Interview: Cameron London
From Hampstead, North Carolina, Cameron London is a rapper, producer, author, and founder of 1033 Records.
What inspires your music?
I have a few different things that inspire my music. The main thing being my own life experiences. I always try to write honest and introspective stories within my songs that convey what I’m going through. Additionally, I love storytelling and world-building. When I work on songs that aren’t personal narratives, I use those moments to build my own interconnected world. That exploration is something that always inspires me from an imaginative place. Lastly, my family is always a core part of my inspiration. I’m extremely family-oriented and always try to show love and respect to my family, both living and deceased.
Who are some of your influences?
I’d say my music influences are Michael Jackson & J. Cole. For Michael, it’s how he approached creation and brought ideas to life. I grew up listening to lots of R&B, Pop, & Gospel and remember studying Michael’s discography because of how lively and moving it was.
For J. Cole, it’s the honesty and relatability in his music. When I was a teenager and first heard his music, I was never impressed because I knew he was from North Carolina as well, and I was listening from an envious place. But as I listened more and grew, he became a favorite of mine because I was able to relate to topics and themes throughout his music.
What are some of your favorite memories from your career?
One of my favorite memories is releasing my debut album on the day of my high school graduation in 2013 and knowing that my granddad was able to see that moment. He passed away later that year so I’m glad he got to be there and see all my hard work pay off. Another would probably be working on “The Marvels” collaboration albums. I was able to bring together dozens of artists from around the world and collaborate on four separate occasions to raise money for the education scholarship that my mom and I offered through our charity.
Which of your projects do you love the most?
One of my favorite albums is “To Nurture The Soul”. It was a Michael Jackson influenced experimental project. I really enjoyed the process of recording it. Another would be “killJOY”. That album was the first one I released after a really bad Covid encounter. During its creation I was in pretty bad shape and nearly died but I was blessed enough to survive and released the album but never got to complete the short film that was supposed to accompany it. I’d also throw “Saint Johns Church Road” in as one of my favorites because it’s my most personal and raw album. I feel like that album signified a turning point in my life and career.
Who are some of the collaborators who helped you create your favorite works?
My brothers in arts, Popcasso & Dero Quenson have always had my bad with the creation process. When I send them songs to feature on they always help me without any hesitation. I’ve known them both for roughly a decade so they’ve watched my journey since I was a teenager. Grace Coletta is also a big sister to me. She was one of the first artists to allow me to explore my writing capability and write a song for her. I always respect and appreciate that she forced me to also be on the song as well. She always supports me and encourages me to stand in my talent and not shy away from it.
What are you most excited to bring to your fans next?
I’m working on my 30th birthday project for September 2025. The way I’m approaching it is a bit unconventional because I’m just releasing any and everything I create as more of a “Road to 30” rather than just be secretive and release the album next year. I’m recording journal entry videos for songs as well as exclusively releasing the majority of them direct to listener instead of immediately on streaming services. I’m loving the freedom of expression that comes with no release dates or expectations and just releasing for the love of creation as a celebration of turning 30 soon.
What are your goals for this upcoming year?
I would love to make the transition to releasing music directly to listeners without relying on streaming services. Additionally, I’d like to put some time into expanding my book series (Kyren) into some animations or something. It’s definitely not going to overtake my music in importance but it’s a fun side project that I’d love to expand into various mediums.
How can your fans and our readers best support you right now?
I would greatly appreciate the support of anyone that follows / subscribes to me on my Bandcamp. I also have multiple new songs available on streaming services as well.
