Earlier in May, Perth-based singer-songwriter, Camarano, shared his mesmerising EP Shadow Calling. The EP sees him reflect on self-discovery, life in your 20s, and finding beauty amongst the trials and tribulations of life. To celebrate the EP's release, Camarano walks us through the story behind each track on Shadow Calling.
'When I Had Infinity'
'When I Had Infinity' explores ideas of apathy, of being a recluse, of getting so totally consumed and obsessed with a project that time gets away from you. Some days you get up feeling like a champ and on others, you're an A-grade dropkick. The negative voice is brutally honest. It’s a reminder to keep creating despite the days of doubt.
'Shadow Calling'
This one came out of nowhere, a jaunty alt-country-blues number and the kernel the rest of the EP formed around. I stole the title and concept from a Steven Pressfield book which clean bowled me. I realised I had been avoiding the scary part of sharing my own work by diving into parallel endeavours - think friends bands, recording projects, etc. Boy, is it fun to play live.
'Table Mountain'
I don’t know about you but ‘switching off’ is a challenge, tech and social media don’t help. For some reason this is especially true on holiday, I can’t sleep, my mind is flitting between a million random thoughts. Mia and I went to South Africa for a friends wedding and after a week I was finally able to sink into the moment and breathe. This song is a reminder that beyond the everyday urgency/anxiety is peace of mind. Shane Beam made a cool animated video for it and they played it on Rage!
'Heavy Recovery'
My car had broken down and I was waiting for a tow in the emergency lane on the freeway. The truck that eventually picked me up had the signage ‘Heavy Recovery’. That immediately took me back to a particularly self-destructive run in my early 20s. I wrote the lyrics in the passenger seat on the way home. My pal Carmen from The Money War sings the backing vocals and totally nails the sentiment/mood.
'All This Time'
I accidentally wrote a funeral song. The first line of the song pretty much sums it up, ‘when I finally go, pass into the unknown, ain’t no need to cry, I had all this time’. Without getting too spiritual, I reckon this life is all we have, so get on your bike, do what you’re meant to and surround yourself with loved ones. When it’s my time I want it to be a celebration.
'Valley Of Song'
The bookend to the EP and companion to ‘When I Had Infinity’. It’s one part explanation and one part dedication to the muse. It explores the tension that comes from shuttling between the superconscious (where songs live) and the material world. When I’m in the valley of song, I’m totally wrapped up, I’m someplace else, I can be a shitty friend, partner, brother, son. Oddly enough it’s here that I’m most at ease. How does one reconcile this? Can you be both a well-balanced human being and a servant to the muse? How do you explain it to loved ones? Super proud of the lyrics in this one.
Listen to Shadow Calling by Camarano below:
Follow Camarano:
Live dates:
May 31st - The Sewing Room, Perth (with Leah Grant & Grace Armstrong)
