Hailing from Brooklyn, New York is an artist called Camille Schmidt. Although only just starting her musical venture, I believe she is set for great commercial success. Possessing a unique vocal sound, familiar production style and a prowess to trapeze multiple different genres, Camille Schmidt displays both professionalism and promise with her debut EP ‘Good Person’. Let’s take a deeper listen.

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The EP opens with the track ‘Your Game’, a country-inspired acoustic folk song reminiscent of mid-noughties' songwriters like Joshua Radin, with soft-spoken double tracked vocals following a marching snare groove and acoustic backing. Foreshadowing the evolution Schmidt will demonstrate over the course of her 6-song EP, ‘Your Game reminded me of the early works of Taylor Swift. There’s a confidence to own her sound, with dominant double-tracked vocals throughout. 

Following on from the acoustic opening track, Red and Blue has an equally raw sound, allowing the vocals to sit more exposed without double tracking. The duality to open with a country folk song, and immediately follow with a much slower, piano ballad, highlights the songwriting prowess and genre diversity Camille Schmidt boasts. The song is punchy, rapidly ending and ensuring it doesn’t overstay its welcome on the EP. 

The first track of this EP held similarities to the early works of Taylor Swift. However the bigger comparison to the current global phenomenon that Camille Schmidt has is to somehow replicate the musical evolution of Miss Swift’s 18 year career in a 6 song timeline.

The final stretch of this record is a much more produced, commercial pop sound. From little spoken word moments like “fakeout ending”, to familiar instrumental builds, this one EP embraces the vulnerability of acoustic folk, without shying away from a bigger, more “complete” sound.

The EP closes out with a return to the raw Indie/Folk sound heard early in the record, and this song is absolutely captivating. The lessened instrumental construction allows you to digest the lyrics, with stunning harmonies to break up the stable dynamics of the track.

I must confess, the first two tracks (and the final track ‘Bird on a Telephone Wire) were - at least for my tastes - perfection. There’s a million people that chase success and fame in a commercially viable pop project, however an EP from a female singer/songwriter that reignites a somewhat lost genre was very exciting to me. 

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That said, looking at the EP in its entirety, the execution needs to be applauded. Camille Schmidt leaves herself completely free from being typecast into one genre. She’s created a debut record that takes the listener on her own musical journey, letting those just starting to follow her feel like they have a deeper understanding of who Camille Schmidt is as an artist. There’s small moments that the EP feels unnecessarily reliant on production sweeteners, however that’s one small critique in a record full of positives. Covering so much ground in this six song release, I’m fascinated to hear what Camille Schmidt will release next!

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