Conversation with singer and songwriter ‘Camden’
Camden is an American singer and songwriter with a voice that many have described as warm, soulful, and even sultry. We have recently interviewed him for our magazine. Sharing it with our readers here.
Twist Online : First of all tell us about the start of your professional career?
Camden : The first song I ever professionally recorded was a Christmas cover featuring Liz Carlson. Her friend Jeremy Larson (producer and artist), recorded it for us in his studio at the time located in Springfield, MO. We only recorded it for fun, but listening back to it, it actually turned out really good. About two years following, I decided to really pursue music, and released a pop EP under the artist name, David Camden. (My full legal name is David Camden Mueller, and I’ve gone by my middle name my whole life. But at the time I thought David Camden looked better on the album cover. Since then I’ve realized I didn’t like having my music under a name I never used in real life because it felt disingenuine. So for my most recent music I switched back to the name friends and family know me by, “Camden”.) After releasing that EP, I moved to Nashville, TN where I’ve been able to collaborate with artists and producers on a daily basis. This helped me to get more connected in the music industry, and also hone in on my songwriting skills.
Twist Online : Who or what inspired you to get into the music industry?
Camden : I grew up in a musical family, and always sang in church. Throughout life, I found myself in creative environments and the stage always felt like home. I never thought a career in entertainment was practical until my older brother and I randomly got cast as main characters on a TLC reality TV show about selling real estate in Florida (I’ve worked a lot of weird jobs in my life. haha). The show only had one season, and I was glad to be done with it honestly, but it opened my mind to the possibility of not having a regular “job” the rest of my life. Someone once asked me “if you had a billion dollars in the bank, what would you still be doing?” The Camden was music. I decided I only had one life to live, so succeed or fail I might as well do what I’m passionate about. So I recorded and released my first EP, and after that I was hooked.
Twist Online : Tell us about your recent release “Friend” ?
Camden : I co-wrote this song with my friend Thomas Daniel. The song was then produced by my friends Johnluke Lewis, and Brad King. Johnluke was a co-producer and writer for the band LANY’s 2017 song “Good Girls”, and he’s also in a band called RVRB. I say that to explain the really vibey element he brought to the table for the production which I feel makes the song. Conceptually, the song is about a lost friendship. I have some great friends in my life, but I wrote this song from a bitter place at a low moment.
Twist Online : What kind of response have you received from the release?
Camden : Great so far! A lot of people messaging me that they really relate to the song. Others say they love the moody electo pop sounds. Some people sending me videos hilariously trying to sing that tongue twister chorus. Haha I’m just glad people are responding to it, adding it to their playlists on spotify, and finding it to be something they want to make 2018 memories to.
Twist Online : What attracts you more, performing on stage or working in studios?
Camden : I’ve learned to love both, but the environment I was first comfortable with was on stage. There’s less fear in having to make things perfect because it’s more about the moment you’re sharing with the audience. That exact moment will never happen again, so it’s easier to just enjoy it. I used to freeze up in front of a mic in the studio, but I’ve learned that if the producer and I, or band depending, are really jamming to the song, I can still get lost in the moment, and relax when recording. Also, I’ve become better at speaking up when the mix isn’t good in my headphones. That can make all the difference when recording vocals.
Twist Online : What’s your favorite music genre?
Camden : I grew up in an eclectic home musically, but my taste typically gravitates towards anything soulful or jazzy. Right now my favorite artists to listen to are future soul artists like Tom Misch, Jordan Rakei, and FKJ…etc
Twist Online : Have you set some target to achieve as a music artist?
Camden : As far as my lifetime career goes, I want to be a songwriter for major pop artists, but also have my own personal artist project where I’m never concerned with the “marketability” of the music, but rather just how it makes me feel. I also love to travel, so I’m excited about future opportunities to go on tour or collab with artists in Europe and Asia specifically.
Twist Online : Are you currently working on any other project?
Camden : Yeah, I’m always songwriting with producers and DJ’s, sometimes for my own singles, and other times for theirs. Right now I have a good number of songs that I’m obsessed with, but haven’t had produced yet. I would like stick with one sound eventually, but currently my unreleased music varies between future soul, jazz, and electronic R&B. So a little outside of my latest electro pop song “Friend”.
For further updates you can follow him on
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/iamcamdenmusic
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/camden_music
