Camden
Nashville-based artist Camden released his latest single “Don’t Feel It” (in collaboration with London-based producer/artist Pastel) on April 8th.
Fusing jazz, electronic and soul, the new single explores the subject of leaving a toxic relationship.
Camden recently collaborated with hip-hop artist Lackhoney and artist/producer Prince Fox and has opened for artists like X Ambassadors, Kota the Friend and Rayland Baxter.
Currently working on his debut EP with the help from Pastel, the soul/jazz artist is continuing to create his own musical identity.
“Don’t Feel It” is now available on major streaming platforms.
Photo credit: Jake Walker
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
My name’s Camden, and I’m a jazz/soul artist based in Nashville, TN.
How would you define Camden, the artist?
A friend of mine told me I make Emo Jazz, so I kind of adopted the phrase. It’s a blend of dark jazz chords with hip hop beats, and escapist lyrics.
You recently released "Don't Feel It" with Pastel. What's the inspiration behind this song?
Pastel and I have been friends for a while, and during quarantine, we decided to do an instagram live. Some of the people watching said we should finish a song together that week, so we did. To be honest, I tried to not overthink the lyrics. I sang whatever first came to mind, and that’s what we stuck with. The overall concept is about someone who’s done with a toxic relationship and ready to leave it.
What did you feel when writing this song?
A friend and I had just gotten into a disagreement (that got resolved later), but in the moment it was easy to write angsty lyrics haha
What is it like to work with Pastel? How did you two meet?
It’s kind of crazy looking back on it. Three years ago I was working long distance with a DJ from France who asked Pastel to help on our track. That’s when Pastel and I met over facetime. Later that year I traveled to London for a writing trip, and got to work with Pastel in person. He and I became really close friends, and have now released two songs together. We both have the same taste in music and art, so it’s always great working together.
What can you tell us about your upcoming EP?
A while ago I asked Pastel to produce the EP because I love his production style. He came to visit me in Nashville and we started the process. The project is still being tweaked, but I’m hopeful to have the first single released by the Summer.
For those who don't know, what different steps does an artist need to take before releasing a new single?
So many it can be overwhelming sometimes. After writing and producing the song, you’ll usually want to have it mixed and mastered. And then after that comes branding. What kind of album art do you want? Do you want a music video? Are you releasing this song as part of a larger project? Does the branding for this song need to match the branding of previous songs you’ve released, or even future ones you will release? And then once all of that is sorted out, promotion comes into play. What blogs do you want to reach out to? Spotify playlists? Youtube channels?
Sometimes the list can feel endless. But for “Don’t Feel It”, we wanted to not overcomplicate things. Pastel was in the middle of strategizing releases he had planned for a year, so we thought for this one we’d just release it for fun and see what happens. And hopefully that feeling was captured in the music.
What biggest lesson have you learned since your very first release?
Not to have any expectation for how well the song will perform, and just to allow myself to be happy with the idea that I’m putting good art into the world. It can be easier said than done sometimes, but I have songs that I didn’t even care for, achieve larger numbers than songs I was really passionate about. It’s just a coin toss sometimes, and it’s best to just relax and enjoy the process.
What's the hardest part about being an artist? And what is the best part?
The hardest part is keeping up with the world’s constant need for content. Our society is very social media, and playlist driven. So it feels like even if you release a hit, people are going to forget about it within a month, and they’re already looking for what’s next.
The best part about being an artist is getting to create something you love, and sharing it with others. It also naturally lends to traveling, and collaborating with people from different countries, and I’ve always enjoyed that aspect.
What advice would you give to new songwriters?
I would say to move to a music industry city where you can connect with songwriters and label reps face to face. The doors that open just from being in the right place can make the difference between a career and a hobby.
What do you like the most about songwriting?
Even though writing alone can be nice sometimes, my favorite writes are with other people. Some of my best memories involve that moment when you and your co-writers realize you’re on to something great.
Why do you make music?
Someone asked me one time, “If you had a billion dollars in the bank, and money didn’t matter, what would you still be doing?” And for me, it was music. I love it, and it comes naturally to me.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
I don’t have all the answers, but I’m not into an “us vs. them” mentality when it comes to anything. I think it’s always important to remember not everyone’s journey is your own, and all we can do is love people whether they show it back or not.
What message do you want to give to the world?
When I was growing up, I was bullied a lot, and never seemed to fit in. I guess I just want others to know that the reason you don’t fit in is because you were designed to stand out. So keep being the best version of you that you can be, and things will get clearer as life progresses.
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