An Honest and Character Packed Record from Cam Narimanian
- R.A.G.
- 18 minutes ago
- 7 min read
An album release from Cam Narimanian most certainly delivers a great sense of honesty, and in doing so, you get loads of character, which is one of the things you end up getting attached to throughout the course of this record.
The whole thing is delivered with a gusto as well. There is an amazing energy throughout the From Out Below album that really gives you a sense of who the artist is as a person, going right along with those lyrics, of course.
This is a blend of folk, singer-songwriter, and rock, amongst others, all riddled with a pop undertone most of the time, giving off double-tracked vocals that deliver memorable hooks, and the whole thing has a totally warm aesthetic to it.
Songs like "Movin' On" give you a sense of exactly what I'm talking about, with a thriving indie-pop undertone laced with acoustic guitars and live percussion, and lightly affected electric guitar giving off a bit of a dirtier tone underneath all the layers of clean guitars.
The track also showcases what I mean when I mentioned double-tracking those vocals and giving off that amazing warmth and colorful catchiness. This is an upbeat track that has loads of flavor to it, and the energy is one of the more intriguing and infectious elements of it.
It also has some lead guitar hooks and melodies, and the way things are performed at times makes you think of artists like Elliott Smith, for example.
Other tracks like "After All These Years" also give you a great sense of personality and also show you that Cam is an artist who puts little pieces of himself into the music he creates.
There's definitely a lot of character coming through with songs like this one, especially. He paints a great picture and lets a lot of inner thoughts out for all to soak in, which I find both vulnerable and brave at the same time.
You can tell you someone who uses his music to get things off of his chest.
This track has deep-rooted piano notes that are almost used like bass lines and it also feels kind of cinematic at the same time.
I think this is because of the emotional backbone that the song portrays also.
"1000 Days" has more of that classic folk feel to it, but also leans a little bit towards the Americana side with some twangy guitars and vocal performances that feel a little bit southern.
This is something else that shows you he's got a slew of influences under his belt and plenty of genres of music he holds close to his heart, which he pulls from to create his songs.
Other tracks like "Maple Homestead" are absolutely gorgeous instrumental pieces; this one is a piano piece that serves almost like an interlude. This is exactly what I mean when I talk about warmth.
There's such a beautiful tone delivered from the piano, and the performance itself seems very heartfelt.
Even on an instrumental piece like this one, you can feel the emotional backbone pushing through.
The album closes with the track called "No More Days", which has all kinds of additional instrumentation, including strings that feel very orchestral. This also pushes that cinematic boundary a little bit further and gives you something more to chew on.
You can tell a lot of these songs go together. I'm not sure if it's a concept album, per se, but there are connections between the songs, and when you listen to it, it feels like chapters in a book.
This is another reason I would suggest listening to the entire record all the way through.
The songs I mentioned already stand on their own two feet as singles incredibly well, but listening to the whole album, in one shot, gives you a fuller picture.
Besides, listening to only a few songs from this record will not give you anywhere near the spectrum the entire album has to offer.
This final track is like the closing of the book.
It's the final chapter, and there is that sense of closure there as well, lyrically and musically.
You wouldn't skip chapters in a book, so I wouldn't suggest skipping songs on this record either.
All in all, this was absolutely gorgeous, and came through with an amazing sense of persona that comes together with the instrumentation that builds moods for the lyrics on each song.
I found that to be one of the most enticing aspects of it all. The way he's able to create these unique moods for the songs.
There are songs that have lyrics that are very honest and even a little bit sad at times, meanwhile the music has a bit more of a pop tone to it.
This is a record built with fewer boundaries than whatever you may be used to, but there's also a great sense of catchiness, familiarity, and classic style songwriting that reels you in.
Not only do I suggest listening to the full album at once, but I also suggest doing so with headphones on because it's one of the best ways to really pick up on not only the lyrics, but all the layers of tones and textures that are coming through as the record unfolds.
Cam is a bit of a storyteller, and this record proves that.
Upon listening to what I wanted to have a sit-down with the artist to find out where a lot of this came from and what might be coming up next for him.
So, while you listen to this album, have a read through of our interview with Cam Narimanian below.
Don't miss out on this record.
Where did this record come from and what was it about?
I had written this record over the course of almost two years just about small things that were happening in my life at the time. I had just finished college and realized that life transitioning to adult-hood post college was an interesting path to manage and wanted to best capture that moment of my life within this group of songs. Whether that's relationships, whether that's friendships, things in life changing, anything really.
I am hearing a few different styles on this release. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
I have a somewhat broad rock-leaning musical influence, most of my childhood was spent playing classical music, while also listening to Top40 radio, and The Beatles, Billy Joel, Elton John, Eagles, Norah Jones, Bruce Springsteen. My teenage years-to-now were filled with several different types of metal, rock, and electronic, Metallica, Megadeth, Dream Theater, Green Day, Weezer, Linkin Park, Blink-182, Sum 41, Bowling For Soup, Ben Folds, etc.. My music tastes nowadays are more rock-adjacent, for this record specifically I wanted to pull from only a few influences and create an acoustic pop indie vibe.
Are you performing live right now?
I currently perform at local open mics and other events on occasion in the Philadelphia/Delaware area.
How did your journey as an artist begin?
I started taking classical piano lessons when I was about five years old, and music quickly became a major part of my life. Piano was my foundation, and I continued studying consistently all the way through the end of college. That early classical training gave me a strong understanding of melody, harmony, dynamics, and discipline, which has shaped the way I approach every instrument and style of music today.
When I was 15, I got my first guitar, which opened the door to writing songs, playing in bands, and exploring different genres. From there, I gradually picked up other instruments as well, including bass, harmonica, and a few others. Over time, I became interested in not just playing music, but understanding how different instruments work together to create a full sound.
I’ve had the chance to play in a variety of musical settings and styles. I was part of a metal band called Soul From Body, where we released two EPs, and later played in a college-rock band called Port MacNam while studying at Ithaca College, where we also released an EP. Those experiences gave me the opportunity to perform, record, collaborate with other musicians, and develop my own voice as a player and songwriter.
As a solo musician, I’ve performed at a number of local events and continue to enjoy playing music in a more personal, stripped-down setting. Whether I’m playing piano, guitar, or writing original music, I try to bring together the structure of my classical background with the energy and emotion of the different styles I’ve played over the years.
Did you work with a producer on this record, or was this all you?
This record, From Out Below, was special because it was the first solo record I had recorded in a professional studio setting. I had recorded in studios before with Soul From Body and Port MacNam, but this was the first time I went into the studio for my own record. For this record I had demoed it all myself and produced the record myself, and then went into a studio in Pennsylvania with a drummer in the Fall of 2024 to record these songs. From there I spent the next 8-9 months tweaking with the songs and doing overdubs and vocal takes myself and others mix and master the songs.
What's next for you? Working on more new releases?
I know I mentioned I've played classical piano earlier since I was little, I am currently working on a classical piano album of original compositions with the premise of inspiration from asking people for a color and a set of 3 questions. I have about 7 fleshed out compositions demoed, and hoping to record that album sometime in the summer!
What kind of advice would you give to other up and coming bands or artists trying to get heard?
Let me know when ya do. Lol, I'm kidding, for me it's always been about being your authentic-self in all facets of life, professional, music, day-to-day, and to have fun with it.
What would you say people can expect to hear on this release?
I think on this release, people can expect to hear fun songs with introspective elements scattered across the tracks, for me I always start with the instrumentation and then attach a feeling or a specific event to the song, so for me its always about the vibe of the song.
Before we go, what would you want to express to fans of the music?
Thank you for listening, it truly means the world to me!
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