I’m delighted to say that my new album, which will be titled ‘Dragonfly’, is almost at the final mixing stage!

While gigging has had to take a backseat, (Covid’s fault initially then I had some time out following having my daughter in 2022) I’ve been spending any free time I could in the studio recording the album I have been wanting to make since I started songwriting many years ago.

It is looking (and sounding) like it will have all been worth it and I can’t wait to share it with you all when it is done. The album tells a story from light to dark through grey and back up to the light at the end. Featuring a mesh of genres including singer-songwriter, acoustic, pop, rock and prog it is shaping up to be my best work to date. Now that I’m getting closer to releasing it, I thought it was about time I got back out there and did some gigs, as well as taking this opportunity to introduce the musicians I’ve been lucky to work with!

Introducing the band on the new album:

Tim Bond is a brilliant musician himself, and is a pleasure to work with as a recording engineer and producer. Thanks Tim for your awesome patience and honesty throughout. We have done all the recording at his studio near Cambridge: Bookmatch Studio

Tim Bond Producer extraordinaire

On drums I have Scott Hunter, who brings a wealth of experience, technical prowess and rhythmical genius to the songs. Currently gigging with a phenomenal band ‘Skylines‘ who I saw live last summer at the inaugural Nene Valley Rock Festival and I was completely blown away by their set. Check them out live if you get the chance – they are excellent.

Scott Hunter on drums

A couple of years ago I performed at the brilliant N FEST in Needingworth, Cambridgeshire. After my performance the bass player from another band on the line up that year approached me and I’m delighted to say the rest is history! Introducing the excellent Bob Jakins on bass; his wonderful bass lines cement the rhythm section and he and Scott had a musical dialogue that just worked straight away – it was meant to be! You can catch Bob performing live with ‘The Lonely‘ I really recommend getting to one of their gigs – brilliant band.

Bob Jakins on bass guitar

When I first started thinking about this album, I asked the fantastic Chris Newman if he would play guitar on it and I’m chuffed that he has played some sublime guitar on several songs for me. Chris has a gorgeous guitar playing style and he gigs regularly around Cambridgeshire and the UK with the beautiful singing sensation Stella Hensley and the amazing ‘Barefoot Doctors‘

Chris Newman on guitar

Pete Nash on guitar

Pete Nash and I have been friends and band mates for many years and it has been awesome to work on music together again! Pete features on several songs both with his unique and brilliant guitar lines and he has worked on arrangements for the songs as well. It is exciting to have him as part of the album and you can also check him out live with his band ‘Faith No Man‘

I couldn’t do any of this without my family behind me so big thanks to Ben, Ross & Arwen (spot Ben and Ross at an early recording session below) for putting up with me and always being my best supporters!

I’ll keep you posted and see you at a gig soon!

Claire X

Some more photos of the various recording sessions that we have done across the past couple of years to make Claire Cameron’s Dragonfly album a reality:

Claire Cameron in the studio recording her new album ‘Dragonfly’ with Tim Bond at Bookmatch Studios

Recording Claire Cameron’s new album ‘Dragonfly’ at Bookmatch Studios

‘Moving on’ is such an overused phrase.  It also doesn’t usually work unless you stop in one place with the feelings you are trying to escape, first.

I’m in the process of finishing the third in a set of songs I’ve written about this very subject.

Songs live in my head and my heart for a while before I can sing them out and complete the process.

I usually write the piano part first, and then the melody comes out of playing the piano riff and the lyrics follow.

I know that it is a ‘real’ song developing when I don’t have to try too hard with the words and the melody. If they come easily and almost knowing what they want to say without me having to be involved I know it is right. I’m not a patient person generally, but I have be patient with my songwriting self because she does things in her own time in what can seem a slow creative process.

There is nothing more satisfying than the first time I sing a new song through and it has ‘settled’ into a story of sounds and feelings strung together coherently.

Singing it out is by far the best therapy I’ve ever experienced and it can also take me closer to an answer or a next step forward.

Moving on isn’t really it, actually. I prefer being, now.

This way life isn’t all about what is happening next but focussing on living in the moment!

Watch this space – I hope to record the new sounds soon……

CC X

Taking leave of the day-to-day I had a blast camping out in a field with my mum and other musicians and letting the ebb and flow of music and creativity take over our senses for the weekend.

I love how the only important timings at a festival are when the next band or artist that you want to see is on and the only planning is around how to see as many of these as is humanly possible!

Having been out of the country for a while one of the things I’ve missed the most has been the UK festival scene, so when I was invited to perform at Kendal Calling Festival this summer I couldn’t have been more chuffed!

KC is a unique and for me, perfectly sized festival situated in beautiful surroundings with an eclectic mix of music as well as immersive art installations so it ticks all the boxes.

It didn’t disappoint so I wanted to share a few of my favourite experiences of the weekend with you. I was lucky to have my excellent roadie/driver/supporter/Mum Julia with me to enjoy it and we had a ball!

After a mega 10 hour rainy journey on typically gridlocked UK motorways (thank you Julia) we got the tent up in a break in the rain and caught the end of Stereophonics and an exceptional set by Lakuta. The lead singer was amazing and explained the story behind the songs and she made me cry with her emotive performance, but also made us dance lots in particular to ‘Mr Serious’ and ‘Rice & Peace’. The band as a whole were so so tight and fused so many sounds I can’t do them justice here so check them out and have a listen. Chai Wallah tent was set to be a place you would be sure to find us again.

Our tent palace for the weekend

Lakuta performing in Chai Wallah tent

Saturday brought slightly less drizzle but the mud was making the trek from the camp site to the arena better exercise already!

Highlights for us on Saturday began with the #IntoTheWild parade which featured drummers, dancers, musicians and family festival goers impressively kitted out as wild things stomping through the woods and the main arena. It was really uplifting and a carnival-like celebration masterminded by my brilliant friend Roxy. It was so nice to catch up with her and Ben Robinson (who along with Andy Smith founded and organises the festival) after not seeing them for ages!

#IntoTheWild parade Kendal Calling 2017

#IntoTheWild parade Kendal Calling 2017

#IntoTheWild parade Kendal Calling 2017

Ben aka Robinson Boone and Claire Cameron at #IntoTheWild parade Kendal Calling 2017

Ben & Roxy Robinson at Kendal Calling 2017

Awesome ‘family of foxes’ taking part in #IntoTheWild parade Kendal Calling 2017

Roxy getting the job done!

We spent the afternoon pottering about ‘Lost Eden‘ and exploring the art in the woods which was pretty special and nice to find the stage I’d be playing at the next day. Even better, found out Ben was playing a set of his own there so we could enjoy watching him and we did – nice one Robinson Boone you smashed it!

Robinson Boone performing live on Carvetti Stage at Kendal Calling 2017

Claire Cameron explores Lost Eden at Kendal Calling

Lost Eden at Kendal Calling

Evening fell and the sundowners were had along with a smattering of glitter and flower-hair acquisition. Then we trudged back through the muddy lanes and fields and enjoyed some Saturday night sounds at various stages, but the highlight for us had to be the epic set from Liam Bailey in the Chai Wallah tent again. He is excellent, his band is amazing and we loved every minute of it!

Lost Eden at Kendal Calling

Claire & Julia at Kendal Calling

muddy fields at Kendal Calling

Liam Bailey at Chai Wallah Kendal Calling 2017

Sunday morning brought some sun and clouds but a happy and amusing breakfast thanks to top comedian Roland Saunders aka The TV TV. He was slightly disbelieving that we had pitched such a tent mansion for just two of us (3 nights justified it I think and needing to be well rested to sing, obviously!) and after we got talking he treated us to some impromptu sneak previews of his show which was very funny! An excellent morning coffee buddy it was great to chill out and chat with him!

Roland Saunders aka The TV TV and Claire enjoying a campsite coffee Kendal Calling 2017

Did some more mud trudging to and from the tents and stages throughout the day, then it was time to get glittered up courtesy of Chloe and Briony at The Feather Tree, ready for my set! Love these girls they were really nice to talk to and did a fab job on my hair and makeup thanks.

Claire with Briony and Chloe of The Feather Tree at Kendal Calling 2017

Claire & Julia cocktail time by the lake at Kendal Calling 2017

Claire by the lake at Kendal Calling 2017

We even had a bit of time for some R&R by the beautiful lake ahead of my performance 🙂

My glamorous roadie Julia at Kendal Calling 2017

Awesome Andy driving the buggy with the piano

Julia came into her own helping me lug Roland (my electric piano) from the campsite to the pretty Carvetti stage in the woods of Lost Eden. Massive thanks and respect to Andy who drove us on the buggy through treacherous and muddy terrain AND he was buggy driving most of the weekend helping everyone so what a guy!

We were met in the woods by Luke (my very helpful Artist Liason) who took one end of the heavy piano and we carried it backstage. Getting changed into my Vietnamese Ao Dai surrounded by mud was funny but thanks to the team and Julia we managed it and even switched to evening shoes side-stage ready to go – felt weird to be out of wellies for a bit!

When the moment came to start my set I felt quite overwhelmed by how excited and pleased I was to be there, at this awesome festival singing my heart out. Thank you so much to all of you who watched and listened to my songs. I really felt that you were there with me in that moment and truly hearing the emotions I felt when I wrote the songs. Thanks to Kendal Calling for having me! I loved it X

Here’s: ‘You Taught My Heart To Travel’

Claire Cameron live at Kendal Calling Carvetti Stage

Claire Cameron live at Kendal Calling Carvetti Stage

After my set we headed back to the tent to drop Roland back and then meet Roxy and friends in the woodlands to enjoy the incredible set from the London African Gospel Choir who performed Graceland in its entirety! It was amazing and the fireworks going off during ‘You Can Call Me Al’ really topped it off as the best festival ever!

Roxy and Claire letting their hair down after the show!

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Claire Cameron Blog

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