IN-Q
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = IN-Q
| image = IN-Q - Adam Schmalholz in 2023.jpg
| caption = IN-Q in 2023
| birth_name = Adam Schmalholz
| occupation = Songwriter, writer, poet
| module = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed = yes
| genre = Spoken word, pop, hip hop
| years_active = 1998–present
| associated_acts = {{hlist|Tim James|Aloe Blacc|Selena Gomez}}
| products =
| owner =
| website = {{URL|www.IN-Q.com/}}
}}
}}
IN-Q or IN-Query, is the stage name of Adam Schmalholz, an American songwriter and National Poetry Slam champion from Los Angeles, California.{{cite web|title=Multi-Platinum Winning Songwriter and Poet IN-Q Talks Poetry and How to Break into the Music Industry|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/quora/multiplatinum-winning-son_b_6418284.html|website=HuffPost|accessdate=February 22, 2017|date=January 6, 2015}} Schmalholz describes his poetry as a reflection of his own experiences and life lessons.{{cite web|title=Official Website|url=http://www.in-q.com|accessdate=January 16, 2018}} Recognized for his ability to bring poetry to pop culture, IN-Q helped establish one of the largest open mic poetry venues in the United States called "Da Poetry Lounge," held at the Greenway Court Theatre in Los Angeles.{{cite news|url=http://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/l-a-born-and-raised-slam-poet-in-q-performs-in-hollywood-tomorrow/|title=L.A.-Born and Raised Slam Poet IN-Q Performs in Hollywood on April 28|last1=Ogilvie|first1=Jessica P.|date=April 27, 2016|publisher=Los Angeles Magazine|accessdate=March 1, 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://www.losangeles.com/places/the-actors-lounge|title=The Actors' Lounge in Los Angeles|work=losangeles.com|accessdate=March 1, 2017}}{{cite journal|last1=Johnson|first1=Javon|date=October 1, 2010|title=Manning Up: Race, Gender, and Sexuality in Los Angeles' Slam and Spoken Word Poetry Communities|url=http://nca.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10462937.2010.511252?src=recsys&journalCode=rtpq20|journal=Text and Performance Quarterly|volume=30|issue=4|pages=396–419|doi=10.1080/10462937.2010.511252|s2cid=192233974|issn=1046-2937|accessdate=March 1, 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/ball-pits-buskers-and-ninja-gardeners-this-business-conference-is-a-circus/2016/07/13/4ee3e99e-2c31-11e6-9de3-6e6e7a14000c_story.html|title=Ball pits, buskers and 'ninja gardeners': This business conference is a circus.|last1=Romeo|first1=Nick|date=July 13, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|accessdate=March 1, 2017}}
In 2017, he was named one of the top creatives on Oprah's SuperSoul 100 list.{{cite news|url=http://www.supersoul.tv/supersoul-100/creatives/in-q|title=IN-Q: National Poetry Slam Champion and Multi-Platinum Winning Songwriter|accessdate=January 18, 2018}} He is the first poet to perform at a Cirque Du Soleil production and as a songwriter, IN-Q has worked with artists like Miley Cyrus, Aloe Blacc, Mike Posner, Selena Gomez and co-wrote the official World Cup anthem in 2014.{{cite web| url=http://www.in-q.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/IN-Q-2018-Bio.pdf| title=Bio| website=in-q.com| accessdate=January 18, 2018}}
History
Raised by a single mother in Santa Monica, IN-Q admits his introduction to what is now a well-decorated career happened accidentally, "I definitely had no intention of making a career out of poetry. When I was 19, a friend invited me to an open mic called Da Poetry Lounge in Los Angeles. The talent was absolutely incredible and it was such an inspiring environment that I never left."{{cite web|title=IN-Q: What You Can Learn From A Poet About Career Success|website=Forbes|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danschawbel/2017/07/26/in-q-what-you-can-learn-from-a-poet-about-career-success/|accessdate=January 16, 2018}} Initially, Schmalholz's delivery style was that of an a cappella rapper, but he later found that audiences identified his performances more with spoken word poetry and he now considers himself primarily a poet when performing.
IN-Q delved deeper into becoming a songwriter for the music industry after receiving a publishing deal with Rock Mafia. On his songwriting process, Schmalholz says, "With us, every song is different. Sometimes the artist comes in and we write together, sometimes we collaborate with other songwriters, and sometimes we write in studio and get the song placed."
Awards and accolades
IN-Q's songwriting credits include collaborating on Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum tracks for Miley Cyrus ("Forgiveness And Love" on the Can't Be Tamed album), Aloe Blacc ("Ticking Bomb" on the Wake Me Up EP), and Selena Gomez & the Scene ("Love You like a Love Song" on the album, When the Sun Goes Down).{{cite web|title=A Vote for Hillary Is Largely a Vote Against Trump, Says This Slam Poet's Hard-Hitting Ad|url=http://www.adweek.com/creativity/vote-hillary-largely-vote-against-trump-says-slam-poets-hard-hitting-ad-173670/|accessdate=February 22, 2017}}{{cite web|title=IN-Q brings poetry to pop culture with concert also featuring Mike Posner, Magic Giant|date=January 12, 2015|url=http://www.sgvtribune.com/arts-and-entertainment/20150112/in-q-brings-poetry-to-pop-culture-with-concert-also-featuring-mike-posner-magic-giant|accessdate=February 22, 2017}}
IN-Q has appeared on Russell Simmons' Def Poetry Jam, performed for Quincy Jones, Hillary Clinton, former US President Barack Obama, and performed a live poetry concert with American musician Mike Posner and indie folk band Magic Giant. Antonina Armato, Tim James, the co-founder of Rock Mafia, and Schmalholz won a songwriting BMI Award for Selena Gomez and the Scene's "Love You Like a Love Song."[https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/adam_levine_and_top_songwriters_honored_at_61st_annual_bmi_pop_awards Adam Levine and Top Songwriters Honored at 61st Annual BMI Pop Awards] at BMI.com; published May 15, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2017
In 2017, he was named one of the top creatives on Oprah's SuperSoul 100 list. That same year, he wrote and narrated an ad for A&E as a part of the network's marketing campaign that sought to align the A&E brand with culture and diversity.{{cite news|title=A&E Launches Ad Campaign to Stand Out in Cluttered TV Space|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=August 14, 2017|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-e-launches-ad-campaign-to-stand-out-in-cluttered-tv-space-1502708400|accessdate=January 18, 2018|last1=Bruell|first1=Alexandra}}
IN-Q was invited by renowned non-profit TED to join the panel of speakers in 2017 for an event hosted at IBM that explored the relationship between technology and humanity.{{cite web|title=Why Not?: Ted@IBM|url=https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/ted/|accessdate=January 18, 2018}} His recent videos "The Only Reason We're Alive" and "The Most Important Vote We'll Ever Cast" went viral and have over six million views combined.
Songwriting discography
{{Color box|#87CEEB|border=darkgray}} indicates an un-credited vocal contribution.
References
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Category:21st-century American poets