Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, it's Amy and thanks for listening and being subscribed
to the Bobbybone Show podcast. Now this episode I'm about
to share with you as an interview that I did
on my show Women of I Heart Country. And in
case you're not familiar with it, it's a show that
I host every weekend where we showcase of women in
country music, and this week my guest is Cam. We
talked about her new song Till There's Nothing Left and
the funny story behind how her grandmother inspired it. Cam
(00:22):
also performed her song Burning House, and we got into
the story behind writing that song and the first time
she remembers hearing it on the radio. We also talk motherhood,
her getting to open up for Eric Church recently, and
all that she has coming up. So we got all
that inside this episode with Cam, and you can listen
to Women of iHeart Country hosted by me every weekend.
Just check out your local iHeartRadio station or search Women
(00:44):
of iHeart Country on your iHeartRadio app. But here it
is a special edition of Women of iHeart Country with Cam.
Let's Goo Goo go give it up for women. Come
on iHeart Country with Amy Brown in studio now with Cam. Cam.
Thanks so much for being here, Thanks for having me.
(01:06):
It's so fun to see your face. Hard to just
drive down the road, I know, it's so nice to
see you in person. Yes, Okay, So your album The
Other Side, it came out back in October twenty twenty,
and I'm about to debut a single from it called
until There's Nothing Left? And how did you decide to
make that one your next single? I mean, it just
has like a good vibe I feel like, and it's
(01:28):
really fun, Like we've been playing it live and it
was for Halloween. We did it at a show and
you'd see like a Squid Game character and a Where's
Waldo and like a teletub and they're all like dance
and like to There's Nothing Left, And I feel like
that's what this whole song kind of like makes you move,
you know. It's just I don't know, it's like a
(01:48):
the end of the night when you're making out with
your boyfriend in the car and you don't want to
go inside, you know, like I just wanted to stay
in this moment. So has a good feel and that's
the best I can do is just go on gut.
I guess yeah. I saw it started with maybe a
voice memo and a bottle of wine. Yeah the um
I know, Well, we had a really bad writing day,
which I people don't normally talk about, but like a
lot of times, you walk away with nothing. I was like, okay,
(02:10):
so I'm just going home, going to bed, and Hillary,
Lindsay and Tyler had kind of stayed up drinking wine
and Hillary recorded this voice note, like playing on the
drums herself and singing the la la la la la no,
like so hip, you know, and she sent that over.
I was like, okay, this is the vibe, like we
gotta that's like the nugget you want. You want like
(02:32):
a little thesis statement that you can build the rest
of the song around. And that sort of said it
like that, in that groove and in that la la la,
there's like this this sexiness and this love to it.
And so we just kind of built the whole, you know,
I want to give you all of me till there's
nothing left, like around that whole idea. And then what
about the wine? Where did that come in? And what's
(02:53):
your favorite kind of wine? Yeah? Right, the wine? I
mean that was actually that was Hilary and Tie drinking
the wine that night. I tell you what. Like I
first started drinking wine in college. We were in Davis,
like near Napa, and so I like had this boyfriend
that was like supplying the really nice wine basically at
that time, and I feel like I got so snotty
(03:14):
about it, and I was really into Peenut Noir. And
then when I had to pay for my own wine,
I was like, I need to just go back to Francia,
you know, work my way background and now it kind
of just rotates with the seasons, but I'm really into
peenut noir right now. So I saw also with the
song tell There's Nothing left that part of your grandmother's
conversation with you when you were twelve years old about
(03:35):
the birds and the bees. I would tell us about that. Yeah,
if it's okay to tell you about that, go for okay, Okay.
So I kind of was like blushing a little bit.
I mean, obviously I have a kid, so the cats
like out of the bag. But like I was blushing
a little bit because there's like, so you know, the
song's about giving someone all of your heart, mind, body, soul,
(03:57):
you know all that entails, and there's a back seat line.
You know, it's not super overt, but there's you know,
I was like kind of blushing singing about, you know,
getting it on the back seat. And I had to
have this like moment with my guardian angel, which is
my grandma Marvel. And just like she was raised on
a farm, Saskatchewan Baptist, like salt of the earth, nothing
(04:19):
phased her, Like she owned her experience so fully, you know,
and like she was the one who gave me the
birds and the bees talk when I was twelve, unbeknownst
to my parents. And she said it like that, she
said camera Marvel because her name was Marvel. My middle
name is Marvel. Camera Marvel. Sexy is like a milkshake.
Once you have it, you're always gonna want it. And
(04:40):
I was like, you know, if my grandma can own it,
you know what I mean. As storytellers, you have to
own all pieces of this story. Like if you're gonna
leave something out, you're not sitting in it, you know,
you're not being real. So then I can own it.
So now when I play it live, I'm always like,
this is for you, Grandma. Well let's play it now.
Here's till there's nothing left. Buy cam on Women of
(05:03):
I Heart Country give you ever sing one to this,
Open to this oppen me and you in the back seat,
having me crazy, killing me baby, to this is nothing,
(05:23):
to this, open the windows, spending all my brain. God,
don't say so. We are in studio now with Cam
and you've got your guitar player with you. What's your name, Simon? Simon?
Welcome to Women of I Heart Country. You So you're
(05:43):
about to perform Burning House And I want to go
back to when you first wrote the song. What was
the idea in the writing room that day? Well, I
think it first started. I literally just had the dream
like I had a boyfriend that was actually the one
who was supplying the wine. We were just talking about
when we were on again off again in college and
he was a big part of my life. So when
(06:05):
it ended and I didn't handle it well, like I
broke up with him in a not very nice way,
I felt really bad about it. And like a couple
of years later I was going to see him at
this mutual friend's party and I thought, Okay, this is
my chance to sort of set it right, not to
get back together, but just so that he knows that
I know you don't treat people like that. Even if
you're not gonna be together forever, you can still be
(06:27):
sweet to them, you know. So I was planning this
apology and went to bed with all this on my mind,
and you know how like whatever you're thinking about kind
of seeps into your dreams. Yeah, So I dreamt that
there was this house on fire, and I'm like running
towards it, and the emergency cruise are like, you can't
go in there. He's in there, like meaning my ex
but the house is about to come down, and I'm
(06:48):
like a hero, right, So I run straight in find him,
can't get him out, so instead of leaving and saving myself,
I lay down next him and hold him so he
doesn't have to die alone. And I called my buddy
Tyler like the next morning, being like, you don't believe
this dream. Then I had like all the guilt and stuff.
He was like started singing back the exact words that
(07:08):
I had set, like I had a dream about a
burning house. I was like whoosh, like trying to just swear,
but like that is amazing, Like immediately you know what
someone's talking about. There's like such a visceral reaction for
people when I sing this song, like I see it
in their eyes. Like I met this girl who had
the same dream apparently like reoccurring and was going to
(07:30):
therapy for it. Like she came up to me after
a show and told me about it, and I was like, okay,
so like fill me in on what the therapist said,
so I don't have to pay for therapy. Yeah, she goes.
It means that there's something in your life that you
cannot fix, and either it's in someone else or it's
in the past, and it's not yours to control anymore,
and you have to accept it. And I always love that.
(07:52):
I feel like people have different reasons for loving this song,
but like I think that's like the connector I think
for a lot of the different stories that people tell me.
Do you remember the first time you heard this or
Burning House played on the radio? I mean I remember
us being here and coming in and doing the show,
like we had just done the just on the Opry
and I came in and Bobby was like, I think
(08:14):
I was doing another I think I was doing My
Mistake is a single, And he was like, but there's
this other song you sang at the Opry, Like when
you play another song, we play that Burning House song
and we played it and it like shot up the
iTunes charts, Like all the listeners were just like so
stoked on it. And it was that day because Sony
was going through like a transition my label and the
(08:35):
label called and they were like, we are making this
the single like today, like come in right now. I've
never seen a corporation move that fast. It doesn't happen
with bureaucracy normally, and it was like incredible. So that
was like the most memorable time, Like driving home and
you know how you can kind of like hear stuff
like when they're doing like recaps and stuff on the
show and you guys are like, oh, we just had
(08:57):
cam in and this I was like, and watching the
iTunes charts, it was amazing. Oh yeah, when you performed it,
we all had goose bumps. What about the day that
it went number one? What do you remember from that day?
I feel like that was in I want to say
it was in December. I think at that point it
was just like it's such a you've been you know,
(09:17):
kind of like working so hard, but also at the
same time, it doesn't feel real, and I think it's
like that's when the album was dropping at the same time,
and I just found out I had been nominated for
a Grammy too, and I think I was like, it's
hard to take it in, you know what I mean,
where you're like, because anything, it feels like amazing to
(09:39):
hear about it, but it doesn't like go inside your body,
if that makes sense. You're like, I know this is amazing,
but it doesn't. I can't fully absorb how amazing it is,
you know what I mean? Yeah, like is this really happen? Yeah,
I feel like I'm yes, exactly, and it's it is amazing,
But it's kind of funny, how like in the moment,
(09:59):
like looking back, it's almost easier to appreciate it than
it was in the actual moment because you're like it
such cars and you're tired and doing all the stuff. Well,
how about we play Burning House now? Right? Yes? I
would love that. All right, here's Camp performing Burning House
on Women of I Heart Country. I had a dream
(10:40):
about a burning house. You're stuck inside a contit you
laid beside you and pulled you close into the swin
up and small love isn't all that it seems at it.
(11:07):
You stay here, in here until this dream is gone.
I've been sleep walking, been watering all night, trying to
take was lost and broke and make it right. And
(11:30):
I've been sleeping walking too close to the five. But
it's the only place that I can hold it time
in this spooning house. O God, Women of my Heart Country. Okay,
(11:57):
So I know earlier Camm, you mentioned about being a mom, mom,
and so your daughter's gonna be too. Yes, what if
one day she grows up little Lucy? I hope she does,
Yeah she will. But and she says, hey, Mom, I
think I want to be a country singer, or any
kind of singer for that matter, What advice would you
have for her? I mean, she already is really musical,
(12:20):
which I probably most kids are, but she acts out
like singing to you know, do you want to be
a snow or can we build a snow man? That thing?
Like she does the movements like gets down on the floor,
leans against the door. She's like very theatrical. I think
she's kind of a born entertainer, it seems like, so
(12:40):
if she wants to go into something with entertainment, like,
I mean, I I'm all for the creative pursuit, and
I think I probably would just try and if she
listens to me, give her something like along the lines
of like thick skin about it being like not just
the creative pursuit but also a business you know, trying
to like get her skin kind of ready for the
(13:02):
blows that come along with the business pursuit. But yeah,
i'd been down. No, So I saw I think you
posted something from ninety seven about you know, you were
like fake auditioning for Scream. Were you ever on track
to be an actress in any way, shape or form.
I mean you would think so from my home video skills,
(13:23):
Like I was twelve of them. We used to make
all that, like anyone that I think if you got
your hands on a camcorder, you were like, let's make
a movie, you know, like that was like the thing
to do. But I know, I my parents were like
very practical that, like you should do something that can
make you money, and like creative things are too slim
of a chance, you know. So I always thought I
was gonna be like a psychologist or like a psychology researcher.
(13:45):
At one point, I wanted to be a Supreme Court justice,
like a like I had all other kinds of ideas
and I did music on the side. And then one
I think, like when I was twenty four, I finally
was like, I love music so much and I'm not
sure about doing psych research. And I went to the
head of the lab at Stanford I was working there,
and I was like, what do you think I should do?
(14:06):
Should I pick music or should I pick psychology? Because
I feel really torn? And she was like, picture yourself
eighty years old and looking back on your life, what
would you regret missing out on missing out on music
or missing out on psychology? And it made it so clear.
I was like, I gotta give it a shot, Like
who knows if it's gonna work, but I gotta do
it at least to say I did it and I'm
(14:28):
glad I did it. I also want to go back
to that low key flex you through in there of
you were just you know, went to your professor at
the lab at Stanford. I mean like, oops, well I
did that. Yeah, yeah, no, I mean that's yes, you
were on the trajectory of going like a completely different direction.
But in a way, I know, psych research is different
(14:50):
than like actually being a psychologist, but music is therapy,
it is, and I think it's the same pursuit think
like me doing psych research, and I think anybody who
like loves reading psychology like understood like the attachment theory
set that people are into, Like that's something we studied.
Like everyone just trying to figure themselves out in their
(15:11):
relationships and the people around them. You know, we're just
trying to understand. And I think that's what music is
for me too, Like my songwriting is me just trying
to understand myself and the people around me and like
how it works and why it does or doesn't work,
and you know, just feeling around in the dark. Basically, Well,
I'm forever attached to Burning House because I got ghost
(15:32):
bumps hearing you perform it again you several years later.
So I know you've always been such a big supporter
of a Yeah, well know a lot of your music,
Like we we love a lot of what you put out.
So I too, am glad that you chose to pursue
music you never know, And I feel like that's an
encouraging story for people to hear of, like, hey, yeah,
if you don't try it, you'll never know. Yeah, And
(15:53):
it's easier said than done, yes and not you know,
not everybody. It's not going to work out. And sometimes
it's nothing to do with you're good or not good,
and sometimes you want to do it and you're not good,
and there's all kinds of reasons that it's going to
work out. But I think if it's in your heart
to do something for me, I'd rather do it and
have it work or not work, rather than later on
(16:15):
like what the professor said, like, I'd rather I'd hate
to regret something at the end of my life. I'd
rather just have done it and know one way or another. Personally,
who are some musical heroes for you? So? I grew
up in the San Francisco Bay area and I felt
like the coolest people to me were like kind of
like indie bands that were like on stage and sort
of like, you know, if the system wouldever So I
(16:39):
like loved Saint Vincent and I get she's not fully that,
but like and just like all these like bands I
would go see that I don't. I honestly don't even
know if they're all around anywhere. I love Indigo Girls.
I actually got to go play with them. They played
the Rhyman and they brought me on stage and I
got to like sing. They had me sing one of
my songs and then sing with them and I just
(17:00):
was like, oh it was amazing, And no, that's how
it's like making me Winna right now seeing in the
Girls with Indigo right with you right seeing like, um,
what what's one where you could do just like like
a little something. You probably sound so good. I mean
I've definitely like forced like Jennifer Nettles to sing Ghosts
with me one time at a show and like that
(17:21):
one we got to sing closer to Fine at the end,
Oh well closer to Fine. Yeah. Yeah, I obviously cannot
sing that a professor ever told me to go pursue
it because I might not ever know. Well, Eric Church,
so he called you and said, hey, you know my
whole band they've got COVID. Can you come and like
help help me out and do some songs? Open up? Yes?
(17:44):
What is that? Like? Does he call you, text you
his people? What happened? Yeah? No, he's not really a
my people kind of person. He definitely is like if
he if he likes you, he'll like he doesn't suffer fool.
Somebody said that recently, and I like that about that's
a good way to put it. Like he definitely is
just very straight. You know, he's not blowing smoke up
anybody's but he's like I like you or whatever. And
(18:07):
he has always been really supportive, Like he's come like
he came to my Rhyman show. He checks in, you know,
he's like, oh I love the album, you know that
type of thing. And he hit me up. He's like, hey,
I need a favor, and I'm like, one hundred percent
because speaking of musical heroes, like I'm obsessed with his
entire catalog, and he was like, can you come out?
(18:29):
I have fifteen seventeen thousand people at these two shows
in Pennsylvania. I don't want to let them down. I'm
gonna do it alone, which is so badass. Eric Church, Right,
he's just gonna go out like with a guitar. He's like,
but will you come and like back me up and
sing on a couple of songs. I was like, Uh, yes,
one hundred percent, I'll be there. What's the set list?
He's like, Oh, I'll figure it out later. And I
(18:51):
get out there and same thing. We're doing mic check
and stuff like that. Hey, what's the set is? Oh?
What I'm gonna get you soon? Just be prepared for anything.
I'm like, oh yeah, I terrified. Yeah. So then finally
like literally going out, like almost going out on stage,
there's the set list and I'm like, okay, And it
was so cute because we like I kneeled like of
(19:13):
it and like the one time I didn't sing this
like one trill that kind of like Randon does, he
like stopped the show and he's like, Cam, that was
your moment. Let's do it one more time. Play the
whole thing back. It was so sweet. It felt like
you know when like somebody you're like in a living
room and someone just grabs their guitar and you're all
kind of like huddled around them or like around a
bond fire or something, and like he made an entire
(19:36):
arena because he had the center stage thing going on.
He made the entire arena. Felt like we were all
just like huddled next to him and getting to hear
like Eric Church like just sing for us. It was
so so cool. Oh yeah, what a priceless memory for you. Yes,
And I love how he's like, can you do me
a favor? I'm like, yeah, I'm the one doing it,
(19:56):
but whatever, Well, so I know you haven't announced it yet,
But is there anything you can tell us about you
being on tour in twenty twenty two. It's coming, I
know I did. I don't want to do the like
official announcement because you know, you want to get all
the ducks in a row because everybody's having to cancel them.
Line say what Eric Church said, It's coming, It's coming,
It's coming. Yeah, I'm so excited. We're planning. Simon's a
(20:19):
big part of it too, Our planning to figure out
a way to get us all together and put on
a show that literally is something I've never done before
but always wanted to do, And it's going to be
a very specific kind of show and I'm so motivated
and excited to make it come to life. It's gonna
be really fun. Well that's awesome. Definitely something for CAM
fans to look forward to next year. And we just
(20:41):
appreciate you so much taking the time to come by you.
It's so nice to come by and see you guys
and play for us, and yeah, hearing you live and
seeing your face is so fun. Yeah, and for everyone listening.
You can follow Cam on her Instagram at Cam Country
and definitely check out her latest album, The Other side,
wherever you listen to music, This is women of iHeart
(21:04):
country