If you've been following Aaron Camper career as we have, then you already know that he is a man on a mission to be heard. The singer/songwriter tours with Justin Timberlake as a member of The Tennessee Kids, and he's also toured with artists such as Chris Brown, J. Cole, Mike Posner and Diddy-Dirty Money. His work can be heard with artists like David Guetta, Stevie Wonder, Jill Scott, Eric Roberson and Fantasia, and he snagged a GRAMMY nomination in 2008. Just this week you probably heard Camper's voice on the new theme music for The Queen Latifah Show. His resume is impressive to say the least. If you haven't seen him live before, Camper will be in Washington, DC to perform during Briclyn Entertainment's philanthropic non-profit Project Hygiene at the Howard Theatre on Sunday, September 22nd. We had a chance to sit down and chop it up with Aaron who filled us in on what we can expect from his live show and his new album Madness & Megahurtz, which will be released later this fall.
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SoulBounce: Tell us briefly how you went from Salisbury, Maryland to making it in the music industry?
Aaron Camper: Yeah Salisbury, Maryland. It's one of those things that I was blessed to end up doing, I just didn't have any know how. I pursued it and I pursued it with everything that I've had. You take a chance one time and you just keep doing it.
SB: So you're 28 and you've been traveling for a while. Will you at least get to go home to Salisbury when you're in town September 22nd?
AC: No, I won't get to go home. I'm actually numb to it, I've been doing it pretty much since I got out of high school. It's just like how you get up and go to work just like anything else. I'm very boring, I don't require much, that's just my safe haven.
SB: What new projects do you have coming up?
AC: I out out a single out on the 17th, and I actually can't wait for you guys to hear the album.
SB: What's the new album called and what can fans expect?
- Advertisement -AC: The new album will be called Madness & Megahurtz, it's actually an extension of the mixtape (Madness) in some kind of ways. I have a lot of influences from rock, pop, funk, R&B and soul on there. On the album I just spoke about what I was going through and what was going on in my life at the time. As I write I like to keep it honest about what I'm going through, and what I see in my life, my relationships, when I'm traveling, it's really an extension.
SB: How would you describe the overall sound of the album?
- Advertisement -AC: The sound of the album? It's kinda hard to classify what the stuff I like sounds like. I've just always loved music. I've kinda been a chameleon of sorts and never say no to anything. Whatever my musical heart agrees with I just kinda went with it, I kinda like it hat way. I like the creative atmosphere. People ask me that a lot because they want to put the music in a box or one category, but it's kinda hard to explain.
SB: How do you start writing a song?
- Advertisement -AC: I write and record everyday. I take my studio stuff and my microphone and my interface; I take it on the road with me. It's actually therapeutic to me. My writing process is not hard at all, whatever comes out, comes out. I don't like to over-sing. Once you start getting in the way of a song, you start to lose the heart of it. How it comes, is how it comes. I just like to capture that moment.
SB: Do you have any collaborations on the album with anyone we might know?
- Advertisement -AC: Yes, the first single features Mack Maine from YMCMB, the next single is a rock single with JoJo, Chill Moody and then PJ Morton wrote a song on there, produced by Warryn Campbell.
SB: Is there anyone you haven't worked with that you really want to work with?
- Advertisement -AC: I want to work with anyone! Just because I'm a big fan of music, on the independent side I kinda like where music is right now. I recently heard Janelle's album, I heard Migos, the "Versace Versace" song.
SB: Speaking of artists, anyone in the DMV area you're checking out right now?
- Advertisement -AC: King Los and Logic.
SB: Since some DMV folks will get to see you live this weekend, how do you usually get ready to get on stage?
- Advertisement -AC: I like to sit with my band, I have a great group of people I work with who are also friends of mine. We love good music. Sometimes before we start rehearsing we'll sit there and jam to a Prince album for an hour and then do what we're supposed to do. It's a very creative atmosphere.
SB: So what can we expect from your Howard Theatre performance?
- Advertisement -AC: You can actually expect one of the most phenomenal music shows put together live. We just picked a bunch of songs that we love and we're just gonna jam. We're gonna do a couple of new singles and other than that we're gonna jam and have a good time. It's gonna be an amazing presentation of music in the most heartfelt way.
SB: Now let's get a little personal, what does no one know about you?
AC: Everything. Oh, I'm recently getting into watching '70's blaxploitation films! I don't know if it's cool or not, but I don't event care. They're like the best worst movies you've ever seen. I kinda like to be boring and sit there and laugh at movies.
SB: And tell us about your love life, are you dating anyone?
AC: My love life is my love life. And you'd have to be a part of it to understand it. Anything else would be telling on myself, and I'm a very private person when it comes to that stuff.
SB: Alright I see what you're doing, let me rephrase the question. What do you like or expect from a significant other?
AC: I just like to have a good time, as long as we enjoy each other and doing the things that we like to do and being fun and loose and picking boogers and putting them on each other, then that's all that matters to me. I don't like to say "I like this" and "I like that" because it kinda limits you. That person might have something you've never experienced or tried before. I love people; whatever you like to do, let's get into it. I hate people that dumb themselves down, just be yourself and have a good time.
SB: We're glad you are who you are. And last but not least, what makes your soul bounce, Aaron Camper?
AC: Good music, my family, good people, great people, great music and good times. That makes my soul bounce!
