There’s so much to say about Joe Cameron – from being a fantastic singer to an amazing person. Thing we’d like to highlight is that couple years ago, Joe made a website which was a campaign to perform at Ellen DeGeneres Show. Tens of thousands of votes came in, e-mails from all over the world – and just 2 months after – he was on the Ellen show – performing.
How long have you been making music and what or who influenced you to start recording and writing?
I wrote my first song when I was 9 years old. It was horrible obviously, but I still remember it. I was drawn to catchy melodies even then. I got more and more serious about my writing from that point on and by the time I was in high school I was recording demos of my original songs on a 4-track in my bedroom. I didn’t consider recording a real album that could be packaged and sold until 2004. I was wondering what to do with my tax return that year, it was the first time I had ever gotten one and I looked at it as free money. So I thought, “hey, I should find a studio and record a 10 song CD! “ I just thought it would be a cool experience. Once I got the pressed CDs in my hands I started mailing them out to anyone I could find an address for…which, looking back now, was the wrong thing to do. The production quality wasn’t great then and I’m sure I wasn’t making a good first impression. However, I did manage to start working with a booking agent who started booking in me in all of the famous LA rock clubs. So I went to recording a CD just for fun to playing the Viper Room and the Cat Club all within about a month. It was a good time!
As far as who influenced me to start writing, I blame that on David Foster. I used to listen to his instrumentals when I was really young and fell in love with his gift of composition. Once I learned he was also the guy responsible for writing the incredibly successful songs behind the band Chicago like “You’re the Inspiration” and “Hard Habit to Break”…forget it…it was all over for me. I knew right then and there what I wanted to do.
When did you get your first break and was there anyone person who helped along with your music career?
Nobody can do this on their own. Anyone who claims that they became successful all by themselves is a liar. Obviously Ellen Degeneres helped me out BIG TIME, but I never would have gotten her attention if Bill Bell hadn’t wanted to work with me. It wasn’t until after I recorded with Bill that people started taking my music seriously.
What have you released so far and what has the response been like?
I have a total of 4 self-releases. The first two are discontinued, but the other two are still rocking out somewhere in the depths of iTunes. The response gets better with each new album I think. As I’ve grown as a writer and as I’ve become more comfortable with exactly the style of music I enjoy creating most, the response gets better…probably because my approach to the music has become more honest and people can tell.
What would say is the most popular track that you have released to date?
I’m proudest of my most recent single, “Too Soon.” But the two songs I get the most feedback on are probably “She Don’t Need Music” and “A Little Rain”…both off of my VanCity EP.
What producers do you work with?
Like I mentioned before, the first producer to take a chance with me was Bill Bell. Bill produced some of Jason Mraz’s early recordings and also toured with Mraz for several years as his guitarist. Bill is not only a fantastic producer who brought more out of my music that I even thought possible, but he’s a genuine, generous guy. He’s a good friend.
More recently, I’ve been working with Chris Sernel who has worked with a ton of people, most recently Cee Lo Green. Chris is my go to man. He completely, 100% understands me and what I’m trying to do with my music. Plus, I’m not sure creating music can be more fun than what it is with Chris. We laugh about as much as we work!
Did you have any unpleasant experiences with people in the music industry?
Booking yourself in the club and bar market is a pretty miserable experience. You run into a lot of nasty, unhappy people in that side of the business.
Are you working on new material?
I am. One song at a time. I’m not sure when I’ll release a new album, but I’m enjoying coming up with the best singles that I can write. I also co-write a ton! From pop to rock to dance to R&B to country. I’m always writing with someone! I’ve lucked my way into writing with some very famous and successful writers. Since I consider myself a songwriter first and foremost, it’s really a dream come true!
Have you done many live shows or tours?
Oh yeah. I’ve toured. My touring band and I have toured the college market for years. We’d hit up the NACA and APCA circuits as much as possible. Before colleges we were doing what everybody else does when they start out…we were playing smoke filled bars full of drunk people who didn’t want to listen to us and open mic nights at empty coffee shops. Good times. Good times. The most memorable gig - from playing live on national TV TWICE to playing at the Indianapolis 500…it’s difficult to pick just one show.
Any tips for someone just coming into the game?
Yes. Remember that your journey will be your own. Only you can decide your own path. The minute you try and mimic someone else’s path to success you’ve already lost…or at the very least wasted a ton of time and energy. I lived in Los Angeles and tried “making it” there for years, but it wasn’t until I moved to a small town in the Midwest when my career really picked up and I ended up playing live on the Ellen Degeneres Show. There is no blueprint for a career in the arts.
Do you have a website?
I do. www.JoeCameronMusic.com Check it out. Let me know what you think! I came up with the design concept with ToeKneeBee from smallGIANT who does most of my art design. I think it’s a pretty cool design.
Describe your style in 5 words.
Catchy. Fun. Thoughtful. Smart. Memorable.
Would you ever sign to a major label?
Absolutely! With all of the doom and gloom talk that’s going on out there about the music industry falling apart and how evil majors are, you still don’t see independent artists flying places on private jets. Not that being glitzy is what’s important, but I think you see my point.
And for the end, Joe added: “I truly feel blessed for all of the opportunies and successes I’ve had so far. I honestly believe that if you work on your craft every day, instead of focusing on “becoming famous,” you will ultimately find success in this business. The best songs win…every time. So every day I try and write a great song because if it’s only good, it might as well be bad.”
