In the studio…

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

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

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

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

Chris Newman on guitar

Pete Nash 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

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

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

About The New Single ‘The Past Is Not The Now’

The Past Is Not The Now Claire Cameron feat. Pete Nash, Artwork by Chloe Kutkus Morton

I wrote ‘The Past Is Not The Now’ as I was starting to emerge from a dark and stormy time and strive upwards towards the light.

I think there will be parts of this song many people can relate to.  Life is not a simple, planned and executed novel.  Plans go awry, people make mistakes and people get hurt.  I have always struggled with the need to ‘get it right’, ‘do my best’, ‘give it my all’, ‘succeed’ and ‘be perfect’. That is not a reality anyone actually lives in, I see this now!

One of the biggest struggles for me is learning acceptance that the past happened, whether it happened in a way I wished for or not. It happened, it hurt and now I need to focus on the present.

This song is about that desire to move up and move out of the past. This involves allowing yourself to feel your reaction to it in order to live in the here and now, happily.  This can be challenging to do when past events have gone against what you expected or hoped for.

So, ‘The Past Is Not The Now‘ is a song for anyone who has ever experienced this. I salute your determination, resilience and inner strength. It is a celebration of stubbornly persisting, not giving up or giving in and finally leaving the past where it belongs – behind not in front of you. Let’s keep on going and live in the sunlight of the here and now. Enjoy the present moment!

Huge thanks to Pete Nash for his beautiful guitar, bass, drum programming, singing and arranging on the single at Electric Troubadour Circus. I loved every minute of working with Pete again musicially and he has such a skill for arranging and producing it was a privilege to record with him.

Thank you also to the extremely talented Chloe Kutkus Morton for understanding exactly what I wanted to express with the song and converting it into a beautiful visual impact with the artwork she designed. I love what she has created and will proudly hang it on my music wall.

I’ll be celebrating the launch of this single on Thursday 28th March at The Samuel Pepys Pub, Huntingdon. Do come along and join me, and three other singer songwriters for ‘Performers at The Pepys’ hosted by Gavin Chappell-Bates.

Claire X

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Claire Cameron Blog

  • Claire Cameron in the studio

    In the studio…

    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……continue reading read more >

  • The Past Is Not The Now Claire Cameron feat. Pete Nash, Artwork by Chloe Kutkus Morton

    About The New Single ‘The Past Is Not The Now’

    I wrote ‘The Past Is Not The Now’ as I was starting to emerge from a dark and stormy time and strive upwards towards the light. I think there……continue reading read more >

  • Claire Cameron on Hunstanton Beach

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    ‘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……continue reading read more >