‘A labour of love’: Kamille takes center stage on debut mini album ‘K1’
Kamille has established herself as one of the most successful women in the music industry. As an Ivor Novello, BRIT and Grammy Award winner, she is behind some of the biggest hits of the last decade, working with the likes of Little Mix, Dua Lipa, Stormzy, RAYE and Kylie Minogue and in 2017, released her own debut EP – ‘1. my head’s a mess’. But now 2023 has been a year of metamorphosis for the 35-year-old - otherwise known as Camille Angelina Purcell – who is spreading her wings as a solo artist with her new mini album ‘K1,’ a personal process especially since she was pregnant with her first child while working on the project. “I'm still juggling right now between making music and being a mom and everything but it's just a beautiful, crazy time. I'm loving it,” she told Indy100 about her simultaneous solo music and motherhood journey. Upon chatting to Kamille on the phone last month, it was clear to hear her excitement about the approaching September 8 release – an eight-track mini album that includes notable features from Chic legend Nile Rogers and R&B belles Tamera and Bellah. When she asked for my thoughts on the album (which is a bop), I mentioned the second track and second single “Options ft. Tamera and Bellah” as one of my favourites. The empowering R&B tune is the ultimate girl's anthem, created entirely by women to empower those currently in a relationship who are being treated like an ‘option’ – a predicament that’s “probably happened to all of us in some contexts.” “I'm happy with my husband. I'm happy in my friendships, but I think I've learned to walk through life like I am the main option. I'm the lead character in my life and so should everyone else be and that's what this song is all about,” Kamille said. “[It’s] Just a reminder, like don't let anyone treat you like an option. Never ever, ever. You're always the first choice to have a first pick.” The R&B influences, synth-pop production, and catchy chorus all contribute to the song’s memorability, as Kamille discussed the sound she created. “Oh my gosh, I don't feel like I found it [the sound], I think it found me,” she said, with a laugh. “I've loved 80’s music all my life. It's what I've grown up on and been inspired by and I don't know it just made me feel so throwback when I was playing around with some of those sounds,” with the song reflecting the Motown Classics and funk hits she listened to with her parents growing up as her artistic influences such as ABBA and Pharrell. “It was giving me like Gloria Estefan when I was playing synths that are on ‘Options,’ and added it gave her the “nostalgia that [she] wanted across the whole album. The musician also described how a lot of the songs she made for the album, “felt quite collaborative,” and explained the creative process for this particular track. “I'd written a chorus verse which was ‘Options’ but I was very early on in the stages and I was like, I feel like this is giving me like girl anthem, like girl empowerment but and I was like, I need to reach out to R&B Queens for this because only they can make it right.” All it took was a slide in the DM’s for both Tamera and Bellah to be on board. “And then next thing you know, we were all in the studio and it happened really fast. Just finished it off together and it is what it is; it's just become this crazy thing.” Since ‘Options’ was released back in June, it became BBC Radio 1’s Track of the Week which Kamille called “incredible,” as well as the “lovely feeling” to receive messages from fans saying they’ve heard the song on the radio. “I have a Telegram account specifically just to speak to [fans], I can go in and we talk every day we're like besties.” Another highlight from the album is ‘The Sun,’ a touching tribute from the singer to her son whom she was pregnant with when making the album last year she described both experiences as a “labour of love.” “‘The Sun’ is actually about my son, which is really cute. I love that he's got a place on the album because he definitely inspired the whole thing for sure,” Kamille said. “For me, it’s a standout song just because I remember writing it or thinking about him and I didn't even know I was having a boy at that time I wrote the song about feeling like shining like the sun but now it's tending to like the sun so and in my mind. She added: “It's so weird how that worked out. But yeah, hopefully this is back and remembers how much I loved him in that process even though he was giving me all kinds of help.” If you’re wondering whether there are any similarities between recording an album and having a baby, Kamille would say so. She explained how making music is “very similar to when you have a baby - you don't remember the pain.” “You remember the fact you now have a baby - it's a weird thing, music and babies are very similar.” Becoming a mother has also reinforced the artist’s passion and “hunger” for success in her music career. “It definitely kind of switches things up a gear for you as a human being you want to provide for your child and I think in any aspect you'll just want to work even harder for them so I definitely noticed that when I'm in the studio.” Going into her solo mini album, Kamille had quite the C.V. working with Little Mix – described as their unofficial ‘fifth member’ – as well as Dua Lipa, Stormzy, RAYE, and Kylie Minogue and more, all artists she has been “inspired by” and that contributed to discovering her own sound. “Being that close to [those artists] has only been a benefit to me because we set the bar so high,” she said describing this influence. “I think it's just made me feel even more that I can achieve it for myself. So yeah, it's been a beautiful thing to be so close to such successful artists as those and only just want to try and get there myself as well.” When it came to her own album, Kamille had a hands-on approach, using her experience to write and produce the album herself and working with “prolific” mixing and mastering engineer Manon Grandjean who is “mixing probably every pop record you can think of at the moment.” The collaboration on K1 was a “full circle moment” for them after meeting years back when they worked on Stormzy’s music and then continued to work together with other artists. “It's been beautiful having just women across the production side of my projects,” Kamille said and she hopes to “inspire other women as well.” There is no denying the disproportionate gap when it comes to women’s representation in music. Only 18 per cent of headliners at the UK's biggest festivals this year are women a Sky News study found, while behind the scenes, less than 5 per cent of audio engineers are women too. Kamille believes there is “so much more that can be done,” to address this issue. “I make it so people know that I've produced my music. I love that when people, for example, go on Spotify, and look at the credits. They just see my name there,” and she hopes it can “point to other girls that you can do it as well.” Last year, she alongside producer, singer and DJ Fred Again– otherwise known as Fred Gibson – ran a workshop called ‘Next Up,” from the nonprofit organisation She Is The Music where only female producers for a whole year went to their music studio every month, attended workshops, and got their songs heard by the two musicians. “Me and Fred love doing that so much because we've seen how much they developed just from having that help and advice from us and it was incredible,” she said and is keen to do another program with Fred this year. All in all, listeners can expect K1 to be a moment of fun with the tracks bringing “good vibes and positive energy,” something that an “empowered” Kamille is radiating at present. But the hard work doesn’t stop there as she admitted new music is always on the horizon. “There's so much more to come. I mean, I'm making music all the time,” she said. Kamille has also announced her first-ever headline show at London’s Omeara on Thursday, 12 October where you can hear K1 live. “It's been a really long journey and I think people are just now probably starting to find out more about me and my music and that it's so incredible for me, and I'm just very grateful for anyone who has been touched by anything I've written for others or for myself,” she concluded. “I just want to say thank you so much and there's so much more to come as well.” 'K1' TRACKLIST Muscle Memory featuring Nile Rodgers Options featuring Bellah and Tamera Don't Waste My Time The Sun Time To Kill Fancy Wine All My Love Manifesting - Part 1 Kamille’s debut mini album ‘K1’ is out now, get tickets to her headline London show here. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
New York Governor Seeks Refunds for Charter Customers Who Have Lost ABC and ESPN
NY Governor Kathy Hochul is seeking refunds for Charter Communications Inc. cable subscribers who have lost access to
1970-01-01 08:00
Hairspray star Sarah Francis Jones reveals she went into labour while attending Beyoncé concert
Hairspray actress Sarah Francis Jones has revealed that she went into labour while attending Beyoncé’s concert. In a video shared to Jones and her husband, actor Marcel Spears, Instagram accounts earlier this week, the Honey star spoke candidly about her experience at the show, which took place on 4 September at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The post started off with the couple watching Beyoncé on stage, before the video transitioned to Jones in the hospital, as she appeared to be giving birth to her daughter. “POV: you go into labour at Beyoncé’s bday concert,” she wrote, referring to the show taking place on the singer’s 42nd birthday. Jones, who was featured in the 2007 Hairspray movie, went on to describe the unexpected experience of going into labour during the show. “We thought it was just Braxton hicks or gas,” she wrote in the caption. “Turns out we were having a whole baby at @beyonce bday show.” In the comments, many famous faces and fans congratulated Jones, while also poking fun at the timing in which started she going into labour. “CONGRATS SARAH!!! I love you so much!!!” Demi Lovato wrote, while comedian Malik Sanon added: “Your baby wanted to watch the show. Congrats bro.” “Baby girl dancing her way out at the concert!!!” a third wrote. “She said MOMMMM I NEED TO SEE QUEEN B WITH YOU WITH MY TWO EYES.” The new parents shared another joint Instagram post about the experience, which included a video of Jones at the concert and hospital, with text that read: “Beyonce induced my baby.” In the caption, Spears also added: “….stranger than fiction. God is good.” During an interview with KTLA, Jones recalled feeling contractions during the middle of the show. “I think it was right after the mute challenge,” she said, referring to concert guests pausing after Beyoncé sings the line “everybody on mute,” from her song “Energy”. “Everybody went mute. LA did very well … and then I started having contractions,” Jones continued. She emphasised that she thought the contradictions were a form Braxton Hicks, which are pains during pregnancy that are often mistaken for true labour contractions. According to Jones, as the pain continued, she took a break from dancing during show. “I said ‘Something’s happening,’” she recalled. “Usually I like to dance at the concert and I was like ‘Okay, I need to sit down for a second.’” Spears added that he first thought the contractions would “pass,” since the baby’s due date wasn’t for a few days. But as Jones’ labour pains continued, he started to time them, and noticed that the contractions were 20 to 30 minutes apart. From there, he said he and his wife made their way out of the stadium. “As the concert went on we were like ‘I don’t know about this.’ By the time we got to the car into the parking lot it was full-on intense,” he explained. The couple revealed that their newborn baby, Nola, arrived later that night on 5 September. While the baby’s first name is a reference to Spears’ hometown, the pair also noted that they haven’t decided on her middle name yet. However, they are open to a name that’s “Beyonce-like”. Spears also opened up about his and his wife’s decision to document the concert experience, sharing his belief that if they “didn’t record it,” he didn’t think “anybody would believe” what happened. “It’s just one of those things that it’s so convenient you’re like ‘Nah that’s not happening,’ but the baby definitely pulled through,” he said. The Independent has contacted Jones for comment. Read More Beyoncé fan reveals she wore wedding dress to concert to celebrate first year of marriage Keke Palmer brings boyfriend Darius Jackson to Beyoncé concert Meghan Markle has ‘adorable’ reaction after Prince Harry takes a selfie at Beyoncé concert Sophia Bush repurposes wedding dress for Beyoncé concert after Grant Hughes split Beyoncé fan reveals she wore wedding dress to concert on wedding anniversary Keke Palmer brings boyfriend Darius Jackson to Beyoncé concert
1970-01-01 08:00
Argentina Ordered to Pay $16 Billion in US Suit Over YPF
Argentina was ordered to pay at least $8.4 billion in damages and $7.6 billion in interest in a
1970-01-01 08:00
Ashton Kutcher branded as 'rudest celebrity ever' by Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Osbourne has candidly shared the rudest celebrity she has ever encountered – and people are stunned by her claim. Sharon and her daughter Kelly appeared on E! News on Thursday (7 September) where they participated in a game called 'Stir the Pot.' When asked who the rudest celebrity she ever met was, the 70-year-old didn't hesitate in giving her honest opinion, though she forgot his name. "The guy that’s married to an actress and he used to do That ‘70s Show," Sharon said in response. Kelly clarified: "Oh, Ashton Kutcher? Really?" Sharon didn't stop there. "Yes. Oh rude, rude, rude, rude little boy," she said, before reiterating: "Rude, rude, yes. Dastardly little thing." Kelly, like most of the E! viewers responded: "I was not prepared for that." News soon spread to X/Twitter, with one joking: "Sharon Osbourne called Ashton Kutcher 'a dastardly little thing.' Even when they are insulting people British women sound like are describing a magical cat in some Harry Potter rip-off." Another said: "I disagree!! Met Ashton Kutcher years ago at a club in Vegas & he was so cool. He even let my friend touch his butt." While a third commented: "I don’t care how ‘rude’ she thinks he is, I’m on Ashton’s side." Later they were asked whether they had ever apologised to a fellow celebrity. Kelly said "no", while Sharon confessed to apologising to Justin Bieber. "I have apologised to him before, and it's Justin Bieber because he did something. And when I was doing another talk show, I said, 'He's really bad, and how can his parents let him do that?' and all that. And I'm like, 'Who am I to say that he's bad? He's a kid. Leave him alone.' And I felt really terrible after saying it, and I felt such guilt," Sharon said. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Lions celebrated season-opening win over Chiefs like their own Super Bowl
The Detroit Lions celebrated their season-opening win over the Kansas City Chiefs like a Super Bowl victory of their own, and who can blame them?
1970-01-01 08:00
Linda Evangelista says she views mastectomy scars as ‘trophies’ following recent breast cancer diagnosis
Linda Evangelista has opened up about how she’s maintained a positive perspective following her recent breast cancer diagnosis. This week, the 58-year-old supermodel revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer twice within the last five years. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Evangelista shared how she’s celebrating her life now after several years of health battles. “I’m in full celebration mode right now,” she told the outlet on 7 September. “I’ve had some health struggles and everything now is just a celebration.” The Canadian model first discovered she had breast cancer in 2018, after it was detected during her annual mammogram. She elected to undergo a bilateral mastectomy, a surgery done to remove both breasts as a way to treat cancer. Evangelista then felt a bump on her chest in July 2022, which she soon learned was cancer of the pectoral muscle. One year later, Evangelista has shared that she’s feeling healthier than ever and continues to find motivation in all aspects of her daily life. “I am very positive. It’s the new me,” she told Vanity Fair. “I think going through hardships and coming through the other end has made me focus only on the good things. I’m so happy to be alive. I know I am very fortunate.” While discussing her subsequent diagnoses, Evangelista revealed that she wasn’t concerned how the multiple surgeries to remove the cancer would impact her appearance. “I never felt like my breasts defined me as a woman,” she said of the bilateral mastectomy, which left scars across the skin of her chest. “I have always viewed scars on the body from surgeries, from disease, as trophies. They are like gold and shiny and should be on a mantle. It shows you won,” Evangelista added. “I think scars are to be celebrated and not to be looked at as bad and ugly. It makes you stronger.” Speaking to WSJ Magazine earlier this week, the Vogue cover star spoke about her private battle with cancer for the very first time. As to why she had kept “quiet” about her cancer diagnosis for so long, Evangelista admitted that she’s “not one of those people who has to share everything”. “I thought to myself, I will share this one day but while I am going through it, absolutely not,” she continued. “I don’t want the Daily Mail waiting outside my door like they do every time something happens. ‘Linda seen for the first time since blah blah blah.’” Evangelista explained that she decided to have a bilateral mastectomy to remove the cancerous breast tissue in 2018 because the “margins were not good” but she didn’t want to “deal” with undergoing cancer treatment. Four years later, she felt a bump on her chest and received an MRI scan. While she said her radiologist wasn’t initially concerned when she felt the bump, she noted that once the MRI was done, her doctor quickly ordered a biopsy. After discovering she had cancer in her pectoral muscle from the biopsy, Evangelista recalled saying to her doctors: “Dig a hole in my chest. I don’t want it to look pretty. I want you to excavate. I want to see a hole in my chest when you’re done. Do you understand me? I’m not dying from this.” Read More Linda Evangelista reveals she was diagnosed with breast cancer twice within last five years Linda Evangelista makes rare comment about co-parenting with son’s stepmother Salma Hayek Linda Evangelista says she still gets botox after CoolSculpting procedure that left her ‘disfigured
1970-01-01 08:00
iPhone Hacked Using NSO Group’s Pegasus Spyware
An iPhone belonging to a staffer at a Washington-based civil society organization was hacked remotely with spyware created
1970-01-01 08:00
How to Use Boost Packs in Starfield
Here's how to use a Boost Pack in Starfield by leveling up a key perk in your skill tree.
1970-01-01 08:00
New study shows that early humans deliberately made stones in spheres
A study of 150 stones dating back 1.4m years shows early humans were deliberately crafting spherical shapes – but nobody knows why. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem made findings after analysing the limestone balls which were unearthed in Ubeidiya, a dig site in Israel’s Jordan Rift Valley. Scientists have previously speculated that the stones, which were discovered in the 1960s and serve no discernable purpose, became round after being used as hammers. But the university’s team reconstructed the steps required to create the so-called spheroids and found they were part of a “preconceived goal to make a sphere”. The researchers used 3D analysis to retrace how they were made based on the markings and geometry of the spheroids. They concluded that the objects were intentionally “knapped”, the technique used to shape stone by hitting it with other objects. Antoine Muller, a researcher at the university’s Institute of Archaeology, said: “The main significance of the findings is that these spheroids from ‘Ubeidiya appear to be intentionally made, with the goal of achieving a sphere. “This suggests an appreciation of geometry and symmetry by hominins 1.4 million years ago.” Early humans clearly had some reason for making the balls, but what exactly that is remains a mystery. He said: “We still can’t be confident about what they were used for. A lot of work needs to be done to narrow down their functionality.” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Who is playing college football tonight, Sept. 8?
While college football usually takes center stage on Saturday, there's a few games on tap this Friday, September 8th.
1970-01-01 08:00
'Ancient river' on Mars found containing 'shark fin' and 'crab claw'
NASA's Perseverance rover picked up some intriguing-looking objects on Mars this week, which prompted all kinds of speculation on social media. The photo in question was captured on 18 August as Perseverance travels over an "ancient river" and was voted the space agency's top image of the week. On X/Twitter, NASA wrote: "As promised, here’s the new Image of the Week, as voted by you! This rocky duo was spotted hanging out together in a wind-swept area. I spy a…crab claw? Shark fin?" The post was soon flooded with users' takes, with many claiming the two boulders mirrored a shark fin and a crab claw. "I don't know why, but those rocks are really satisfying to look at," one person wrote, while another joked: "I vote for coffee bean." Meanwhile, one realist responded: "That’s literally two rocks." The Perseverance rover landed on 18 February 2021, after a 7-month journey from Earth that started in the summer. The robot has since provided the world with stunning visuals – one of which captured the hearts of social media users. Last year, the rover acquired a pet rock friend on its back wheel, that continued to hitchhike months into its journey. Perseverance likely picked up the large stone in Jezero Crater, which is a 45 kilometer-wide crater thought to have once been filled with water. "The Perseverance rover has a pet rock. NASA says it's breaking hitchhiking records," one person said at the time, while another added: "There's a small rock that's been hitching a ride inside one of the metal wheels of a Mars Rover and I gotta say Perseverance's Pet Rock is a kid's book in the making." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
