By Paula Araujo
At just 17 years old, Cameron Hardy knows he wants to make music for the rest of his life. After being honored as Billboard’s Woman of the Year, its no surprise Selena Gomez has caught Cameron’s attention when it comes to music and picking songs to cover. His latest video is a suave cover of Madison Beer’s “Dead”. Read on as he shares his musical journey, whats to come, and other music he’s loving lately.
Hey Cameron! Tell us a little bit about yourself and do you prefer pancakes or waffles?
What’s up! I am a 17 year old recording artist and actor. I’m a waffles kind of guy.
What drew you to the song “Bad Liar” and your approach to cover it?
I immediately fell in love with the overall sound of the song. It’s so different from Selena’s other music which was partially the reason I wanted to put my own take on it. I originally recorded a version with similar production to the original, but then decided to strip it down for an acoustic approach.
Are you particularly inspired and drawn to Selena Gomez’s music? What is it about her as an artist that attracts and inspires you?
I love Selena’s music. I think she is a very strong individual and that really shines through in her music. I love covering songs that have a ton of passion behind them and Selena’s music typically reflects that.
Can we expect anymore covers or original tracks soon?
Yes! I have another cover or two that I will put out in the near future, but I am really beginning to shift my focus to original music. Covers have really inspired me to create my own music and I am thankful to have had the opportunity to record these covers because now I am very familiar with the recording process.
How would you describe your sound?
Pop, without a doubt, with an alternative + dance kind of vibe.
What have you discovered about yourself through music?
I have discovered that I want to put a purpose behind everything that I do. Music has really opened up another viewpoint for me on how I approach life and I believe that everything you do should be meaningful.
Where do you draw inspiration from? Which artists inspire you?
I draw my inspiration from many different aspects of my life. Musically, I am inspired a lot by Charlie Puth, Rihanna, John Mayer, etc.
What are your long term and short term goals?
Long term, I hope to have a platform in which I am able to continue to make music and tour around the world. For now, I am working on finding a good team to make that possible and working non-stop on my sound.
What is your advice for other artists out there? What was the best advice you’ve been given?
Work extremely hard and hang in there. The best advice I have been given is to remain positive and put only good vibes out into the world. It will come back to you.
When was the moment you knew you wanted to do this for a living? Do you recall your earliest memory involving music?
When I stepped foot in a real studio for the first time, I knew that I wanted to do this forever. It was 13 at the time. It just felt right, and knowing that I could do that for a living as well really opened the doors for me to pursue this professionally.
What was the first concert you went to?
Taylor Swift’s “Speak Now” tour.
What are the last 5 songs you listened to?
1. Sleep Talking – Charlotte Lawrence
2. Fetish – Selena Gomez
3. How Long – Charlie Puth
4. Games – Demi Lovato
5. I’m A Fan – Pia Mia
Any particular album(s) you’ve been loving recently?
I’m absolutely in love with Demi Lovato’s new album. The entire sound is right up my alley. Also Dua Lipa’s album, she’s great.
For more on Cameron check out the links below.
