We recently talked with Hawaii based frontman CAMU and discussed many topics including the single "The One You Leave Behind" - Read it all HERE!

BY: Lauren Dix

Inspiration can take us on trips we had never imagined. Its when we decide action though is the only way we are going to make it and we begin to live it. 
Lauren Dix: Number 2 of your single/video trilogy has landed. What inspired this structure of releasing?

CAMU: Once I decided to start releasing music again after 8 years I wanted to do it in a cool way I would dig myself. I wanted to make videos for every song, awesome videos that fit the actual track, that follow a story so when it's all said and done you get it on yet another level. When I write and record I also compile the synopsis simultaneously, I wanna tap into a feeling. 
 
LD: You have been on a journey. Do you recall when it became more than just a thought and that you needed to take action?

CAMU: I go with the flow, can't fight the universe. I go where ever life leads me, whenever it does. I remember listening to Rick Springfield while flying over Helsinki thinking my life was never gonna be the same, little did I know. When it came to releasing music again and not being a hermit in the jungle the idea struck me at 11:11 while laying on my couch. I wanna achieve things I wanted since I was 4 years old.

LD: With your first single/video you took us on a nostalgic trip to a part of your life in NYC. "The One You Leave Behind" bares the soul a little bit further. Was it you, 'the one' in the song that you were leaving behind?

CAMU: Precisely, one can grow without losing the essence of oneself, we all go through life figuring it out, life changes every day.
Just be awesome, don't be a dick unless you have to of course. I wanted to strip away the elements I usually use and tell more of a personal thought story.

LD: As you wrote this song. What did you learn? What did your family take from it as well?

It was fun to write and record the track, and the video as I hadn't previously done anything like it really. It all started with being at Tom Petty's last show in LA. Once I got home and heard he had passed away I picked up the guitar my friend had given me for Christmas in hopes I would write again. I started to play the opening riff. I liked it. So then I started working on it at night between 1-3AM only. I'd play the demo while working on it to friends to see if I was still within the right vibe parameters. Had more technical issues with this track than any ever. When it came to the lyrics I wanted to sing to myself, which I haven't done before either, it came out great. A lot of the vocals are my actual "Scat vocals" from just singing something to find melodies, now I know to always keep some original recordings in there. My family thought it was cool, most of them anyway.

LD: Can we go back home ever, truly?

No, we can't as my "Home" isn't there anymore. Finland is but it's not the Finland I grew up in. It was a very different time.

LD: The cinematography of the island was spectacular! Who did you work with on filming?

Early on it became apparent to me that I had to learn how to make music videos while starting this project. Empire was my first video I ever made and this was the second, so I had to learn everything. I have visions in my mind of how I want the videos to be and then I make it happen somehow. For this video, I wanted to have epic drone footage of the island and several drones later got pretty good at it. I had help from a friend who hadn't work on any videos before so I directed him when he filmed me, he did great. Had another friend film me in Finland. Then I edited it together.

LD: Any exciting tidbits or surprises occur during filming?

I almost died when I fell into the river on top of a waterfall. The current took me and I had 2-3 seconds to do something. There was a rock on the edge of the waterfall and I was able to grab it, collect myself, then I realized I couldn't swim left or right or I would be done while realizing the water was about to pull me off the rock. I exhaled all the air and kicked the rock and dove straight back as hard as I could and somehow managed to dive through the undertow. While this happened the drone that was supposed to film the epic shot crashed. Needless to say, we found a different waterfall to film at after that and had to get another drone. Very lucky that day. I have huge respect for waterfalls.

LD: Ever thought this video actually should be sent to Hawaii tourist and commerce? What is it about Hawaii and the island lifestyle that breathes CAMU?

Hawaii has so many amazing local artists who represent Hawaii far better than me. I wanted to showcase this beautiful place for people back home. Hawaii has had a profound impact on me, took me about 4 years and making this video to really understand how much. I am very fortunate to get to experience living here in my lifetime. It's a trip to be from Finland and have your kids grow up in Hawaii.

LD: When can we expect Number 3 of this trilogy and what is to come from that point?

February-March. It will perhaps be the never-ending conclusion of the Trilogy or it will be the end.
We'll find out soon enough.