR2cV7JzU
5. ↑ I Wish You Knew Jim Morrison x Heroes for Sale, Freshland Magazine, 26/3/2013, http://www.freshlandmag.com/2013/03/26/i-wish-you-knew-jim-morrison-x-heroes-for-sale/
6. ↑ David Adison - Cells, Bandcamp, https://davidadison.bandcamp.com/track/cells
7. ↑ Heroes For Sale EP Release With Randa, Miss June And Roidz, Undertheradar, 28/8/2014, https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/gig/40581/Heroes-For-Sale-EP-Release-With-Randa-Miss-June-And-Roidz.utr
8. ↑ Heroes for Sale - EVICTION, Bandcamp, 31/8/2015, https://heroesforsale.bandcamp.com/album/eviction
9. ↑ Fresh Talent: Heroes for Sale, Olly Clifton, NZ Musician, December/January 2016, https://nzmusician.co.nz/features/fresh-talent-heroes-sale/
10. ↑ Three-piece band follow international musicians' footsteps, Zizi Sparks, Stuff, 11/9/2015, https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/north-shore-times/71912362/null
11. ↑ Roidz - Do You Wanna Make Out With Me (OFFICIAL VIDEO), Danger Collective Records, YouTube, 29/2/2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpaPUlA12Gc&fbclid=IwAR1kFZDYBH18kHpE2Zk\_D8ij8jG7Bm0xHIc-dW4QG8yfurveBlEOXnpnUwk
12. ↑ HEROES FOR SALE DEBUT TWO NEW SINGES : : FRESH TRACKS, Tom Dyton, What's Good, 30/5/2016, http://whatsgood.co.nz/heroes-for-sales-on-that-new-new/
13. ↑ Meatsweats by Heroes for Sale, Undertheradar, https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/music/1673/Meatsweats.utr
14. ↑ Heroes for Sale - Meatsweats///Smoke and Dry, Bandcamp, 27/5/2016, https://heroesforsale.bandcamp.com/album/meatsweats-smoke-and-dry
15. ↑ Heroes for Sale - Nothing To Be Done., Bandcamp, 15/7/2016, https://heroesforsale.bandcamp.com/
16. ↑ Stream Heroes For Sale's New Album 'Nothing To Be Done', Undertheradar, 19/7/2016, https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/11402/Stream-Heroes-For-Sales-New-Album-Nothing-To-Be-Done.utr
17. ↑ bFM Breakfast Club: David Adison, 95bFM, 17/3/2017, http://95bfm.com/bcast/bfm-breakfast-club-david-adison?fbclid=IwAR3rNA56I\_kyFJc5QLFGa-2LB1M5VGx\_Zhx\_8A3PBT6nW8KLeHUkro1x8zE
18. ↑ David Adison - Deadfish, Bandcamp, https://davidadison.bandcamp.com/track/deadfish
19. ↑ David Adison - Multiplicity, Bandcamp, 4/5/2017, https://davidadison.bandcamp.com/album/multiplicity
20. ↑ Long Player: David Adison - Multiplicity, 95bFM, 20/5/2017, http://95bfm.com/bcast/long-player-david-adison-multiplicity
21. ↑ Stream The Self-Titled Debut Album From Auckland Trio NIISA, Undertheradar, 24/7/2017, https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/12951/Stream-The-Self-Titled-Debut-Album-From-Auckland-Trio-NIISA.utr
22. ↑ WDK (Aus.) w. Drorgan, David Adison / Totems - Friday 25 August, Audiofoundation, http://www.audiofoundation.org.nz/events/wdk-aus-w-drorgan-david-addison-totems-friday-25-august
23. ↑ P.H.F. Shares Single 'COMMS' Dedicated To Adison Whitley Of David Adison, Undertheradar, 20/2/2018, https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/13909/PHF-Shares-Single-COMMS-Dedicated-To-Adison-Whitley-Of-David-Adison.utr
24. ↑ David Adison - "Forever and Always Rings True", Prison Tapes, https://prisontapesstore.bigcartel.com/product/david-adison-forever-and-always-rings-true
25. ↑ Swan Fest - PHF, Caroles, Greenfog + More, Undertheradar, 24/3/2018, https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/gig/59512/Swan-Fest---PHF-Caroles-Greenfog--More.utr
26. ↑ SWAN FEST, Rachael Charlie, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/events/183164259130313/permalink/187199965393409/
27. ↑ Listen To Milk's Self-Titled New Album, 28/1/2019, Undertheradar, https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/15443/Listen-To-Milks-Self-Titled-New-Album.utr
28. ↑ Milk - "Sugar Glider" (Official Video), PRISON TAPES, YouTube, 25/1/2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDidEgWtNfg