Adam KennyFrom the mind of Cameron Winter: Cameron Winter’s thoughts
Cameron Winter is an American singer songwriter that you may already be acquainted with. Not only has he become one of the most interesting and unique voices in rock, he’s done so in a solo and group capacity as he is the front man for Geese. A band many have kept their eyes and ears on for the past 3 years or so now. Many being introduced by their album, 3D Country. Geese are a band that deserve their own article however. In December of 2024, Cameron Winter released first debut solo album, Heavy Metal. An album name and cover that makes you think you’re in for a rocky time, but instead are graced with one of the best art rock, indie folk singer songwriter albums of the decade arguably.
Rolling Stones to make some Songs
Heavy Metal to start off is not metal at all. To give a brief instrumental glossary: the album is driven by a piano that Cameron himself plays. Bolstering trumpets and horns that bring a fantastic space for the other instruments to play in. Some occasional synths. A myriad of string instruments that at times sound like an old man banging on his banjo. Spitting as he tells kids to get off his lawn from his dilapidated porch. Providing an almost religious aspect to the album’s aesthetic, a droning organ that that surrounds the listener as Cameron attempts to serenade. Cameron’s voice however is the main star of it all.
Voice of a very odd Angel
At only 23 years old, Cameron commands a low wavering falsetto can peek into the high mountains as if it was bestowed upon him at birth. “You shall falsetto and waver without ever needing a breath” said unto him (and on the 3rd day he made Heavy Metal). Cameron’s voice is something for some is the main attraction. For others however, they find it to be the main reason they don’t listen. Personally, I think Cameron’s voice is incredibly refreshing. He’s unapologetic with his meanders as he utters his truth. To top it off, the type of music that he plays couldn’t be paired with your usual harmonies.
For instance,“Nina + Field of Cops” is an absolute riot of a song. Keys on a piano being beaten at a staggering pace, with Cameron providing his own background vocals as he endlessly rants and argues with himself. The song SHOULD be overwhelming, unbearable and whiny, but it’s just simply genius. Cameron’s voice seems to be always near a point of breaking down. Then you have songs like “The Rolling Stones” where Cameron’s voice is strong, low and steady. How he contorts his vocals to usher in this sadness, confusion and urgency to his songs is incredible.
The Music
When it comes to the songs themselves, Cameron jumps between quite a bit of self deprecation that is humorous but you still want to take seriously. Such as on “0$” where Cameron consistently refers to himself as a zero dollar man.
Cameron speaks about a woman named Nina holding his worth. His worth to him in the moment being no more than 0. He’s a zero dollar man. When he’s in front of Nina there’s no hope. There’s no money. There’s nothing. It’s a tough song that sticks out as to me, it focuses on some of the darker aspects of the album. It’s ripe with anxiety and depression that has lingered under every song. I say under as it never feels directly in front of you. Cameron’s lyrics come across sometimes as he’s almost saying something in passing. Hoping that nobody actually clings onto what he said. It’s an interesting way of delivering depressingly heavy lyrics.
Love Takes Years
Love Takes Miles is big hit on Winter’s solo effort. A song where Cameron goes through what love is worth. How you will learn to fit everything into your car to get to the place you want to be with the person you love. The song carries onto in Cameron’s usual sporadic thought process. Something I come to notice about Cameron’s songs is how they can seem somewhat focused and planned, but quickly you find he’s bouncing off the wall with ideas. Lyrics that you can’t predict said at a rate you struggle to keep up with. The entire time Cameron’s voice, his composure remains the same. A straight face when hasn’t said something outrageous like “With a candy gun towards the presidents ass”.
Silly lyrics, uplifting instrumentals with an impending doom
Heavy Metal is an album I struggle to write about, as there’s many layers to what Cameron is doing here. Every song is filled with irony, lyrical bombs of confusion that you kind of understand, and a sadness that is hard to stomach at times. I’m convinced that every song on this solo effort has an actual part of Cameron’s soul. I refuse to believe that someone who can sing, write and perform as Cameron does doesn’t leave a little bit of himself in each and every performance. Juding from what Cameron has given us on Heavy Metal, it sounds like he has a lot to give and a lot more to say. His other project, Geese, is a perfect example of this.
Overall
Heavy Metal is a fantastic solo introduction to Cameron Winters. How he packs up some incredibly complicated emotions and feelings and packs them into these ironic limericks and meanderings of a mad man is incredible. A skill that not many have, and it’s something I hope people come to celebrate more as he continues to make more music. I would recommend Heavy Metal if you haven’t listened to it. I’d just do so after watching Family Guy. That will make sense once you listen.
