Alex Cameron (musician)
Alex Cameron | |
|---|---|
 Cameron in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 11 September 1988[1] Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Labels | Secretly Canadian |
| Associated acts |
|
Alex Cameron (born 11 September 1988) is an Australian musician, singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Sydney, he is best known for his solo career, a high-concept act in which Cameron initially adopted the persona of a failed entertainer. He is also a member of the electronica act Seekae.[2] During live performances, Cameron is often joined by saxophonist and "business partner" Roy Molloy.
Cameron independently released his debut album, Jumping the Shark, for free on his website in 2013. After catching the attention of indie rock duo Foxygen at a concert in Paris, Cameron toured extensively with Mac DeMarco, Kevin Morby, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Angel Olsen. In 2016, Secretly Canadian reissued the album to a wider audience and growing cult fanbase.
While promoting the album, Cameron struck up a friendship with The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers and co-wrote five tracks on the band's fifth studio album, Wonderful Wonderful. 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. In August 2020, he released a follow-up EP titled Miami Memories featuring demos from four songs on Miami Memory.[3]
Career[]
Jumping the Shark (2013–2016)[]
Regarding 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."[4]
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.[4] While on tour with Kevin 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."[5]
Forced Witness (2017–2018)[]
In 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 his business partner Molloy and session musicians, 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.
Miami Memory (2019)[]
On 18 June 2019, Cameron announced his third studio album, Miami Memory. The album was released on 13 September 2019 via Secretly Canadian.[6]
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 8th, 2020, Cameron released a single cover of the Paul Kelly song "Before Too Long".[7]
In July of 2021, it was announced that Cameron would commence a European Tour in 2022 with Roy Molloy.[8]
Personal life[]
Cameron has been in a relationship with actress Jemima Kirke since July 2017.[9]
Backing band[]
Current
- Roy Molloy – saxophone, business partner (2012–present)
- Lilah Larson – lead guitar, backing vocals (2019–present)
- Justin Nijssen – bass guitar, guitar, backing vocals (2017–present)
- Henri Lindström – drums, percussion (2017–present)
- Jack Ladder – keyboards, guitar (occasional appearances; 2017–present)
Former
- Holiday Sidewinder – keyboards, backing vocals (2017–2019)
Discography[]
- Studio albums
- Jumping the Shark (2013)
- Forced Witness (2017)
- Miami Memory (2019)
- Live albums
- Live in San Francisco (2019)[10]
- with Seekae
- The Sound of Trees Falling on People (2008)
- +Dome (2011)
- The Worry (2014)
Music videos[]
| 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 |
References[]
- ^ Long, Jen (13 September 2019). "Alcamathon". Retrieved 12 September 2019.
- ^ Phares, Heather. "Alex Cameron – Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
- ^ Minsker, Evan (11 August 2020). "Alex Cameron Announces New Miami Memory Demos EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: 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.
- ^ Heller, Corinne (7 July 2017). "Girls Alum Jemima Kirke and Musician Alex Cameron Show PDA in NYC". E!. E!. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Alex Cameron – Live in San Francisco". discogs. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
- Living people
- 21st-century Australian singers
- Australian male singer-songwriters
- Australian indie rock musicians
- 21st-century male singers
- 1988 births
- Secretly Canadian artists