Isaiah Dominguez Reimagines "The Adventure" with an Intimate Acoustic Cover and Shares His Journey
- STAFF
- 4 days ago
- 10 min read
By: Staff
Isaiah Dominguez’s stunning rendition of "The Adventure" is a breathtaking fusion of raw emotion and pure artistry.
Isaiah Dominguez has just released a stunning acoustic rendition of the iconic "The Adventure" by Angels & Airwaves, and it’s already making waves. This captivating version strips down the song to its raw essence, breathing new life into the track while retaining its deep emotional weight. But there’s more to this story than just a beautiful cover. We spoke with Isaiah to dive deeper into the journey that brought him to this moment, and the revelation is nothing short of inspiring.
In our conversation, Isaiah shares the deeply personal connection to the song that led him to reimagine it in his own style. With the track being a pivotal part of a close friend’s wedding, it was a choice that carried immense meaning. But as he walks us through the process of bringing his own voice and artistry to "The Adventure," it becomes clear that this isn’t just a simple cover; it's a transformation. From the production choices to the raw vocal delivery, Isaiah discusses how he was able to maintain the spirit of the original while creating something that feels uniquely his.
As we delve into his past collaborations with industry giants like Casey Bates and Geoff Ott, and reflect on his musical evolution, it’s clear that Isaiah’s artistry is as much about the journey as the destination. From the pop-punk influences that shaped his early career to the new creative territories he’s now exploring, this interview offers a behind-the-scenes look at a musician who’s found his voice, and is only just getting started.
Read on for the full conversation, and get an inside look at the story, the music, and the man behind the latest version of "The Adventure."
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview:
Hello Isaiah Dominguez, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more intrigued to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. We have to say, we absolutely love this rendition of “The Adventure” by Angels & Airwaves! You’ve gone above and beyond, and dare we say, without exaggeration, that you’ve outdone the original. There’s so much depth to this performance. Your vocals are both silky and powerful, yet incredibly emotionally charged. We truly believe you’ve found your “lane” with this vocally; it really suits you. Additionally, the way you’ve presented this iconic song is remarkable. It almost feels like the song itself fits better within your arrangement. Bravo! Now, we’re curious: what has your personal musical journey been like? Did you evolve gradually into your musical career, or was there a specific moment or event that sparked it all?
A. Wow, First I have to thank you for the gas up on the song. I used to be super bad at taking compliments (and sometimes I think that I still am), but I do really appreciate it when people have kind things to say about the music. To me, I still feel like that 14 year old kid who picked up an acoustic guitar and started writing down his thoughts in a notebook, so for someone to be like even remotely interested in what I’m doing is still a shock. Back then I always had a persistent feeling that music is something I would always do regardless of where I was at in life. I’ve gone through several seasons of “wanting it all” ie the record deal or the national tour, and there have certainly been moments where I thought I was at the beginning of something big. Overall, I think I’ve gotten where I am today via a slow burn. Just focused on making the best art I can and doing whatever I can to share it with the world.
Q. Recording this cover all started because "The Adventure" became the soundtrack to one of your best friends’ wedding. We have to know more: where was the wedding? How did you decide on this track? What does it mean to you to have your music play such a significant role in someone’s life? Was there a live performance involved, or was the recorded version part of the celebration?
A. Jordan has been my bandmate and musical confidant for probably 12-14 years and to have him trust me with the production when I know he’s a fully capable and talented musician himself was insane (in a good way). When we first met we bonded over our love of blink-182 and obsession with Tom Delonge in our youth, so it really just made sense that The Adventure would be part of the soundtrack for such a major moment in his life. The wedding took place in the woods around Lake Tahoe, which like… to have such a beautiful backdrop and just experience that area is also, for lack of a better term, insane. They played the song after the announcement of “man and wife” and as the wedding part exited the ceremony. I didn’t play live, but I preferred it that way because I had the opportunity to be a passenger and take it all in, rather than a performer focused on a job.
Q. When you were reimagining "The Adventure," you managed to keep an edginess and fullness to the sound. It still captured much of the pop-punk magic. Was it challenging to balance this with the need to retain the "wedding essence" of the song?
A. To be honest, I really didn’t think about the fact that it was meant to be played at a wedding! My focus was 100% to maintain the hopeful, uplifting energy I feel like the song has. Sometimes it’s hard to keep acoustic versions of songs from becoming sleepy, meandering renditions. I went through several iterations just trying to dial in a song I would want to listen to!
Q. Has pop-punk and similar styles been a constant thread in your music journey from the very beginning, or has it evolved over time through influences or experimentation with other genres?
A. I always say pop-punk was my first love and even when I had seasons where I attempted (rather unsuccessfully) to re-invent my style, I think it still played a major role in my songwriting and sound. There’s a quote from John Mayer (I know, a true punk icon) about how you can’t pretend to be an artist that you aren’t. I think when I stopped trying to fight it and just embraced that I am who I am, music and art as a whole became more fun, easier to create, and honestly… better.
Q. The production on this version is open and raw, allowing the lyrics and your vocal delivery to shine. When you decide to strip down a song like this, how do you determine which elements are essential to keep and which ones to leave behind?
A. Every song I write starts on acoustic guitar or piano. Even when tracking demos of songs that’s usually where I’ll start, just so I can have the bones of a ong in place before I decide where to go. Everything else is just adding little bits of “flavor” here and there until I feel like it sounds complete. At that point, I usually send the song over to a friend whose production ear I trust to help fill in the gaps. I feel like I have the capacity to take a song 80-90% of the way, but really rely and appreciate the external input to complete the production. More often than not it elevates the whole song beyond what my initial vision could have ever comprehended.
Q. Do you plan on taking this new part of your performance arsenal out for live performances of this and other songs?
A. I wouldn’t say that I am going to become a road-dog again like I have been in my past, but I will definitely have some performances along the west coast in the works for 2026. There is still a lot of music that I plan to release before then though in order to fill out my set list!
Q. You’ve worked with some notable industry figures like Casey Bates and Geoff Ott. Being accepted into these circles speaks volumes about your talent, character, and work ethic. How have these incredible opportunities influenced your musical journey? Can you recall a specific piece of advice or a moment of mentorship that left a lasting impression on you and shaped your approach to music?
A. I really think that I’ve just been both incredibly lucky and indescribably naive, and somehow both of those traits have brought some amazing opportunities to work with other amazing creatives, producers, artists, etc… Lucky because I just happen to be in the right place in my career at the right time with the right song to work with. Naive because I didn’t know any of the rules of working with people with Grammy winning pedigree. I just shot out emails and said “yo are you free to help make this music with me?”. I guess also lucky that they gave an idiot in his early 20’s (at the time) the opportunity as well! I have a ton of great moments working with Geoff, from him producing my first band's record to offering me my first indie record contract. He really showed me that you can create a life out of what you love doing and that music is worth more than the public accolades it can garner. He also introduced me to a plethora of the Seattle music scene at the time and helped me get my solo work off the ground. Casey is super kind and I will always remember him telling me that he thought I had a ton of talent just needed to refine some of my ability to take direction. We had plans to produce a full record together, but I was young and irresponsible and just let that opportunity fall away. I think the regret of not producing that record together taught me more about how to be a professional than any other interaction I’ve had to date. BTW Casey if you’re reading this, I’d still make that record together!
Q. What was the most surprising or unexpected part of creating this acoustic cover? Was there anything you discovered about yourself or your music during the process that you hadn’t anticipated?
A. I don’t know that anything gave me a jumpscare type of surprise during the process, but I am always pleasantly surprised when the end result is a song that I would listen to regardless of who made it and for what occasion. I think artists like myself are really hard on themselves during the creative process, to the point of a lot of music going unheard because it doesn’t meet our “standards”. It feels good when you get back a mix and you think “damn, I can’t believe I made that” (in a good way of course!)
Q. Collaborating is your sort of go-to method with many different artists over the years. Do you ever seek out specific types of energy or creative sparks that challenge your skillset or expand your artistic range when working with new collaborators? Or does that energy tend to reveal itself more organically once you hit the studio?
A. I’ll be honest, almost all of my collaborations have happened completely randomly. I have a list of people that would be a dream to collaborate with on the notes app of my phone, but I’ve never once reached out to any of them. Instead it really comes down to who I’m working with in the studio, who happens to be available, and who we trust to help take the song to the next level. My main goal when bringing people into a production is to make sure the song is better than the sum of its parts. I don’t want to pay a name to put in a half-hearted effort just to get the exposure.
Q. Now that you’re expanding your musical reach and creative realm, how do you describe your music when meeting someone for the first time? What’s the first thing you say?
A. I used to describe my solo music as “Nostalgia-tinged pop/rock” because it felt like it fit the sound I was creating. Something familiar, but new. Something that felt like the old records you love, but you couldn’t quite put your finger on which one. Something that reminded you of a memory, but also was the perfect soundtrack to your new life. Now with this new batch of songs, I’ve been finding myself saying it’s “mellow dramatic pop/rock”. I feel like it fits because the new music has high highs and low lows. It has intricate storytelling. It has the same approachable familiarity, though, that I think people will appreciate.
Q. Outside of music, who or what has had the biggest influence on your personal growth or artistic perspective?
A. This is going to sound like a cop-out answer but just living life outside of the music industry really helps build your artistry. Going to weddings, funerals, baby showers, vacations, solo trips, hell even just seemingly boring hangouts with friends over a beer where you just talk about 401K’s and remodeling the garage. That’s where the true catalyst of creativity lies. I think when I was younger it was sold to me as like creativity can only happen in a million dollar studio at 3 AM or drunk alone in a cabin in a rainy forest. Sometimes that’s a great environment to create in! But most times, inspiration and creativity lie in the everyday shower melodies you hum to yourself. Sometimes you pull on that string and go on an adventure (the adventure some might say… eh?????)
Q. We also know you from being one half of the duo West Friends, and we’re excited to see that you’ve continued working together on this project. What can you tell us about any upcoming plans? We’d love to hear about what’s in store for the future as a soloist and as a band member, directly from you.
A. Part of what makes being in West Friends so great is that we have the freedom to go explore music on our own, but that being said we are super excited to make more pop-punk together as well! Currently we’re demoing record #2 as well as putting together some fun b-sides from our record Junk Drawer. There was always a planned downtime for both of us to do our own thing musically between records so for my “hiatus” (if you want to call it that) I have some cover songs and a full length solo record in the works. 2026 also more than likely will have some live shows for both WF and myself. Currently aiming for at least San Francisco and Seattle, but with enough demand we will play anywhere!
Isaiah Dominguez, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Isaiah Dominguez’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
