Cam, born Camaron Ochs in California, has built a reputation as one of country music’s most distinctive voices, blending heartfelt storytelling with genre-defying sounds. She first broke through with her 2015 hit single ‘Burning House,' which earned Grammy and CMA nominations and helped launch her major-label debut album ‘Untamed.' Known for her powerful vocals and honest lyricism, Cam quickly became a critical favourite, unafraid to tackle complex emotions and push boundaries within the traditional country framework. Her follow-up record, ‘The Otherside' (2020), featured collaborations with pop and EDM producers like Sam Smith and Avicii, further showcasing her versatility and fearless artistry.
Beyond her music, Cam has become a vocal advocate for equity and inclusion in the music industry, using her platform to speak out on gender and representation in country music. With a background in psychology and a deep love of songwriting, Cam brings intellect and emotional depth to everything she creates so it was no wonder that Beyonce turned to her for writing and producing guidance on her critically acclaimed ‘Cowboy Carter' also. Her forthcoming third album ‘All Things Light,' set for release on July 18th, promises a new chapter that continues her evolution—marrying warmth, introspection and sonic experimentation in a way only she can.
‘All Things Light' is a masterful blend of folk, country, pop, and deeply personal storytelling—an ambitious, genre-bending body of work that feels both timeless and urgent. The record opens with the moody and enigmatic ‘Turns Out I Am God,' a dreamlike meditation on power, vulnerability, and self-perception. Its sparse acoustic beginnings evoke Cam’s earlier work like ‘Burning House,' but as the song builds—with shimmering synths and ethereal backing vocals—it transports the listener to a surreal, almost celestial space. It’s a bold and contemplative way to start the album, setting the tone for a journey that is as introspective as it is musically adventurous, similar in tone to artists like Kate Bush and the Indigo Girls.
‘Alchemy' follows with an entirely different mood—a breezy, melodic reflection on transformation and the cycles of life. Driven by a light, jangly acoustic guitar, the song sparkles with a blend of folk-rooted storytelling and bright pop melodies. Cam’s ability to write about complex themes with poetic clarity shines here. While the sonic mood is uplifting, there’s real philosophical weight behind the lyrics, making ‘Alchemy' both an ear worm and a thoughtful piece of songwriting at the same time.
With ‘Everblue,' Cam brings listeners back into darker emotional territory. It’s a stripped-back folk-pop lament filled with vivid lyrical imagery and a haunting sense of longing. The song swells subtly with bass and percussion in the second verse, mirroring the emotional build as Cam moves from heartbreak to reluctant acceptance. Her use of the word “everblue” as a transformation of “evergreen” is particularly striking—a clever lyrical turn that encapsulates the feeling of sorrow staining something once hopeful.
Just as the weight begins to feel heavy, ‘Wherever You Are' bursts in to cleanse your palette with a jazzy pop sheen and a subtle funk groove. Cam channels her inner Taylor Swift here, both in vocal production and lyrical approach. It’s a song of romantic nostalgia and what-ifs, but it’s delivered with a maturity and restraint that keeps it from tipping into melodrama. The production is sleek and modern, yet Cam’s emotional transparency keeps it grounded and sincere.
‘Slow Down' and ‘Canyon' show off Cam’s range in two very different ways. The former, a sweet, whistled ballad barely over a minute long, could have been lifted from a Patsy Cline or early Disney soundtrack—its retro charm is undeniable. The latter is a sweeping Americana piece that melds Laurel Canyon atmospherics with haunting vocals and poetic lyrics about healing and escape. ‘Canyon' is one of the most emotionally rich tracks on the album, evoking a sense of vastness and quiet strength in both its sound and sentiment.
The second half of the album delves even deeper into Cam’s creative and emotional psyche. ‘Kill the Guru' stands out as a bold, hypnotic piece—both musically experimental and lyrically powerful. As a spiritual companion and call back to the events of ‘Burning House,' it explores deception, misplaced faith, and self-reclamation. ‘Hallelujah' continues in this vein, playing with the idea of lost faith—both in art and in truth—while referencing Leonard Cohen in both title and theme. The arrangements here become more intricate and cinematic, culminating in a 60s-influenced instrumental close that lifts the song beyond typical pop structure.
The final trio of tracks—'Never Mine,' ‘Pretty Girls' and ‘We Always Do'—bring the album to a satisfying and emotionally layered close. The former is a standout: a piano-driven ballad soaked in classic country melancholy, as Cam sings of love lost with a quiet ache that is nothing short of mesmerising. ‘Pretty Girls,' meanwhile, flips the tone with its upbeat funk-pop production and sharp commentary on superficiality in the digital age, complete with brass and swagger. Finally, ‘We Always Do' ends things with a hopeful, reflective note—anchored by familial faith and understated optimism. Its evolving arrangement, blending folk-pop with Kate Bush-esque flair, is a beautiful summary of the album’s many musical shades and serves to end this thoughtful, reflective journey through the various shades of human behaviour and experience on an uplifting and hopeful note.
In ‘All Things Light,' Cam has created an album that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. She moves fluidly between genres and emotional registers, crafting songs that are rich in both sound and meaning. Whether she’s whispering heartbreak over a lone piano or building anthemic choruses out of philosophical musings, Cam proves herself again as a visionary songwriter and vocalist. This is not just an album—it’s a statement of artistic identity and one of her most compelling works to date.
Track list: 1. Turns Out I Am God 2. Alchemy 3. Everblue 4. Wherever You Are 5. Slow Down 6. Canyon 7. Kill the Guru 8. Hallelujah 9. Never Mine 10. Pretty Girls 11. We Always Do Record Label: RCA Records Release Date: July 18th Buy ‘All Things Light' right here
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