The refreshingly literate and lofty Australian musician Alex Cameron has created a persona for his intriguing debut album ‘Jumping The Shark’. A suite of disquieting showbiz stories are presented by this alter ego, a formerly successful entertainer past his prime, inert as the world rushes past him at an inexorable rate. But this is no cartoonish creation, rather an empathetic portrait of a talent in decline and a satirical swipe at the music industry.
Dressed daringly in a skintight flight suit with glue spread across his face to age and distort his features, he’s a gargoyle, albeit one with a certain panache. Weaving arresting narratives over syncopated synths, he’s a Frankenstein creation, horrendous yet pitiable, poignantly flawed and dangerously out of time.
The new video for single ‘Take Care of Business’ directed by Berlin based filmmaker Ryan Haysom is a Lynch meets Argento jewel. "Haysom saw me sing at Chester's in Berlin and wanted to capture my show with a severe focus on my performance,” explains Alex. “We shot it in one day at a nightclub in Kreuzberg. In the video I'm judged harshly by a small audience. Like in real life."
His critically lauded SXSW short film ‘Reflections’ has also spawned a sequel. Returning to Australia following an international tour, it documents the internal struggle between his career, his country and his love Candy May. Featuring appearances from Roy Molloy, Candy May, Kirin J Callinan and Mac DeMarco.
For the Antipodeans out there, Alex will be performing a residency at the Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney – Saturdays in September (6th, 13th, 20th, 27th).
Alex Cameron's 'Jumping The Shark' out on limited edition vinyl (while stocks last) on Siberia Records.
Words: Anna Wilson