Kansas-born Cameron Hawthorn followed the rainbow to the Oz that is indie queer music stardom, and his fusion of dark, sexy EDM withhaunting country is positively Wicked. [Cover photo: @fortiz_studio]
Thotyssey: Hello Cameron! We’ve been enjoying your massive new album Church of the Outlaws! It feels very Of the Season… dark, fun, sexy, and a little spooky in a Haunted Western kinda way. How might you describe the vibes, as someone who’s been attached to it so completely and for so long? And what was your life and headspace like when you were writing and recording this?
Cameron Hawthorn: Thank you! I live out in the country in Texas. When I started making the music for CotO, I imagined if I was throwing my own afters out in the country, what I would want the music to sound like, and what I would want the experience of the journey to feel like — from the drive out to the country after dark, to dancing all night, to the sunrise the next morning.
I never could have written this album if my life hadn’t unfolded the way it has. Each song is very real and specific for me, and the lyrics are inspired by my life in Texas and by music on the dancefloor in places around the world I have traveled to: on the cliffsides of Mykonos, late into the night in the hot and sweaty Madrid and São Paulo, in the dark underground of Berlin and Amsterdam. I’ve had pulse-racing nights in New York City with characters who have been woven into these songs and stories…and my nights in Miami, oh where to begin? Even Thailand became an inspirational place for the album after my travels there earlier this year.
As far as my headspace, I’ve tried to stay very open to what the music was supposed to be. I didn’t want to put myself into any kind of box, like I may have done in the past with my music. While life may have been hectic or confusing at times, or wonderful and joyous at others, I definitely tried to stick with my overall vision for the album that captured as much of this chapter of my life as I could.
By “putting yourself in a box in the past,” do you mean trying to remain more traditionally in the country genre?
Exactly.
You’re a dream person for a Friend of Judy to interview… you’re from Kansas!
The Wizard of Oz has been a part of my life since I was very young. It’s near and dear to my heart.
What was life like growing up in Andover, and was country music primarily what you grew up with?
I loved growing up in Andover. It was simple, and I was lucky to have good people around me — most of all my parents, who gave us so much love. I grew up on country music of the 90s for sure, but my Mom also listened to a lot of pop music… so I fell in love with both. When we would go to Mamaw and Papaw’s house they would have older country and popular classics playing. I also grew on musicals, especially the classics.
How did you begin as a performer, and then when did you start writing and performing your own music?
Aside from little shows I would put on with my childhood friends for our parents and grandparents (directing and, of course, having to star in them), I really started performing in musical theater in school growing up. A friend’s mom heard me sing and invited me to be a part of a prestigious children’s choir that traveled and performed (Carnegie Hall was one of the biggest). I began piano lessons in second grade and discovered writing my own songs at the end of middle school / early high school. It wasn’t until probably my sophomore or junior year in high school that I played my first show with original music.
Your single “Dancing in the Living Room” and its sweet video definitely helped put you in the spotlight! Was it an extraordinary experience to start getting recognition and positive response for that?
Yes, especially because I really was putting myself out there in the video. To receive so much positivity and love for being true to who I am was something I’ll never forget.
It means a lot to young queer audiences to have out artists they can look up to! Does that positivity you receive always drown out the possible trolling you got from the world’s increasingly loud, homophobic social media mob?
I’m thankful I haven’t received too much trolling… but yes, focusing on the positivity is always the way to go. No time for hate!
Speaking of things to not hate: your recent video for “Kindred Spirit!” Very sexy, but also narrative and cinematic. What was the process of shooting like, and was it based on your own vision at all?
Ah thank you. I had so much fun making the “Kindred Spirit” video. I shot it in Thailand, which was a dream in itself to do. The director pitched me the idea for revolving the story around a “Thai tattoo,” and then I took that and ran with it, creating the full concept for the video. The story of the video is actually really spiritual for me, as is the song. We shot the video late into the night in Bangkok – I think we finished at 4am? I was literally running all around the streets and exhausted by the time we finished, but I loved every minute of it.
From the thrilling streets of Thailand to the glitz and grime of Brooklyn! You’re performing at C’mon Everybody on Thursday, September 18th with DJ Dawson.
This will be my first show ever in NYC, and I can’t wait. I mentioned that I’ve had many nights out dancing in New York — specifically Brooklyn — in the last few years, which was big inspiration behind some of the songs on the album. So it’s only fitting that the first show is there. I will be doing the whole album live (plus a few more), and I can’t wait for people to see what I’ve been working on.
What else is coming up for you?
More dates and locations for shows to be announced soon!
Amazing! Finally: in the wild and untamed landscape of today’s indie music business, what’s your best advice to any artist who wants to be seen and heard by the world?
As cliché as it might sound, I think it’s all about putting yourself out there in new ways, and being vulnerable and authentic. And you can’t ever give up, even if at times you’re so ready to throw in the towel. Keep going.
Thanks, Cameron!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Cameron Hawthorn’s upcoming area appearances, and follow him on Instagram, TikTok, LinkTree and his website.
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