Campbell Crates is an indie synth pop artist from Dallas, Texas who recently charted as a top 40 artist with her song Are We There Yet. Her music has been played on radio stations nationwide, and her song All Year Baby has over 150,000 streams on Spotify. Campbell recently completed her first tour promoting her upcoming album, Age of Exploration, playing in cities all across the country.
A very versatile artist, Campbell entertains audiences of all sizes, as a solo performer or with a band. She is well known for her enthusiastic keyboard skills and also plays guitar and ukulele. Known as the Electric Hippie, Campbell stuns crowds while making them feel at home.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Campbell about the latest music, challenges, technology and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
I am from Dallas, Texas and I make indie synth pop, but I am the process of transitioning into psychedelic indie pop. I started out as a jazz singer making acid jazz and funk music, then made the transition into making more indie and pop sounding music. There is still great influence from both jazz and funk in my melodies and instrumentation.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?
When I was younger my father used to play Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles for me and my sisters on his guitar. He had been in bands when he was in college and always had a great love for music. That alone made me want to dip my toes a little bit deeper into the world of music. Growing up I used songwriting as a coping mechanism for being bullied in school, which made me realize just how powerful music really is. This passion just continued to grow, and still does today. My father ended up passing away in December of 2019, so now more than ever I am determined to make a name for myself in the music industry in his honor and inspiration.
How is this new release different than previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?
The next release I have planned is my very first album, Age of Exploration. Aside from this project being my first full length album, it’s also serving as a turning point in my style and career. There’s a variety of styles on this album with songs written all throughout my teenage years. The oldest song, Fairweather, was written when I was 13 and is a bossa-nova style jazz song. The newest song, Yellow and Blue, was written when I was 18, and it fits in more with the psychedelic indie pop genre I am currently transitioning into. That’s why I chose to call it Age of Exploration. It was my journey of finding my sound. I am now 19 and have really discovered my sound and my place in the music world and I am excited for the releases that will follow that.
Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this over saturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?
The biggest challenge I think all indie musicians face is finding your niche. I know there’s an audience out there for me and my music, and I’m constantly pushing the boundaries trying to find them. Although this is a long and challenging process, it is more than rewarding when you do meet those fans who fit the vibe you’ve created and imagined.
What was the last song you listened to?
The last song I listened to was I Can’t Get You Out by Part Time.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
As a music lover there’s nothing quite like listening to a record on vinyl. That being
said I do really appreciate the convenience of MP3s.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
I personally prefer to use Spotify. I think out of all of the streaming platforms it gives
the artists the best chance of expressing their brand, and I think it gives the listeners
the best opportunity to tap into what an artist is all about.
Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?
The best way to keep up with me online is through my Instagram [@campbellcrates]
and my website [campbellcrates.com].
Anything else before we sign off?
As the Electric Hippie, my goal as a musician and artist is to tap into the power of
nature and the universe to connect with anyone who’s willing to listen. Becoming
part of my fan-base allows you to tap into your true power and put you in a euphoric
community of like-minded individuals.
