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

Camille, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One of the toughest things about progressing in a creative career or as an entrepreneur is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

I was always cautious of working with people and trusting people to be my “team”. However, I was still taken advantage of and it was all over the course of a 4 year period. I am not at liberty (nor do I have the want or need) to mention names of people and/or businesses, but I feel that it is important that I share this story to help other artists coming into the music industry.

About 6 months into my time here in Nashville, I started working with a new manager on the scene. This person soon became a very close friend and we also became roommates for the simple convenience of it all. During this time I was all alone in Nashville and going through a divorce. I was in the process of getting on my feet in the midst of starting my music career. I realize now that it was the perfect time for this person to take full advantage of my vulnerability and they did.

It started with jealousy of me spending time with anyone else but them. The result in me doing this would include them berating me, calling me names and verbally abusing me. This was the first of many red flags, but because we were also “friends”, I forgave these outbursts and chalked it up to this being a close friendship. I had honestly not had a very close best friend in my all years because I was always so busy with my music and academics all throughout my childhood and adulthood. For all I knew, this was how a best friendship worked.

This person was very good at the business side of things and we were making big strides as a manager/artist duo. They started doing my radio promotion and booking. Mind you, I didn’t ask for these things and my extremely limited budget was well known. I paid and did as much as I possibly could, but these services were often hung over my head and when things inevitably became worse personally, they would threaten to cut the cord on all of my business ventures going on at the time. Over time, they also slowly took over my bank accounts and had a hand in almost everything associated with me and my career.

The abuse also became worse and worse. It turned physical at times. This person would basically hold me in a room, berating me for hours until I became desperate to get out. When trying to leave, they would block the door or push me on the bed to which I would also become physical with the “fight or flight” reaction. This also turned me in to a version of myself that I honestly didn’t know existed. I had never before been pushed to the point of extreme stress or anger and since leaving the situation, I haven’t experienced these emotions. It was toxic on both sides when it was all said and done.

I stayed in this situation for two reasons. First, I had come to Nashville with the ultimate goal of furthering my career. After all this time, I had been completely isolated from people that loved me. So, I incorrectly thought that my career was the only thing I had left, which convinced me to stay and endure the many forms of abuse just so I wouldn’t lose all the things that I had accomplished. Second, I believed this person to be my true friend. I didn’t want to give up on them as I knew them personally and felt responsible for their wellbeing and recovery from certain things and issues. One I day I woke up and realized that if I didn’t flee the situation, then I would probably end up in the ground one way or the other. So, I sacrificed my career at its highest point and went against my instincts of being a good and dependable person and friend and left. It was a dramatic exit and resulted in lawsuits and much anguish over the next few years, but I came out on the other side. I’m pretty sure this person also did in their own way.

I have rebuilt my career and have self managed everything for the past 6 years. I have also moved on tremendously in my personal life and gotten married and had a beautiful baby boy. I know I went through this for a plethora of reasons and am still figuring those out all these years later.

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.

My name is Camille Rae and I am a recording artist and singer songwriter. I have been singing since I was three and playing guitar/writing music since I was twelve. Music and performing has always been a part of my life since I literally can remember. It has been my true focus and passion in my life.

My aunt Diana was the one who motivated me to start singing. She encouraged me to sing with her in church after hearing me sing along to her songs in the car and I was hooked. I spent my childhood performing and that turned into writing in my teenage years. I taught myself to harmonize to 90’s country songs when I was seven and I became involved in choir and group singing. After high school, I got a degree in Music Education with a vocal emphasis, went on to teach my hometown high school choir right out of college where I also started a children’s theatre program. From there, I married and moved to British Columbia where I gained experience in the theatre world. I moved to Nashville in my late 20’s, divorced my husband and took on my recording artist venture. I have been at it ever since.

My genre of music is what I would describe as “country soul”. I have always taken pride in the fact that my writing is purposefully relatable to all ages, genres and life stages. My goal is help people in whatever walk of life they may be. If I can reach one person with a song and help them, I have done my job.

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

My goal is broad, but it is to help people in whatever way I can with my music. I’ll admit, I’ve always had the dream and vision of being “famous”. But, that looks a little different to me than it may to others.

I honestly don’t care about the money aspect of fame. As long as my family is taken care of, happy and comfortable, then that is all that really matters. I have always only cared about the platform that fame would bring. I want to reach people that need to hear what I have to say through my songs. There was a time in the early days that I was cautious of the songs I released. I didn’t want to offend anyone or possibly put myself in any kind bad or questionable light. I have learned that being an artist of any kind requires risk and being willing to be completely vulnerable with your art. So, now I release whatever I want without the fear of condemnation or judgement. If I had a bigger platform, then I could reach more people and that is the goal that drives my journey.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

My biggest “pivot” in my career was definitely after I left my previous management. When I first left, I basically hid out for months. I made sure that I had all my business affairs in order and mended any misunderstandings or relationships and laid low. I spent the next three or four months working out legal issues and figuring next moves as to where I would live and how I would pay my bills. It was scary and stressful, but I had wonderful family and friends that saw me through it all.

I then had to rebuild my brand and learn all the facets of the music business that had previously been done for me. This took a good two years. In those two years, I released an EP, booked all my own shows and self managed everything. I also established a solid band. We toured nationally and internationally in the cruise circuit. It was a time of growth and hardship, but it taught me that anything is possible with determination and hard work.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.camillerae.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/camilleraemusic
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/camilleraemusic
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/camilleraemusic
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/CamilleRaeMusic

Image Credits
Amanda C. Wilson Katrina Brooks