New track from Cameron and the Slumberknights ‘I Held You So Close’ dares to dream of the ones that got away, and twinges with a commendable romantic innocence. On the band-produced track Cam addresses his own heartbreak spiral, poetically pondering the mistakes a boy will make whilst grappling with his own adolescence. Glued together with roomy and charming acoustic guitars, and drenched in adoring backing vocals, ‘I Held You So Close’ is an endearing summer bop that chugs with a snarling bassline and beautifully concludes with guest vocalist Alison May’s own lament.
“I started writing I Held You So Close on my guitar after I’d finished a shift at the coffee shop I worked in, a summer or two ago now. The track only really came together earlier this year though! I was quite lost at the time, and was regretting letting certain moments slip away from me.
The song came from a place of longing. I was in a very isolated space, and so found myself reminiscing about days-gone-by, and the treasured memories made with people I unfortunately don’t speak to anymore. I Held You So Close is about a Year-6 girlfriend, who later became a high-school girlfriend, and continues to be a beautiful person. She just got engaged, actually! I think it’s fairly normal (I can’t comment on the healthiness of it) to put awesome people on a pedestal when you’re at the foot of it, desperately clawing your way up – especially if there was a genuine friendship between you. Everyone needs a light to help them out of the darkness, and the memories of our adventures throughout our Summer holidays were just that. I Held You So Close is somewhat of a lament, but this young love was a taste of hope
I like to think that my verses on I Held You So Close are quite Seussian! I’ve never before written a verse like the first, and it did take some doing. The Doc was a genius! I was hoping to capture a hopeless romanticism in the vein of ‘roses are red, violets are blue’ using simple end-rhymes, but thankfully it ended up being a lot more vivid! I love the way the verses bounce, with such wistfulness.”
Formed in 2019, the band boast an eclectic collection of influences ranging all the way from Eminem to Hiatus Kaiyote, Cameron and the Slumberknights have been gaining atte ntion since their hip-shaking debut ‘Pour’ in 2020. Now in the midst of an evolution, the group reflect on their artistry and hone in on their sound. The band is fronted by South African songwriter Cameron Donald and features Jim Cornelissen on drums, Ben Thomson on guitar and Dan Collins on bass.
Praised for their sincerity (Ryan Gaur, Central Sauce) and irrefutable groove (Robin Fulton, Earmilk), Cameron and the Slumberknights pride themselves on the musicality and substance of their coming-of-age songwriting. Peppering their vibe-laden tracks with a bittersweet nostalgia, the collective tackle themes such as youth, faith and depression in their exploration of The Slumber.
