We were lucky to catch up with Camille Sledge recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Camille thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I have a current project that I am releasing soon, called RED.
It’s the ongoing work of a larger project entitled HER SPECTRUM. The expression of my love for music as a female, a Black woman, a mother, a business owner, a wife, a believer, a family member and partner. The idea is to create a canvas for the entire spectrum of who I am; the turmoil and adversity that comes with it. It’s the feelings and emotions that come with and from being RED. It has been a long journey but it makes me feel like this work as an artist is worthy. It helps me to understand my own art, and keeps me motivated to make something complex. I cannot be weighed down by a single song or genre. I want to allow my students at School of HipHop to learn that they are not a monolith. What you are, cannot be boxed up and packaged to make others feel more comfortable. Your art is the most radical form of rebellion. The first EP was released during the summer of mayhem in 2021.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I was raised in a family of musicians and singers. My parents were both artists who went on to successfully make a life for themselves and raise me and my 5 siblings. My mother sings still today as a member of the group Sister Sledge. She is most notably known for their hit song, “We Are Family”. My father, a tenured professor of Art Education, who received a lifetime achievement award for his accomplishments in the field.
I have always been a creative. I began writing poems and songs at a very young age, but because of my parent’s success, I was afraid to share them. I had some very big shoes to fill.
I finally decided that this feeling of boxed up creative freedom would never leave me, and after trying to hide behind many different masks, I finally joined a few bands, and got experience in live performance. I also got into recording my own songs and one day my parents would find out all that I had been doing through others outside of our family. I had an urge and a passion by this time. I really dove in, with performance art being my favorite personal outlet. Being on stage and connecting with people who liked my music and my words, gave me a sense of purpose.
After having my first child, I took a break from music. I loved it, but wanted more than anything, to make sure that I was a good mother. The fear began to grip me again, but this time, it was a fear of losing myself. Nothing could have been more of a tipping point, than when my husband expressed his understanding that I was an artist. He encouraged me to make music again and to be myself, for the benefit of my new family.

Today, I am grateful to say, I am the lead singer of The Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra (PAO). The band is a 15 peice group of super musicians from the city of Phoenix, who stand in solidarity for equity and inclusion among all people. I am touring worldwide with Sister Sledge featuring SLEDGENDARY (the next generation of Sister Sledge), along with my mother and family. I have co-founded an art and music nonprofit for youth called School of HipHop with my husband and business partner, William. We also have 3 children of our own, who are very creative, and take part in the programs at School of HipHop and much more. I live a completely abstract lifestyle in art and creativity. This journey , is what warranted my desire to create HER SPECTRUM.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The only thing driving my creative journey today is LOVE. The pure love that I feel when performing with my family, the joy that comes along with seeing their faces, my children dancing or huge audiences singing along. Joy, and triumph have been reoccurring themes in my healing process. As I began to laugh more, feel other’s emotions and see those emotions on display, I realized that I wasn’t alone in this yearning for pure joy. It was hard to find across the world, but it starts within. I had to feel that I was able, know that I had something unique and special to share, and I had to believe that I was worthy. In finding this joy I also found a closeness to God, and my spiritual journey began to take wings.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn the concept of sameness. The cookie cutter industry of artistry has an expiration date. I watched for many years and was told that I had to ‘pick a lane’ or sound more like this or that person. I was told that I was running out of time, and that I should not have children before I became a famous performer. These are all untrue. These artists will expire.
No one should be bound by another person’s perception of what they should be. The artist CANNOT. It stifles creativity and imagination. There are no rules for success. I feel more confident and successful now, because I did my own thing. The best thing you can do, is BE YOURSELF.!! The path God has for you will be honored and revealed to you once you are aware that you are a precious gem. There is no other like you. Once I understood that, my definition of success, also shifted.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.camillesledge.com
• Instagram: CamilleSledge
• Facebook: CamilleSledgeMusic
• Twitter: Camillesledge
• Youtube: Camille Sledge
• Other: Linktree
  https://linktr.ee/CamilleSledge

Image Credits

Tari Fields
William Feggins
Melissa Waddell
Gem
Matty Steinkamp