Cammora is a rising talent in the Electronic Music world; as he drops smash releases, collaborates with exciting names on the scene, and delivers striking live sets, he displays an innate ability to captivate listeners with music that is both energetic and powerful. With a signature sound that blends elements from the genres of House, Indie, and Disco, Cammora’s distinct sonic identity has garnered the attention of heavyweight names like Claptone, Danny Howard, and Bob Sinclair, to name a few: a production style that consistently earns him the admiration of genre lovers around the globe.
His latest release ‘Wiggle’ is a perfect example of his hard-hitting signature sound, with its shuffled rhythmic elements, groovy bassline, and funky vibe. In this exclusive interview, Cammora joins us to share more about the creative process and influences behind this new track, giving us an insight into his technical approach to music production. So, make sure to keep reading to discover the behind-the-scenes story of ‘Wiggle’ and the gifted Artist behind it.
Hi Cammora! How are you doing?
I am doing great!
Congrats on the release of ‘Wiggle’! Can you share some insights into the inspiration behind the track and how the concept for it came to life?
‘Wiggle’ is the result of a spontaneous conversation I was having with a DJ friend of mine. I remember we were talking about old school Hip Hop, hip House tunes and Artists in general and how I had already put my hands on “This Is How We Do It” by Montell Jordan last year. We were discussing ideas and tracks that could be cool to rework, and The Outhere Brothers’ “Don’t Stop (Wiggle Wiggle)” came up! It was quite surprising to see that no one had already touched this classic. For me, it was a no-brainer to mess with this tune!
‘Wiggle’ has a unique blend of rhythmic elements and vibrant sonic layers. Could you walk us through your creative process in shaping the track's distinctive sound?
As soon as I had the idea in place, I knew that it had to be a funk-inspired House tune. So, I started with the basic groove and worked with a funky bassline and drums. When the core of the track was in place, it was all about enriching the sonic spectrum with some layering. I played around with rhythmic elements and automation to add some complexity, and finetuned the arrangement to what I like to call a “club DJ tool”.
The vocals in ‘Wiggle’ play a pivotal role in guiding the listening journey, how do you typically approach integrating vocals into your tracks, and what was the creative vision for them in this release?
The vocals’ tone, style and context are the guiding forces in any track. They narrate and encourage the listener to dance, move, and feel.
For ‘Wiggle’ specifically, the lyrics are designed to convey a sense of energy, fun and celebration. So, the music should be synchronized with this vision, to keep the audience engaged throughout the listening journey: groovy – energizing – funky!
The deep sustained bass is a distinctive part of this track. Take us through the creative process of how you programmed the bass pattern and then how you processed it?
To program the bass pattern, I selected a deep bass sound, with low-frequency richness. I like to start with a basic midi sequence and try different sounds until I find the one that “clicks”. As soon as I was happy with the sound and considering the pitch, rhythm, and variations of the track I experimented with the rhythmic pattern and note lengths. Finally, I played around with various modulation techniques, like velocity sensitivity, for better expression.
To process the bass, I started with an EQ, to shape the tonal characteristics and cut unwanted highs and boosting lows. I continued with compression to control the dynamics and add sustain, without over-compressing. Some saturation on top to add a bit of warmth, and finally, sidechain compression to duck the bass with the kick for a cleaner mix.
In your opinion, what are the best three plugins to aid the process of getting your drums sounding tight?
My number one favourite is Waves’ SSL G-Master Buss Compressor. This plugin emulates the classic SSL bus compressor, which is known for its ability to glue and tighten the drum mix. It adds punch and control to the drums and helps them sit better in the mix.
Another favourite is iZotope’s Neutron 3, which is a very versatile plugin. It includes a feature called “Transient Shaper”, which allows you to shape the transients of the drum hits, making them punchier and tighter. It is also equipped with advanced EQ and compression modules to sculpt and control the drum sound.
Finally, FabFilter’s Pro-G 3. Although it is primarily an EQ plugin, it is excellent for tightening up drum sounds. It is very precise and can help you sculpt the tonal balance of individual drum elements and ensure they fit well together in the mix.
The call and response of the different lead layers definitely drive the groove forward. For your melodic elements like this, what is your preferred way of creating these kinds of sounds? Sampling or Synthesis?
I like using a combination of both methods. Sampling can be a great source of inspiration and creativity and is excellent when you want to use real-world sounds for a quick and unique sonic character. Synthesis on the other hand offers more control and flexibility over sound design. So sometimes I might synthesize a primary lead sound and then layer it with sampled elements, or vice versa, to create a rich and dynamic sonic palette.
What inspired you to add breakbeat patterns to this production?
I wanted to give it a more 90s feeling for the breakdown, and these kinds of breakbeats were popular at that time! They aligned perfectly with the vocals, so I kept them!
What's one cool trick/tip you have learnt recently that has actually been practical for application on your productions?
I have not recently learned something technical, but I have learned something that has to do with how to deal with writer’s block. In the past, whenever I was feeling uninspired or unmotivated to produce, I would take breaks. But I read somewhere that professionals work even if they don’t feel like it, so I pushed myself to do so. And it really started changing things for me. I have more productions in the pipeline than ever before!
‘Wiggle’ delivers an electrifying and groovy vibe. Can you share any interesting anecdotes or challenges you encountered while crafting this track, and how you overcame them?
One of the main challenges I had was my decision to leave the infamous b-world, or to be more accurate, the… b-shout in the track! I got rejected by labels because of this, they thought it was too explicit for a house record. Some even asked me to remove it or mute it somehow. But I wanted to do it my way. It took longer than expected to eventually sign this, but it all worked out in the end!
As our interview ends, it is clear that Cammora’s creative process is multifaceted, supported by his impressive technical expertise and enthusiastic talents. With his latest track ‘Wiggle’ showcasing his passion for creating groovy and funky soundscapes that persuade listeners to get up and move, there is no doubt that fans can expect more energetic music from this exciting Artist soon. So, we thank Cammora for his time and eagerly await the next chapter in his captivating musical journey.
Listen to ‘Wiggle’ Now
https://on.soundcloud.com/r6H27
https://open.spotify.com/track/75nTpuawZd42sA25pexQVY?si=d0c1297473d44790
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