3% Different with Adam Ho, I.S.P.

by katie

I first met Adam Ho at a small show in Brooklyn in 2019. He was quiet but intentional — the type of person who leaves more questions than answers, and whose songs feel like partial confessions. Adam performs under the name I.S.P., and his music sits somewhere between lo-fi folk and indie pop, with an acute emphasis on lyric and melody. In this conversation we talk about his influences, the role of storytelling in his songs, and how being Asian-American has shaped his perspective as an artist.

We dive into his formative years playing in local DIY spaces, the transition to recording at home, and the decisions behind his recent releases. Adam describes songwriting as a process of sifting through memory, trying to find the specific detail that anchors a feeling. He also talks candidly about the logistics of staying creative while balancing day jobs and the realities of the current music scene.

Throughout the interview Adam emphasizes honesty and restraint — choosing fewer, clearer words over lyrical excess — and how collaboration with other musicians helps him refine arrangements. He closes by outlining plans for upcoming shows and a tentative EP, and reflects on the small victories that keep him motivated: a good review, a connection made after a show, a melody that finally lands.