“We all deserve to feel like bad b*tches,” Kamille tells me over Zoom. “The reason I write songs is to help people feel better about your day and just let you know you’re not alone.” I may or may not have confessed to listening to her new song “Weight Loss” on repeat in an attempt to navigate a messy life change. Energizing big sister, Camille is nothing but kind. “‘Weight Loss’ is about this and that feeling of empowerment,” she says. It helps, too, that it’s an absolute bop.
Although she began her working life as a stockbroker in London’s Canary Wharf – Kamille studied economics, mathematics and physics – music was always her “calling” and “true love”. Evidence of this is the number of chart-toppers the BRIT Award-winning artist and Little Mix “fifth member” have been involved in: Mabel’s “Don’t Call Me Up”, Jess Glynne’s “I’ll Be There” and Little. Mix’s Shout Out To My Ex, of course.
Then there’s Queen B in the room. Beyoncé herself referred to Camille as a source of inspiration for rebirth. “I was in real shock [when I found out] but also at the same time thinking, why wasn’t I on this album, B?” But more on that later. For now, suffice it to say that it’s a collaboration she dreams of and is more than ready for. Currently, she’s working on her album release, setting up a headlining show (coming “very soon,” she teases), AND has a number of features lined up, including the soon-to-be-released “I’m Good (Blue)” by David Guetta and Bebe Rexha.
Reserved and busy, Camille is clearly thriving. “It feels like such a blessing to be able to see my work, whether it’s with other artists or in my music. It doesn’t feel real, so I’m going to keep spinning a million happy plates,” she says with a smile. Does it add to the joy this summer? The long-awaited return of Notting Hill Carnival. “It’s such an important part of our culture and my heart always goes to Carnival every year, especially on my Jamaican side,” she tells me. “This year in particular is going to be so exciting. I can not wait.”
Below, Kamille talks all things Beyoncé and discusses scary career transitions and the power of the breakup song.
At the dawn of our age of self-reliance
I want to see people who want to enter their age of faith. Suffering from depression, the way I look at myself is one of the things I most wanted to change, so now when I look in the mirror I find something I like about myself and focus on it. A thing. Maybe I’m feeling the shape of my eyes that day, so I’ll do a nice eyeliner. It keeps me from watching stuff I don’t like because it’s actually just boring to me right now. The words we have to ourselves are the most dangerous, but they can also be the most empowering.
In creating separation from social media
There are a lot of comparisons and expectations on social media. I’ve found it very difficult, navigating that process in a way that feels good to me, and I’m thankful that I have such a strong support system around me to lift me up if I’m not feeling well. But as a musician, I try to remind myself that Michael Jackson wasn’t going on social media and seeing what Stevie Wonder was doing every day. I give myself that space and avoid negativity.
On the power of breakup songs
I find it very natural to write about breakups and relationships because it’s a shared experience; something that has literally happened to all of us. And music is such an empowering force, I just wanted to empower girls in pain and hard times and make people feel good. “Weight Loss” is really about that feeling I’ve had many times, which I’m sure many of us have experienced as well, to finally shed that toxic weight from your life, be it friendships or romantic relationships.
Being Beyonce’s inspiration
It’s been such a close conversation with Beyonce for the last three years because I was even in her studio writing on Lion King album. I’m definitely hoping she has another album and I get to work with her because she’s my ultimate dream collaboration. The fact that it hasn’t happened I keep this great fire in my heart to make it happen. But for now, I’m just pretending to be a part of it because it’s such a dream and just the fact that she might have used me as any kind of inspiration, that is wild for me. I am very honored. And Beyonce, if you’re reading this, I pray that I can work with you in the future.
About career changes and following your dreams
I used to work in the world of finance, but most of my time was spent in the recording studio and learning what it took to make a song. I was so excited and inspired by it, and then I was going to work in an office where I didn’t feel like I belonged. I think it’s about having the courage sometimes to look at yourself and decide that you can do what makes you happy. I was lucky enough to know it was music and no one could tell me otherwise. I was really lucky that the first song I wrote – ‘What About Us’ by The Saturdays – went to number one in the charts.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
