I met my good friend Camilla In Dublin, for the first time in person when she so graciously offered me a bed in her lovely apartment. I got to see her play and was so in love with her voice and writing and I think that we should all get to knew her a little better as an artist!!!! Beautiful, relatable and catchy lyrics sung with lovely vocal control and musically interesting riffs and licks, quite a rangey performer, this one! Definitely was inspired to create by watching her play and that’s the kind of music I love to see live! Without further ado here’s what y’all need to know 🙂
Since returning from sunny Australia in May ‘16, multi-instrumentalist Camilla Jones has sung extensively throughout Dublin: A six-month residency in O’Connells Bar on Bachelors walk; Various songwriter events including Circle Sessions in the International Bar, Zodiac Sessions in Bruxelles, Third Space in Smithfield, Sitting Room Sessions in The Clockwork Door; and support slots in The Vintage Room @ The Workmans Club, Tivoli Backstage and more recently The Main Venue @ The Workmans Club there’s no slowing her down! Citing Angus & Julia Stone, The Cranberries, Mary Black and Norah Jones among biggest influences, her style is a confluence of acoustic-pop, urban folk ballads, and soft jazz. She also popped her stand-up comedy cherry at Workmans in December ‘16, so if nothing else catch her set for the laugh!
When did you start playing music? What was the first tune you remember playing?
My mum is actually a music teacher (amongst other things), so i’m sure she’d tell you I started playing music before I figured out how to breathe. The first instrument I had formal lessons on was the piano when I was about 6. I don’t know what tune I was supposed to be playing, but I do remember “composing” a piece about elephants in a thunderstorm which sounded exactly like you’d imagine. I essentially abused the piano, it was very emotive i’m sure.
Who is your biggest influence as a musician? Maybe an artist, relative or music teacher?
My biggest influence as a musician is actually my dad. I know it sounds like i’m trying to brown nose my parents, hear me out. When I finished school and had no idea what I wanted to do, he pointed out the obvious and encouraged me to undertake a BMus in Composition & Production at the Australian Institute of Music. Every time we talk on the phone, he asks me how gigs are going and how my set organising is and if i’m focussing on my targets. It sounds like unlikely inspiration, but he’s really helped me take myself seriously and take music seriously as a career path. That’s hugely inspiring, to feel like what I do is just as valid as working in finance or medicine or any other area. Dads are awesome.
What brought you from Australia to Ireland and how has the transition been?
I was born in Dublin, so I didn’t have to worry about the hoop-jumping of visas or any related nightmares. I’d always entertained the idea of spending time in the country of my ancestral roots (sure we’re all a bit Irish aren’t we?) The tipping point was the introduction of Lock Out Laws and Licensing restriction in Sydney during my studies. Since introduction in 2014, so many live music venues have closed and single-handedly killed Sydney’s nightlife culture. Not to say the music scene is dead, the scene is alive and kicking, but it doesn’t get a lot of support. I definitely recommend having a look at http://www.keepsydneyopen.com/ for more info about that monumental screw up.
Dublin has an awesome open mic community, which is where I found my home-away-from-home. The irish are hilarious, really warm and welcoming. I’ve been so lucky with the souls i’ve managed to meet and now call close friends.
What are you most proud of, as an artist?
Pride makes me nervous, i’ve always had a love-hate with the idea. ‘Tall Poppy Syndrome’ is alive and thriving in Aus, essentially we all grow up a little fearful of becoming too big for our boots – so we’re not the best at actually feeling proud and recognising our achievements. I’m slowly learning to get over that. I should say i’m proud of finishing my degree, proud of recording an album when I was studying, proud of moving countries to make more tunes, proud of getting gigs in Dublin – but it all makes me a bit uncomfortable to say.
What’s your motto, or your mantra? What keeps you going when the struggle of being a musician and songwriter gets rough?
I think it’s really important to surround yourself with good people. I’m lucky to have friends I can play new songs to, who listen and give really useful feedback, and really lift me up when i’m feeling disheartened. They’re a really supportive bunch, I don’t think they realise how much I appreciate them turning up to gigs and asking about new tunes, it makes all the difference.
A lot of my friends make music too, I love listening to their stuff and talking about what they’re working on – that’s hugely inspiring.
Check out:
Sister Ursuline – https://soundcloud.com/sisterursuline
Elaska – https://soundcloud.com/elaskaksale
Sparrows – https://soundcloud.com/sparrowstunes
Arlin – https://soundcloud.com/arlinmusic
Leila Jane – https://soundcloud.com/leila-jane
What are you working on right now?
I’ve recently aquired an electric guitar, a friend has kindly lent it to me and I’m having the greatest time. As soon as I brought it home, I sat there for 5 hours noodling around. I haven’t been so inspired in ages, i’m writing new tunes and reworking old ones. I’m planning on uploading to YouTube a lot over the summer, my dad also gave me a GoPro for Christmas which is full of footage dying to be made into some kind of music/video/spoken-word/artfest/thing. I just really want to create a lot more than I have been in recent times, and see what opportunities come out of that. Create first, think later!
Darling Jaine On The Road 