Kamille has been a part of the music industry for over 10 years, became one of the most successful songwriters in pop music, has won a BRIT, a Grammy and an Ivor Novello Award for her outstanding work on other artists’ projects — and has now finally decided to step into the spotlight as an artist herself to release her debut album K1. The album was written, produced, mixed and mastered by the Londoner creative independently and while she was expecting her first child. We sat down with the multifaceted power woman on a cloudy Friday morning to discuss what made her want to do music in the first place, her songwriting process and Tik Tok’s impact, and what it means to be a confident woman that nevertheless cannot escape the feeling of imposter syndrome in a male-dominated industry.
My first question is how it all started – have you always been into writing or songwriting from a young age?
To be honest with you, yes. I loved Shakespeare at school when I studied English. I would always be obsessed with how he managed to tell a story and rhyme everything. I would pay attention to all the rhythms of what he said and that’s really my earliest memory of enjoying I guess a songwriting process or a poem for example. But I really got into it when I was a lot older, and I was studying people like Pharrell, Max Martin and all the greats- and ABBA! I used to look at ABBA songs and think, how did they write that? I was just so inspired by music that I think this kind of interest came from much younger than I realise.
Do you have a favourite ABBA song?
Oh, I have so many! I think ‘Dancing Queen’. For me, the chorus will just always be one of the best choruses of all time.
About your own songwriting process: What inspires you to write a song? And what are the key differences between writing a song for yourself and someone else?
I think writing a song for me, I tend to be a lot more free with how I’m writing. I’m obviously not thinking about an artist, I’m just kinda thinking about my own personal experience. And I’m not thinking about what the record label might want and what the artist needs for the next album for example. It’s a lot less thought that’s going into it, it’s just more my vibe and my mood. When I write for another artist, I tend to be writing to a brief, for a reason, for a purpose and on limited time because I might only have one day with them. It’s a much more I’d say conscious thought process when I’m writing for an artist and it’s definitely a different style of writing. But I think I enjoy them both, for sure.
Have you ever recalled your own experiences reflecting on a song that you wrote for someone else?
Oh my god, yeah! I tend to always dip into my own personal experiences when I’m writing for other people because funnily enough, I think a lot of our own personal experiences, a lot of people have experienced them too. Like a breakup or falling in love, whatever it might be, it’s a very universal, shared experience. So even though it might be my personal story, I definitely think I can lean on my own personal experiences when I’m writing for other people.
The first time a song that you co-wrote was released was over 10 years ago – has the process changed since, especially with streaming platforms and Tik Tok? Do you think trends play a big part in songwriting these days?
I think it’s definitely made my ear a lot more attuned to what is catchy because I think definitely more so now, songs need a moment in them that stands out straight away. I mean, even if I upload a new song to Tik Tok for example, I’m thinking about that minute of the song that I upload for everyone to use. I’m going to the bit that’s the most catchy or the bit that I think is the most stand out that people are gonna lean towards. When I write a song, that’s always in my mind. Like, what part of the song is the part that people are gonna wanna dance or vibe to? But, I mean, that kind of hasn’t changed. I think it’s obviously different now because of digital music, but back in the day, you know, songs were still super catchy and still had those moments in them. I think it’s just about the evolution of music but the actual main principle stays the same, which is catchy pop music at the end of the day.
Do you think that Tik Tok and the fact that a song can go viral with only 15 seconds of it shared, puts you under more pressure, like you need to have those catchy 15 seconds in a song that you upload?
No actually, not for me. I’ve seen on Tik Tok that people will gravitate to whatever they gravitate to. I mean, you could create a part of your song that you think is gonna be super catchy and then someone will do something to, like, one line of your verse and that would be the thing that goes off. You can’t tell, there’s no science to it. I think what you need to do is just, make the best music that you can, that you love, and let the world just do what they do with it.
What’s your experience as a female creative as well as a businesswoman in the music industry, do you lean into your femininity or do you ever catch yourself acting a certain way because the industry is so male-dominated? For example, do you think you need to be tougher than you actually are so men don’t affect you as much?
I think naturally I probably do that just because there are so few women, especially now I’m producing as well. I see so few women producing around me that I definitely feel like in a room full of men I will assert myself a bit more and let them know I’m producing and I’m on the laptop, making the beats like you. But I think I don’t even need to do that anymore. I think the world that we’re in is much more open-minded towards women, however, there’s still a lot more work to be done. I’ll always be a strong woman in an environment of men but I think that’s just my personality, I wouldn’t say that’s something that music has dictated me to be. I think I’m just that kinda person.
You’ve opened up about imposter syndrome on social media before, how do you personally cope with that and what advice would you give to others?
Oh my gosh, I feel like I’m always dealing with this. I don’t even know if I really have a solution because that’s something that never goes away, no matter how much people tell you you deserve something or you should be here winning this thing for example. I think what I’m learning to do is embrace my talent. I think that the thing that I understand is what got me here. So sometimes when I feel like I’m not sure I deserve this or I’m not sure I want this, I think about the talent I have and I think, okay, I’m a talented person, I’ve been blessed with a gift, so let me just go with that. I think anyone in that position should do the same. Look at the things that you are so good at and if you ever feel like you don’t deserve something, just remember how good you are at this thing that you do. And that should help to maybe reduce that feeling a little bit.
What do you feel the most confident in and why? Is it the business side of things, your songwriting, your vocals, or your producing?
I think all of it, but I’d say when I’m in the studio, I feel the most confident. I feel like whatever happens, whether I’m making a beat or I’m singing a melody, I feel confident that I’ll get something that is decent. I mean, some days I go in the studio and I’m like, nah, but nine times out of ten if I’m in the studio environment, I’m gonna make something that I love.
What would you say was your biggest achievement so far and what are you the most proud of? Besides your child, obviously.
Oh, that’s so sweet! I’m super proud of my family, obviously. But I definitely think of late it would be my Ivor Novello Award, just because that’s one that I wanted for years, and it’s one that every year I never managed to be able to get. And now I’ve got one and not just any, it’s for Outstanding Songwriting Achievement and Outstanding Song Collection. That really said so much to me because they were basically celebrating my whole career, which was just unreal. I think the only other people to get one are people like Sting, for crying out loud! So I was like, yeah, this is a big deal!
That was your “I made it”-moment!
Yeah, definitely! I felt seen, do you know what I mean? It was amazing!
Has your pregnancy and motherhood affected your music and your work?
It definitely has! I feel like because I have much less time now and I can’t be in the studio all day, all night like I used to, I’m a lot more focused. And I don’t overthink. I’m focused and I don’t overthink, I’d say that are the two things. Now I make music that just feels good and I don’t worry about, like, does this lyric make sense or does this thing- I’m not overthinking it. Because I haven’t got the time to! I’ve literally probably got an hour before the baby might start crying, I need to go run and check the nappy or something. It feels a lot more free-spirited in the studio.
Why do you think this is the right time to drop your debut album K1 and why not years ago?
I think years ago, I was in a different place in terms of being signed to a major record label and I couldn’t just drop an album. You kinda have to reach certain milestones before you can do that and I was just at the beginning of it. And then unfortunately for me, my A&R person left that label and I ended up basically doing my own thing. So it took me a minute to get back into where I was. But I think now, having gone independent, I’ve produced my own album, I’m making my own decisions — it just feels like a really good time. Nothing’s in my way. I can kinda dictate my own pace with how much music I’m releasing and it just feels like now is the perfect time. I’ve got a lot to say and a lot has changed in my life.
If you had to describe K1 in 3 words, what would they be?
It would be fun, empowering and creative.
What’s your favourite song on the album and why?
Oh my god, it changes every day, that’s a really hard one! I think at the moment it’s probably ‘The Son’, which is a song that I wrote about my son actually. I think that’s the one at the moment that just makes me feel really emotional. He’s obviously a little bit bigger now and he can hear it and I play it to him and he smiles. It’s just a beautiful thing. That’s probably my favourite right now.
I listened to your song ‘Time to Kill’ and I think it’s the perfect summer song! Was that your intention?
No, I didn’t mean for it to be but I love that you think that! You know it’s quite funny, I actually posted on my Instagram yesterday about how I started making ‘Time to Kill’. It was just me singing this ‘Time to Kill’ lyric and the chords kind of came around that, it’s really cool. But no, it wasn’t intended for it to be a summer song. I think I was just making something that felt cool and sexy and fun. And I do definitely think about girls a lot, like, what the girls wanna hear. I like hearing songs like that so that’s kinda where it came from.
There hasn’t really been a summer song yet this year so I feel like that’s your time!
Yes, that’s the energy! Thank you! I love that!
If you could talk to your younger self, what kind of advice do you wish you would’ve received before you started working in the music industry?
I would tell my younger self, definitely do not listen to anyone telling you you can’t do it. Because I’ve had a lot of people around me at that time saying, you know, you can’t do this, maybe do this, or, you can’t do this, you should try this, and I wish I just didn’t listen. I wish I just listened to my own heart and went for it because I think about how much further I might be if I hadn’t done that.
Is there a particular artist that you would love to write a song for or to collaborate with on one of your own songs?
As of late, I’m really feeling Col3trane. I actually reached out to him the other day because I was like, your music is just incredible, and he hit me back like, let’s work, I’m in London. So I think we’re gonna try and get in maybe next week but he’s just- I’m obsessed with his music, I keep playing it around the house! I think his voice is incredible, I’m really obsessed with him right now.
Obviously, you’ve won multiple awards and a Grammy and started a family, is there anything on your bucket list that you still want to tick off?
Yeah, I feel like I still want a number-one song for myself as an artist. I’ve set my goal so I’m not gonna stop until I got there. I wanted loads of radio play, I’m getting those radio plays now. I’m track of the week right now on BBC Radio 1 with ‘Options’, which is a dream! My dream was to be on BBC Radio 1 and I’ve done that so I think my next goal is that I wanna be a number one artist on the charts.
Written by Vicky Madzak
GEM Magazine 