We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Campbell Crates a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Campbell , appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Back in December I recorded my next project which is a conceptual EP covering topics of mental health. I had written a song last spring called May Flowers that’s about the concept of spring cleaning your brain. I liked the song but didn’t know where it fit yet. In November of last year I was starting to fall into the old habit of seasonal depression. That inspired me to write a song called Ice Age which is about getting into seasonal depression and how you feel once you’re there. Something within me clicked and I knew that the two songs had to fit together. That’s when I had the idea to make a 3 song EP with the final song being a cover of Summertime by Sam Cooke. The project starts with Ice Age, moves into May Flowers, then finishes off with Summertime which I plan on looping back to Ice Age once again so that the project represents the fact that seasonal depression always comes back. If people choose to listen to the project multiple times in one sitting they can experience my emotional journey in the true way in which I experience it and perhaps relate to it on their own

Campbell , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a musician and actress born and raised in Plano, TX. When I was 7 years old I began my journey in the entertainment industry spending summers in LA auditioning and working on projects. Acting was my main focus up until I turned 11. That’s when I realized how much desire I had within me to create music. I began playing gigs around the DFW area and started writing songs when I was 12, I released my first song when I was 16, and now at the age of 20 I have released 5 singles and a full length album in addition to playing venues like the House of Blues, Granada Theater, and Lava Cantina. In addition to that I was able to go on my first multi-city tour across the country last spring playing venues in Miami, Denver, Austin, and more. I haven’t stopped pursuing a career in the acting world though by any means. Last year I acted in a TV pilot next to Patrick Warburton (Kronk in the Emperors New Groove), recorded the audio as the main character in a cinematic podcast, and filmed an upcoming movie in Sedona, AZ. The key to my success really comes down to the fact that I started so young and had such supportive parents the whole way through. I don’t know anything other than being an entertainer and I don’t want to. It’s a lot harder for my mind to fill with doubt about where I’m headed because this has been my entire life for as long as I can remember. With all the support and lack of doubt that I possess I never waver from the end goal which is what keeps me motivated to continue focusing on the next thing I’m going to accomplish.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My end goal is to provide a voice for nature. Over the years I’ve gone through many genre changes, and through that I have found how much I enjoy writing about nature. I’m a big tree huger and want to do my part to save this beautiful planet by helping people get in tune with nature and realize how important it is on a spiritual level to keep mother earth’s heart beating.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding thing about being an artist is the way you can speak to people. There is not a more powerful way to express emotions. Art in every form is for all. Everyone can relate and interpret what they see and hear and there’s no wrong answers. Experiencing art is an accepting place to be. To create a place of acceptance for people and allow them to explore their emotions on a deeper level is a heartwarming pleasure.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.campbellcrates.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/campbellcrates?utm_medium=copy_link
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/CampbellCrates
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/24BolxoTofQwoMJK3Wf4S4?si=FhG-qJr0RrKFL-pu-RhuCA

Image Credits
Chloe Gonzales and Davian Serna