We had a chat with UK indie outfit Camens following the release of their excellent new single ‘Anything to Win’
A highly-rated and enduring presence in the UK indie rock scene, Stoke-On-Trent’s Camens are a band who have consistently demonstrated the staying power and guile and become a prolific force over the last decade or so, refining and reinventing a sound that has a classic indie rock feel while maintaining a sharp and focussed, forward-thinking edge.
Their latest single ‘Anything to Win’ is a track that we have already lauded here on the site, a swaggering showcase of a band at the top of their game and firing on all cylinders as they prepare to release their anticipated sophomore album LOS KARMA next year. We love this new release, and had a catch up with the band to find out a bit more about their story and the upcoming new releases.
Who TF is Camens?
Four piece indie/alt rock outfit CAMENS have grown in under ten years from small local venues in their home town of Stoke-on-Trent to national tours with successful artists and international festivals.
How long have you been making music?
We put our first single out as Camens in 2017, but we’d been together under a different name for a year or so previous to that. We lost a few years in Covid too.
Why do you make music?
Speaking personally, I got into music in high school… kind of around that age where you’re figuring out where you fit in. I’d always sung, and my mum and dad always loved music. Good stuff, Beatles, Kinks, Animals.. that was Dad. Mum loved Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. Many more, that’s a solid start I think for any songwriter.
I always enjoyed playing with words and ideas. For a while I’d write poems or songs with melody’s but no music. Then around high school, 14/15, I cottoned on to friends who played and thought I’d learn to turn the poems into songs. Then that was me really, been writing ever since. Still get the same buzz now as I did then when I think I’ve got something. That’s the drug.
What are your biggest influences?
Theres always a 2000’s indie ref in there somewhere. We aim for the Strokes a lot, but that’s easier said than done. Especially without Julian’s voice. So, we probably end up somewhere between there and a British equivalent, of which there are many. Cribs, Catfish, Arctic’s etc. We used to get The Wombats a bit because of the three parts and BV’s.
What would you say has been your best moment so far?
We charted our debut album at #9 in the UK Downloads charts in 2024. No marketing budget, no label backing. We’ve also done some pretty great gigs off the back of it. We toured with the Ks the week their album went to number #2. Massive venues, great gigs. We recorded our second album in the Spanish mountains with Kyle from the View, he wrote and sung on the record. Another pinch yourself moment. Many more!
What’s your dream “I’ve made it” moment?
You just try and get to the next thing you’re trying to achieve. We’re aiming for an official top #40 with our second album in Feb, so let’s see if we can clear that bar. Then if it ever paid the bills, that would be a mad achievement in today’s industry.
We love your new single ‘Anything To Win’, what more can you tell us about it
Thank you! It’s a tongue in cheek take at the lengths we’ve gone to to make the record really. So many industry pitfalls and challenges delayed and effected what we’ve made. This was one of the last songs written for Los Karma. I drew on the frustrations I’d built up. Once I’d got the idea, I’ll do anything to win, which it felt like we were doing. It then became a writing game of what ideas could I come up with that were either, true, funny, exaugurated etc. Always trying to keep it engaging lyrically. There’s anger in there, absurdity and a bit of fun too.
What else do you have planned for the near future?
Lots more music! More world building of Los Karma too, we really went to town to build a world around the songs. So really looking for to sharing all the aspects of what we’ve been working on.
And finally, who is your biggest fan right now?
Whoever last preordered Los Karma, whoever you may be!
