Today we’d like to introduce you to Cameron Caceres
Hi Cameron, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in Fontana, CA and moved to Moreno Valley, CA when I was about 12 or so. That’s when I started picking up the bass and became serious about being a musician and composer and was also discovering music outside of what was popular and well-known. I was and still am a huge fan of classic rock, blues and funk, but I’ve always looked to the left-field and influence outside of western thought and practice.
When I went to Canyon Springs High School, I played in a band with some of my friends. We would cover a lot blues and classic rock from musicians and groups such as Howlin Wolf and The Who. We were into harmony and musicianship, and that really helped us get gigs. We would record material, and drop CD’s off to venues and wait for calls, or emails and take any opportunity that came our way. This time in my life is where I genuinely learned the fundamentals of bass playing, vocal/musical harmony and performance.
I eventually gained interest in jazz and electronic music before high school graduation in 2007. After high school, I auditioned for upright/electric bass for the Riverside Community College jazz ensemble with James Rocillo and got in. There, I learned a good amount of theory as well as how to perform with a big band with a conductor. We would play pieces by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Clifford Brown amongst other giants.
During that time, I was also composing original [alternative electronic] music and my first track “Early Bird” was played on BBC Radio 1 with Gilles Peterson. I always wanted to make and be known for my own music, and this type of recognition was an arbiter in continuing making and releasing original material. At the same time, I was performing in Los Angeles and surrounding areas trying to make a name for myself. There was great momentum up until 2015. I’ve always wanted to get my degree, so since it was getting rough, I decided to go back to school and eventually went to the University of California, Los Angeles for ethnomusicology. It was a great experience and I learned a lot.
Now, almost seven albums later, complete with radio play and collaborations with a few record labels and artists, I’m still enamored by the possibilities music has to offer and still practice and compose music (my latest album Royal Jelly is due out by the end of the year). I now have a beautiful 1 year old daughter and girlfriend here in Austin and have really just wanted to focus on family, learning how to raise a child and spending quality time with them. It’s the best.
In the future, I plan on getting back to playing shows and networking, but for now, I’m happy with composing in my studio and being a family man. Stoked!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, but I’ve met some really great people along the way; especially other musicians. Some of the struggles that I’ve experienced are with the industry. There’s a lot of promises that fall through with shows, label deals/collaborations and the like. And nowadays, so much is based off of how many followers someone has and at times talent is seemingly void of recognition.
In all essence, I think people need to slow down, find what they truly like and avoid being spoon fed music through social media, etc. Music is really about discovery and feeling self sufficient in choice. It’s obviously not bad to like hyper popular music – I do as well – but there’s just so much more out there to compliment and influence the well-known. Go out there and listen to the obscure, experimental and unknown music. It’s good for you.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a multi-instrumentalist (primarily a bassist), composer and producer specializing in alternative electronic music.
I’m known for my bass playing and pushing the boundaries of music in general, and thrive on blending both the common and uncommon in terms of musical practice and philosophy. I am also known for my ethnomusicological endeavors such as research on music and the cultures that surround it. I think that combining both anthropology and musical practices sets me apart from others.
I am most proud of my ability to simply love music and a simple life with friends and family. Throughout all life’s struggles, rejection and change, I will always have music and loved ones. I’m happy wherever those two are.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Enjoy a responsible, epicurean lifestyle.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glitchesinthevoid/profilecard/?igsh=MWRvdTF1OTk5a3pmbw==
- Other: https://glitchesinthevoid.bandcamp.com/
Image Credits
Cameron Caceres and Corrin Rodriguez
