#108 Camille Trail
Rae Leigh: Welcome to a Songwriter Tryst with Camille Trail. How are you?
Camille Trail: Good. Thank you. Thanks so much for having me.
Rae Leigh: It's absolute pleasure. I love your voice and I love the work that you've done. And so I'm looking forward to finding out a little bit more behind that amazing voice of yours.
Camille Trail: Oh, yay.
Rae Leigh: When did you discover that you could sing? Like when did that all start for you?
Camille Trail: Really I was singing my whole life really. I was always singing in the shower and my dad was like, get out of the shower. Camille, you're wasting too much water. But it probably wasn't until high school, I started singing lessons and I guess it was around then I discovered, I was like, Oh, I'm actually half decent at this.
And those around it was around that time as well that I discovered you could actually do that as a career. So I was like, Oh, this could be cool. I might give this a go.
Rae Leigh: I love that. How did you get to that conclusion? Because I never got to that conclusion in high school. That was like a, no, you need a real job in high school.
Camille Trail: It was still very much like that for me. Yeah. Then we had a really good music department at the high school. Yeah. So they had school choir and they had a glee club and chamber singers. So I pretty much went in and joined all of those groups and they organized he to give for you outside of school as well.
So I was gigging all through high school. Yeah, it was amazing. So. That's what really kicked me off and thinking about it in more of a professional way, rather than just thinking of it as a hobby. And then obviously being at high school, they're always talking about university and all of that stuff.
So I thought I'm like, well, Wouldn't it be cool if there's a university for music and where I could actually go and study this. So I found JMC and it was funny. Cause the school advisor, like the career advisor was like, yeah, this is great. But you know, the chances of making it, it's pretty slim.
Like it's good to have a plan B. And I was like, no, I don't want to plan B. Okay.
Rae Leigh: I love it. So is that a JMC or was that at your high school?
Camille Trail: In my high school that we had that career advisor and then I went to JMC, afterschool.
Rae Leigh: In Brisbane,
Camille Trail: Yeah, it was in Brisbane in South bank. So it was such a beautiful place to do uni.
Rae Leigh: what was it like going through GMC and then like, how did you find that helped you actually? Cause I haven't talked to many people about their, the university music education in life.
Camille Trail: Yeah, I absolutely loved it. And I think it's definitely helped me a lot. I found mostly cause I studied a bachelor of music and I specialized in songwriting, so it was very focused around songwriting, but I found that you learn a lot of stuff. That you already naturally do. And it's like your natural instincts, but you think Oh, Hey, I've been doing this entire time, but now, you know what it's called and what the purpose is and what it does.
So you can pick and choose things and be more strategic with how you're at songs. And we did like music business classes, and we learned how to record and use recording software. So it was really like, Just like a whole education on how to be a self managed artists and do it all yourself.
And I feel like it's definitely helped me I don't know. It'd be like a foot forward, I suppose.
Rae Leigh: Yeah, absolutely. And then did they get pet Patterson into chat to you guys while you were there?
Camille Trail: Yes. I love him so much.
Rae Leigh: Yeah. I just, I love to chat. Like we've, he was episode 40, I think. And we're like, you know, doing a hundred and something. But yeah, he talked a lot about, you know, like what you said it is natural instinct, but knowing sort of being aware of what you're doing and why and how, like, why those things have those effect and how they make people feel and how they make you feel.
I think it's really smart to have that sort of craftmanship and to be a bit more intentional about, you know, the three lines or the four lines or the, you know, all that sort of stuff. Being stable and unstable it's it is really simple. But At the same time. It's mindblowing just thinking about it.
It's Oh my gosh,
Camille Trail: At the same time. It's
Rae Leigh: the more you learn, the more you realize you don't know
Camille Trail: yeah. And at the same time, it's so difficult at the same time, just because there's so much and pretty much our songwriting, like the school was pretty much based on Pat Patterson and all of these books. So I'm, I love Pat Patterson.
Rae Leigh: Yeah, no, he's he's amazing. And you're Dan raved about him as well. And I yeah, I've been loving learning from some of the amazing grapes, but I think that we should never sell each other short either because your experience and your, what you get out of songwriting is going to be completely different to those guys.
Even though they've been doing it for a really long time, your experience is different. And that's, what is different in art is that each person has their own unique story. So tell me more about your musical story and your journey and what your goal is with your music.
Camille Trail: Well, I guess for me, music has always been like an escape for me. It's like how I express myself. It's like how people have a diary and a journal, I suppose. I can't find if I'm feeling a bit sad and I pick up a guitar and I start writing It's very emotional and I'll just cry and I just let it all out.
And it's weird because as soon as I pick up a guitar or go and sit at the piano, like I get like really emotional because it's I don't really know how to explain it, but it's just so vulnerable. And that's probably where I feel the most almost calm with my thoughts and how I'm feeling.
It sounds like super weird, but but yeah.
Rae Leigh: not weird. It's not weird at all. It's so therapeutic and that's exactly how I got into it. Yeah,
Piano and guitar and just singing it's it comes the soul and makes you feel safe. But unlike you, I never shared it with anyone. Like it's, it is like a diary and not many people go and read their diary to the entire world and put it on Spotify.
Camille Trail: it's absolutely terrified.
Rae Leigh: So how did you make that transition if it's such a vulnerable thing for you, an emotional thing for you? What's the purpose or drive behind sharing it with other people. What do you want other people to hear?
Camille Trail: I guess the thing that kinda was a tough is like you go through the typical breakups, but I remember hearing this song, I think it was Sam Smith, not in that way. And there's also Lord's liability, very depressing, beautiful songs.
Rae Leigh: I love it.
Camille Trail: I listened to it and it was. Every single word. It was just like, it was written for me. And it was exactly how I was feeling. And I guess that kind of really inspired me because I was like, wow, like in that moment it made me feel better because I was like, I'm not the only one who has felt this before. So I guess it made me feel like I've got to share my experiences because maybe I can give someone else comfort.
Rae Leigh: So you've done JMC. What was your transition out of JMC and into the real world? When did you write your first song and. You know, tell us a little bit more about that journey.
Camille Trail: So I wrote my first
Rae Leigh: Starting your music business.
Camille Trail: So I wrote my first time in high school, but really when I went to uni, that's when I started writing full time and we had this this it was a final assessment and it was like a recital piece where you could either choose to perform or you did an album. So I decided to do an album and I'd always thought that it'd be super cool releasing music into the world.
And I put this album together and then I was thinking like, wow, we'll actually want to do this. So then I was thinking, well, I'm going to have to find a producer. So I started listening to music. I like to see what kind of vibes I liked and seeing who produced it. And a lot of it came up with Shane Nicholson.
And I grew up. Yeah, I love Shane. I grew up listening to him as well, so he's always been an idol of mine, but I didn't actually really knew he produced music as well. So I ended up I looked it up. I was like, wow, that would be amazing, but it's never going to happen. So I just kept moving on, looking at something else.
And then I found, I stumbled across sound hole, which is his production thing. And then I saw an email and I was like, Oh, what the heck? Like I've just recorded these songs. And the worst that can happen is he'll say no, or it just won't apply. So I guess that was me first taking it seriously.
And then Shane replied about a couple hours later and was like, Hey, I really love you. Songs would love to work with you. And I freaked out. I was like, Holy
Rae Leigh: Oh, no. Yay.
Camille Trail: Well, so excited and I guess it was at that moment, I was like sweet. I'm actually gonna, I'm actually gonna do this.
Rae Leigh: That's funny. I say I was the opposite. I had no idea who Shane Nicholson was and I was at the, have you ever been to the dag?
Camille Trail: No, I haven't.
Rae Leigh: singer songwriter retreat, you should go it's coming up soon, actually their first one since the COVID stuff. Anyway, he goes to that and I met him at that in 2019. And at the start of the diag everyone's names goes into a bucket and all the mentors pick out a name and that's who you co-write with.
And I, and Shane was one of the ones that I didn't know who he was. And he pulled my name out of the bucket and I was like, Oh, okay. So I'm like asking him, I'm like, is he any good? And I was like, Yeah.
he's like the best you can love him. And so we, Yeah. We had great fun to go to Corrado song together and He's a lovely guy, loves his red one, but he's also just a sweetie.
Camille Trail: Loves these red wine. When I went and recorded the album and I stayed at his house for that three weeks, it was great. Cause he like really likes cooking as well. And I was just every night having these great meals and some red wine. I'm like, I'm just going to move in.
Rae Leigh: Yeah. So I would, if I can just have a studio and Shane Nicholson, red wine, good food. What else does I'm one knee, just a campfire and you sorted it and that's at the dog. So it was probably why I liked the dogs so much campfire and wine, and then guitars. That's all it is. Anyway. That's really cool. So he did your album and then you release it and that.
That's been awesome. And I've seen, you've done some collaborations as well, like with bread butcher, and I've gotten around with a few different artists and songwriting. How did you get into that?
Camille Trail: So as far as the duet with Brad, we were looking at new singles to release and. Brian, my manager from compass bros records. He was like, Hey, there's this song that Shane Nicholson wrote that I think would suit you really well. So I listened to the song and I was like, yeah, I love this song. We have to record it.
And obviously it was a duet. And I was like, well, what have the thing about who we want to do it with? And Brad was really the first person that came to my mind. And a lot of other people. But they thought of Brad first as well. So we took it as a bit of a sign and they're like, Oh, it's meant to be.
So we asked Brad and he said, yes. So we were stoked, but it was funny because went back and I was filming the music video for it. I remembered that I actually did a co-write with Brad back in 2018 when I was at uni and I completely forgot about it. And I said, too bad. I was like, Hey, remember when we did that?
Co-write and he was like, Kira. And then it clicked and he was like, Oh my God, that was you.
Rae Leigh: That's so funny. Yeah. It's funny how the world comes back around in circles. Isn't it? Yeah. That's awesome. And what about shows and stuff like how the COVID stuff is, changed a lot for everyone. How have you adapted during COVID?
Camille Trail: Okay. I guess for me, I feel like I've been in a bit of a, almost like a lucky, unique situation because I haven't actually toured before, so I haven't really experienced what it was like before. COVID I definitely felt I felt almost like I was really bummed because I was really nervous because being a new artist and it cOVID all kind of hit just when I was starting to build up a bit of momentum and get my name out there. And I was really worried with not being able to perform. It was just gonna just shut off and everyone's going to forget who I was, but I feel like I've almost been lucky in a way that this has happened at the start of my career because it's made me a lot more resilient and I can take that with me for the rest of my career.
So it's I dunno, I guess it's built me like a good kind of solid foundation, I suppose.
Rae Leigh: I agree. Like I was only just studying it as well when I literally released like my first single, not even an album when COVID hit and then Yeah, it's I think it leveled the playing field. Everyone stopped and we're trying to just start and yet no one can do anything. And it is interesting because you have to just be resourceful and resilient, like you said.
So it is an interesting situation to be in what was the plan to start touring or start getting some shows and stuff like that, or?
Camille Trail: Yeah, well, definitely the plan was to be, to release the album last year and then do the whole tour. And so with that, Blackmail to do shows. We like, well, we're not going to release an album if we can't do shows to promote it. So we're still hanging onto the album at the moment. And we've got some tour dates for later on this year.
So hopefully COVID Hayes itself this year.
Rae Leigh: Yeah, hopefully. So, yeah. We'll get to see you out touring really. You don't know when you're going to release the
Camille Trail: Well, have you thought August that's when all the tours start and all the tour dates kick off. So fingers crossed.
Rae Leigh: Oh, okay. Is that like a thing? Is that like everyone does it at the same time
Camille Trail: I don't know, is that when everyone does everyone release it in
Rae Leigh: I don't know. I just like the way you said, like everyone's tour dates kick-off in August?
I was like, is that a thing? Like everyone coordinates their thing, like there's this secret songwriting society of, no, I don't know.
I dunno. I don't think there's any
Camille Trail: I'm going, I'm doing some two dates with Shane Nicholson and Mike wore on their tours.
Rae Leigh: Oh, nice. Beautiful. So that's going to be fun. So you going to be like this support.
Camille Trail: Yeah, so cool. I would I never would have thought my first tour with would be with those guys. So I'm super excited. I feel like I'm going to learn a lot kind of just being with them.
Rae Leigh: Yeah, you will. Absolutely cool. What would you say out of all the courses you've done and all the people you've worked with, what would you say the best advices that you've ever been given?
Camille Trail: I reckon it's actually advice that my mum and dad gave me, but I've found that it's worked well. The advice I gave me was if you want to be successful, surround yourself with successful people and. And I guess by doing that, I've I work with Shane Nicholson and then I've got my manager, Graham and my publicist Jews, and they're all very successful people in their own fields.
And I think like just surrounding yourself with them, it lifts your end game. And I think my career has definitely benefited so much since I've been working with them. So I think that's probably almost the best advice I've had.
Rae Leigh: And it is so important to have a good team of people around you. It's no fun to be successful on your own. Anyway, you know, you're going to have an after party by yourself with champagne and the independent house. You want to have people around you who supported you and helped you get
Camille Trail: Yeah, it's nice having a little team. So it's it's not just success is everyone's success, which is really nice.
Rae Leigh: Exactly. No, that's awesome. And if you were to give some advice to maybe some kids in high school who are starting to realize for themselves that songwriting is a career option and is something that you can do, what would you advise them to do or where to start? Yeah.
Camille Trail: I suppose almost it sounds lame, but like just do it. Just a lot of people find excuses not to do it, or it's not like a stable career, so you try not to do it, or like you're too scared to do it. But I think I always tell myself that if I'm really scared and nervous that I don't want to do it, that's when I have to do it.
And that's what I forced myself to do it because I know that's when I'm going to improve and that's how I'm going to get better. So I guess when. I dunno when you nervous and scared that you don't want to do it, take that as the time that's when you have to do it.
Rae Leigh: yeah. Feel the fear and then do it. anyway. Yeah.
That's awesome. And lucky, last question. You've done really Well, even with all the technical issues. If you could co-write with anyone in the world, or even just collaborate with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Camille Trail: Well, I think in the moment it'd be Kelsea Ballerini. I absolutely love her and I love her music. Cause she's. Especially her story too, because she started off when she first came into the country music industry and she was bringing all this kind of pop music into it. And heaps of people were like, no, like you're not country music.
You can't be doing this. And heaps of people in the industry was saying that to her. Cause I watched an interview with her one time and I just found it so inspiring that she stuck to her guns. And then she's almost paved away for so many other people. So like to create this whole new niche of country music.
And I just seen like videos of her where she's an absolute geeky dog, and I just want to be best friends with her.
Rae Leigh: well, that could happen, you know? Yeah.
Camille Trail: Okay.
Rae Leigh: That's awesome. Well, is there anything else you would like to share? Music or anything that you want to promote. We're going to put all of your links and socials and music and Spotify links into the description of the podcast. That also be a blog on the website, somewhere in a trust.com so that people can hear the podcast, but also just find everything that they need to find about you.
Is there anything else you'd like to say to people who are listening and getting to know you.
Camille Trail: I guess just if you listen to my songs on Spotify, that would be amazing. I've only got four songs out now, so still starting off, but we're getting there I suppose. And I've got some more tour dates later on the year. So I guess if people want to catch up where I am at all, the details will be on social media and all of that stuff.
Rae Leigh: brilliant. Well, now we'll make sure that we send everyone over that way. We'll put you onto the songwriters playlist as well, and yeah, I've enjoyed dancing around the kitchen to your songs and you do have a beautiful voice. So I'm just looking forward to hearing the album. And yeah,
Camille Trail: Oh, yay.
Rae Leigh: up the good
Camille Trail: you so much.
Rae Leigh: see you around anyway. Cause we're locals, but Yeah. I'll look forward to seeing you live
Camille Trail: Awesome. I can't wait to see you Live soon too!
