We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cameron Moder. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cameron below.

Cameron, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

A few months ago, I decided to take a significant risk by leaving my full-time job to pursue a career in music and start a small business selling homestead goods (which includes handmade pottery, maple syrup, sourdough, and raising bees for honey). It was a culmination of a lifelong passion for creating art and a desire to start a family business. This was not a flippant decision, the fact being that my wife and I have 6 kids under 8 years old.

Pottery is most recent. I invested in a professional pottery wheel, and just started spending hours in my basement diving head first into the craft, having little experience of my own. It’s been so fun and exciting, also very challenging and stretching.

With music, I’m currently in the process of finishing an album of 10 songs. In the meantime I have been playing live music gigs and trying to book concerts and festivals. The first “real” show I did had way more attendees than I expected. Many were friends and many were people I had never met. People were actually there for the art that I was creating. I had a moment during the performance where I thought to myself, “Yeah, this was what I was made to do. I finally found it.”

So far I haven’t quite seen the risks pay off as I expected, but I’m still pretty early in this journey and still committed to it every step of the way.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hello and thank you for having me! I’m Cameron, a singer/songwriter, potter, and part of a dynamic duo with my wife as we have embarked on a journey to bring homestead goods to life. Our homestead business is run out of our home, in fact its the oldest house in the state of Idaho, built in 1883, We produce and share homestead products such as maple syrup, homemade sourdough, and honey. It’s called Hart House Homestead Goods.

In the realm of music, my style is a mix between heartland rock, indie rock, and folk. I fell in love with songwriting when I was 14. I have come a long, long way since my early Myspace demos I made at 15! I just never really stopped, and have kept following the passion since then. I’ve had the privilege of visiting Nashville several times, attending songwriting camps, and recording music. For me, the magic of a song lies in the ability to tell a compelling story. It’s not just about the melody; it’s about creating something that resonates personally with real life people. My favorite part of the craft is making something that people can see themselves in, offering something as a gift to the world, leaving it better than I found it.

As a potter, I extend my love for craftsmanship and authenticity to create handcrafted pieces that tell their own stories. Right now it is mugs. I love making mugs. Mugs are so personal and they have a dual nature of being a work of art and functional tool at the same time. Meanwhile, my wife and I are venturing into the world of homestead goods, where we hope to share the goodness of our land and its heritage with others.

What sets us apart is the deep connection we have with our work. From the historic homestead where we reside, to the carefully crafted pottery and the songs that echo through our artistic journey, each piece tells a story of passion and dedication. It’s not just about products; it’s about creating an experience that enriches the lives of those who welcome our creations into their homes. With the age of AI impending on us, we are seeing handcrafted goods become more valuable. People love something that a computer or factory can’t produce.

We really want to teach our kids that life is more about being than doing. And that creativity isn’t just for artsy people; it’s embedded in the nature of all humans. We just need the permission to walk in it sometimes.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

As a kid I was never able to sit still in a classroom. As I got older, I realized how drawn I was to artistic work and that I learned better intuitively and through exploration. My main goal is to be who I was originally made to be and to not try to fit the mold anymore. It’s easy and challenging at the same time. A lot of my creative work is a labor of love, and with so many young kids it is easy to feel too overwhelmed and give up. But through all of the times I have powered through and committed to finishing a piece or a project, I feel like I tap into the real me. And that’s really refreshing and encouraging.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

First of all, I want to say that I don’t subscribe to the notion that there are non-creatives vs creatives. I believe that we all possess an innate sense of creativity; it’s just not what some would call “creative” or “art”. There is no difference between someone who can craft a beautiful fence for a yard versus someone who can craft a giant landscape oil painting.

As far as creative work goes, for those who would not classify themselves as “artists” and “crafters”, one aspect that they might find challenging to understand about my journey is the intricate dance between passion and practicality. For many creatives, myself included, the decision to pursue artistic endeavors often involves a delicate balance between following one’s heart and navigating the practicalities of life. It’s not just about creating for the sake of creation; it’s a commitment to authenticity and the pursuit of a deeper, more fulfilling existence.

The non-linear nature of the creative process can be perplexing. Unlike more traditional career paths, creativity doesn’t always adhere to a clear roadmap or timeline. The ebbs and flows, the moments of inspiration followed by periods of introspection, are challenging to explain. It’s a journey that embraces uncertainty, where the destination may not be as clearly defined, but the process itself is immensely rewarding.

As far as paying bills and making ends meet, I have had to do many side hustles to keep the economic engine running. It’s all part of the deal. But the main mission is to create instead of just paying bills. There’s nothing wrong with that- its just not what I know I’m supposed to do with my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: cameronmoder.com
• Instagram: @cameron.moder @harthouse1883
• Facebook: facebook.com/cameronmodermusic

Image Credits
Photo Credits: Steve Torres Rachel Shamberg