A New Release from Cameron Strings

Eastern Ontario’s CameronStrings approach their new six-track EP Eclectica with an openness that feels intentional rather than scattered. I hear the title less as a stylistic claim and more as an invitation: early rock, folk, R&B, and nuevo flamenco all surface here, but none of it comes across as genre tourism. Tara Cameron’s voice is the anchor, shifting from reflective to flirtatious to bruised without losing focus, while Scott Cameron’s classical guitar training gives the arrangements a steady center.

The interplay between nylon-string precision and the brightness of her twelve-string creates a kind of built-in tension that keeps the songs moving.

“Don’t Even Know You” opens the EP with an unvarnished, room-recorded warmth that pulled me in right away.

The guitars ring beautifully, and there’s an almost coastal undercurrent blended with folk that gives the track its lift. The lyrics are simple but delivered with clarity and confidence. “Drop Dead Gorgeous” tightens the energy with a bluesy edge and a bit more swagger, and again I loved how it sounded like an actual band locked in together. The clean guitar tones give Tara’s vocals plenty of space to take the lead.

“Even In Our Sleep” leans into heavier emotions, carried by airy instrumentation and some of the most evocative vocal work on the project. It had a faint spiritual shade to it that surprised me in a good way. “Missing Shade of Blue” moves with a quiet ache and pairs its melodic lines with delicate guitar patterns and thoughtful writing. “Shut It Down” shifts the mood again with one of the catchiest vocal runs on the EP, and “While the Music Still Plays” closes things out with a rhythmic pulse that hints at a Latin influence. It is upbeat, easy to move to, and feels like the right place to land.

I walked away from Eclectica feeling like I had been dropped into a small, well-mic’d live room with two musicians who trust each other completely. These songs are warm, present, and worth spending time with.

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