Photo courtesy of Amryn Shae

Just like most kids I wanted to be like the cooler, older kids - be the captain of my house league hockey team, be an actor on my favourite family channel show and be a musician. While I dabbled in all those endeavours, nothing stuck quite like music. From humble beginnings in learning trumpet through my middle school’s newly adopted music program in Ottawa, I ended up falling deeply in love with the creative outlet of music.

I joined my first band at 13 years old as a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed burgeoning bass player with an AC/DC cover absolutely nailed. Listening to music on the radio through the car speakers on the way to 6 a.m. hockey practice is one thing, but nothing compares to the feeling of weaving together sounds through your instruments in a live setting. Truly nothing like it.

After that first band practice I was hooked. Rifling through tabs of all my favourite Beatles songs and fantasizing about one day having that gorgeous $600 Hollow Body Ibanez from Long and McQuade quickly became a staple of my daily routine.

There was nothing that compared to the magic of discovering a new song that spoke to me. The tiny details meant everything. From the tiny voice crack on the second word of the second chorus to the wailing guitar feedback that hung over just a little too long into the bridge were the parts of the music that drew me in. I so badly wanted to find a way to get my music recorded and start experimenting with the sonic appetizers I was craving.

I quickly branched out to guitar, drums and the incredibly lofty and wholly terrifying goal of being a singer. Yes, everyone hears their own voice all day every day but most people don’t experience that painstaking embarrassment of hearing their voice crack over their high school PA from a recording of the previous night’s talent show. However, quitting was never an option for ol’ Cam. The challenge of reaching uncapped heights is something that has and always will draw me to music. People spend their whole lifetime honing their craft as an evolving reflection of their personal journey and I intend to do the same.

Fast forward to the current day as a full-time musician through being a singer/guitar player of my own band, session guitar player, teacher and more - I feel like I am just beginning my path.