The daily Astorian., February 20, 2020, Page 8, Image 8

FROM PEN TO
PAPER
Rebeckah Orton
Adam Orton’s guitars.
‘THIS IS A REALLY PERSONAL
PROJECT. IT’S AN OUTLET FOR MY
ANXIETY BUT IT’S ALSO FOR PEOPLE
TO LEARN ABOUT ANXIETY.’
New band ‘the page(s)’ joins Astoria’s music scene
BY ALYSSA EVANS
A
Alyssa Evans
Adam Orton.
8 // COASTWEEKEND.COM
dam Orton has been playing
music his entire life but it wasn’t
until December 2019 when the
33-year-old decided to start play-
ing music for others.
Orton is the creator of the page(s), a new
rock band based in Astoria. He hopes to
increase mental health awareness through the
band’s music.
“This is a really personal project,” Orton
said. “It’s an outlet for my anxiety but it’s also
for people to learn about anxiety.”
Getting there
Adam learned how to play guitar at age
10. He plays a handful of other instruments,
including saxophone and trombone.
As he grew up, Adam’s parents encour-
aged him to prioritize school and starting a
career so he could support himself. In college
he earned a business degree, which led him to
corporate jobs. He continued playing music on
the side.
“He’s always been interested in music but
he had the focus of ‘I’m going to have a fam-
ily and will need to provide for them,’” said
Rebeckah, Adam’s wife.
Adam Orton, musician
The two met in college.
“The fi rst time I saw him he was playing
a guitar,” Rebeckah said. “That’s how I’ve
always known him.”
After graduating, the couple moved to Bos-
ton, where they had their fi rst child. After a
few years, the family moved to Seattle.
“We had a house, a family with kids, cars;
all the things you’re supposed to want. But he
was spending 12 to 14 hours away at work a
day,” Rebeckah said. “He had a great life but
wasn’t getting to enjoy it.”
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