Alex Cameron
Blurring the lines between synth-heavy indie rock and conceptual art, Alex Cameron has used his records to craft the persona of a sleazy showbiz hack. Cameron set the misadventures of his misanthropic character to wry electro-pop on his heady 2013 debut, Jumping the Shark, and developed the character as his sound evolved. By the time of his fourth album, 2022's Oxy Music, Cameron's songs were exploring topics of addiction and social critique while mixing his '80s radio pop-informed sound with the occasional guest rapper or intentionally garish sax solo.
Sydney, Australia-based musician Alex Cameron began as a member of electronic trio Seekae before branching off solo with his high-concept songs about a failed lounge singer also named Alex Cameron. He took this role seriously, writing volumes of songs from the character's desperate perspective and going so far as to perform in a cheap suit and apply makeup to replicate pockmarks and a weathered look from a life of bad decisions. The first album of these songs, Jumping the Shark, was initially released as a free download on Cameron's retro-looking website in 2013, and Siberia Records issued the album on LP in 2014.
Tours with Mac DeMarco, Kevin Morby, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and Foxygen raised Cameron's profile, and Secretly Canadian gave Jumping the Shark a wider release in 2016. For his second album, 2017's Forced Witness, Cameron expanded his concept and collaborators, working with Foxygen's Jonathan Rado, Angel Olsen, and the Killers' Brandon Flowers on more sketches of outsiders and misfits. In 2019, he returned with the less depraved third album Miami Memory. Still in character, Cameron's narratives took a slightly gentler approach, exploring themes of parenthood, sex work, divorce, and other mature topics with his signature sleaze and synth-heavy pop style. Fourth album Oxy Music was inspired by his observations of widespread addiction, misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and other sociopolitical themes. Cameron was joined by rapper Lloyd Vines on the song "Cancel Culture" and Sleaford Mods' Jason Williamson, who contributed vocals to the title track. Oxy Music was produced in part by Mount Kimbie's Kai Campos, who also mixed the album.
© Heather Phares /TiVo
Discography
14 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Oxy Music
Alternative & Indie - Released by Secretly Canadian on 11 Mar 2022
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Forced Witness
Alternative & Indie - Released by Secretly Canadian on 8 Sep 2017
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jumping the Shark
Alternative & Indie - Released by Secretly Canadian on 19 Aug 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Miami Memory
Alternative & Indie - Released by Secretly Canadian on 13 Sep 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Miami Memories (Demo)
Alternative & Indie - Released by Secretly Canadian on 21 Aug 2020
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live in San Francisco (Live)
Alternative & Indie - Released by Secretly Canadian on 19 Apr 2019
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Best Life
Alternative & Indie - Released by Secretly Canadian on 20 Jan 2022
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Islands In The Stream / Midsummer Nights
Alternative & Indie - Released by Secretly Canadian on 9 Jul 2021
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Before Too Long
Alternative & Indie - Released by Secretly Canadian on 7 Mar 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Blue Psycho
Electronic - Released by Eclipe Musics on 4 Oct 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
God's Plan
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Doug Cameron Music on 25 Jun 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Spanish Groove
Latin America - Released by Doug Cameron Music on 2 Mar 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo