Alex Cameron (born 11 September 1988) is an Australian singer-songwriter from Sydney. He is best known for his solo career, a high-concept act in which Cameron initially adopted the persona of a failed entertainer. During live performances, Cameron is often joined by saxophonist and "business partner" Roy Molloy. Before making music under his own name, Cameron was also a member of the electronica act Seekae, releasing three studio albums with them.[2]
Alex Cameron | |
|---|---|
 Cameron in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 11 September 1988[1] Sydney, Australia |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Labels | Secretly Canadian |
| Formerly of | Seekae (2006-2016) |
Cameron independently released his debut album, Jumping the Shark, for free on his website in 2013. In 2016, Secretly Canadian reissued the album to a wider audience and growing cult fanbase. In 2017, Cameron released his second studio album, Forced Witness, featuring contributions from Molloy, Flowers, Olsen and Jonathan Rado. His third studio album, Miami Memory, was released in September 2019. His fourth studio album, Oxy Music, was released in March 2022.
Career
edit2013–2016: Jumping the Shark
editRegarding his adopted persona of that of a failed musician, Cameron notes, "I write about the outlier, the table-for-one guy, the guy whose life is a constellation of microscopic tragedies. Failure has been underexplored in music. My characters come from a place where ambition, crippling self-doubt and tragedy intersect."[3]
After releasing his debut album, Jumping the Shark, for free on his website, and physically through Siberia Records, Cameron attracted the attention of indie rock duo Foxygen while performing at David Lynch's Parisian club, Silencio.[3] Cameron toured extensively with Mac DeMarco, Kevin Morby, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Angel Olsen in the ensuing years. While on tour with Morby in April 2016, the label Secretly Canadian announced they had signed Cameron and would be re-releasing Jumping the Shark in August 2016. Upon the announcement, Cameron issued the following statement: "Its 2016 [sic], and its time for Alex Cameron. Entertainer. Showman. Shaman. Side by side with his business partner and saxophonist, Roy Molloy, the duo are a living and breathing story of success told through the internet; unedited, unscripted, and, up until now, to a dedicated audience of no one. Thanks to the good people at Secretly Canadian that is about to change."[4]
2017–2018: Forced Witness
editIn 2017, Cameron released his second studio album, Forced Witness, a departure from the mostly-electronic sound of his debut album, the album was produced by Foxygen's Jonathan Rado, and features a full-band production, including saxophonist Roy Molloy. That same year, Cameron co-wrote five tracks on The Killers' fifth studio album, Wonderful Wonderful, with frontman Brandon Flowers appearing on the closing track of Forced Witness, "Politics of Love".
The album's accompanying tour found Cameron fronting a full band – including Molloy, keyboardist Holiday Sidewinder, guitarist Justin Nijssen – and supporting The Killers on their UK and US arena tour.
On 26 September 2018, Cameron and Molloy hosted a 24-hour telethon via Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook Live with the express goal to "save the music industry and pad our pantry out by selling 1000 records in 24 hours," which they succeeded in doing.
2019–2020: Miami Memory
editOn 18 June 2019, Cameron announced his third studio album, Miami Memory. The album was released on 13 September 2019 via Secretly Canadian.[5] For the album's accompanying tour, lead guitarist Lilah Larson joined Cameron's live band, replacing keyboard and backing vocalist Holiday Sidewinder, who left to focus on her solo career.
In 2020, Cameron co-wrote four songs on The Killers' sixth studio album, Imploding the Mirage, co-produced by Cameron's longtime producer Jonathan Rado. On May 8, 2020, Cameron released a single cover of the Paul Kelly song "Before Too Long".[6]
2021–present: Oxy Music
editIn July 2021, it was announced that Cameron would commence a European Tour in 2022 with Roy Molloy.[7]
In November 2021, Cameron released "Sara Jo", the first single since 2019.[8]
On 20 January 2022, Cameron announced his fourth studio album Oxy Music, to be released on 11 March 2022, and supported by a tour of North America and Europe. The album's second single, titled "Best Life", was released the same day accompanied by a music video directed by his wife Jemima Kirke. The album features Lloyd Vines and Sleaford Mods' Jason Williamson. The album is inspired by the opioid epidemic and Nico Walker's novel Cherry. In its press release, Cameron explain: "The album is a story, a work of fiction, mostly from the perspective of a man. Starved of meaningful purpose, confused about the state of the world, and in dire need of a reason to live. This is one of those people."[9]
Personal life
editCameron started dating actress Jemima Kirke in July 2017.[10] Alex and Jemima split up in 2022.
Backing band
editCurrent
- Roy Molloy – saxophone, "business partner" (2012–present)
- Justin Nijssen – bass guitar, guitar, backing vocals (2017–present)
- Henri Lindström – drums, percussion (2017–present)
- Tim Rogers – keyboards, guitar (occasional appearances; 2017–present)
- Lilah Larson – lead guitar, backing vocals (2019–present)
- Jess Parsons – keyboards, backing vocals (2019–present)
Former
- Holiday Sidewinder – keyboards, backing vocals (2017–2019)
- Lawrence Pike – drums (2018)
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [11] | ||
| Jumping the Shark |
|
— |
| Forced Witness |
|
— |
| Miami Memory |
|
94 |
| Oxy Music |
|
—99 US 39 UK |
Live albums
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Live in San Francisco |
|
EPs
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Miami Memories |
|
Awards and nominations
editAPRA Awards
editThe APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters".[12]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | "Strangers Kiss" | Song of the Year | Shortlisted | [13] |
Music videos
edit| Year | Album Title | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Jumping The Shark | Gone South | Mclean Stephenson |
| 2014 | Real Bad Looking | Roy Molloy | |
| 2016 | She's Mine | James Pillion | |
| The Comeback | Britt McCamey | ||
| Mongrel | James Pillion | ||
| 2017 | Forced Witness | Candy May | Meghan McGarry |
| Stranger's Kiss (Duet With Angel Olsen) | Jemima Kirke | ||
| Runnin' Outta Luck | Nick McMahon | ||
| Politics of Love | Britt McCamey & Roy Molloy | ||
| 2018 | Studmuffin96 | Jemima Kirke | |
| 2019 | Marlon Brando | ||
| Miami Memory | Miami Memory | Alex Cameron | |
| Divorce | Michael Hili | ||
| Far From Born Again | Ashley Connor, Venus Cuffs, Jin Kwak & Ashleigh Tribble | ||
| 2021 | Oxy Music | Sara Jo | Alex Cameron |
| 2022 | Best Life | Jemima Kirke | |
| K Hole | Jim Larson |
References
edit- ^ Long, Jen (13 September 2019). "Alcamathon". YouTube. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
- ^ Phares, Heather. "Alex Cameron – Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
- ^ a b Todd, Bella (19 August 2016). "'Failure is underexplored in music': meet Alex Cameron, your new favourite loser". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- ^ "Signing Announce: Alex Cameron Shares Video for "She's Mine"". 26 April 2016. Archived from the original on 16 November 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- ^ Minsker, Evan (18 June 2019). "Alex Cameron Announces New Album Miami Memory, Shares New Song 'Divorce': Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
- ^ "Alex Cameron – "Before Too Long" (Paul Kelly Cover)". 7 March 2018.
- ^ Eks, Lusiv. "Source IG 101". The Life of Alex Cameron. 1: 1.
- ^ "Alex Cameron Shares Video for New Song "Sara Jo": Watch". pitchfork.com. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ Corcoran, Nina (20 January 2022). "Alex Cameron Announces New Album and Tour, Shares New Song "Best Life": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
- ^ Heller, Corinne (7 July 2017). "Girls Alum Jemima Kirke and Musician Alex Cameron Show PDA in NYC". E!. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "ARIA Chart Watch #543". auspOp. 21 September 2019. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
- ^ "APRA History". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- ^ "Meet the contenders for the 2018 APRA Song Of The Year". The Industry Observer. January 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2022.