Camille Schmidt's Debut EP 'Good Person' Is a Poignant Exploration of Self
Meet Brooklyn-based artist Camille Schmidt, your new favorite folk singer-songwriter adding to a genre beloved for its vulnerable lyricism and beautiful metaphors. Her debut project Good Person is a six-song collection of introspective musings set to an indie soundscape, produced by Phil Weinrobe, known for his work with Adrienne Lenker and more. Good Person is a blueprint on how to introduce yourself artistically, prioritizing true personality, honesty, and relatability from the jump. It’s clear that songwriting is a therapeutic outlet for Schmidt and will be equally as healing for listeners who are lucky enough to discover her debut.
Good Person is a kaleidoscope of both unexpected and familiar folk production. Schmidt’s ability to capture abstract feelings in stunning one-liners will stop you in your tracks. Poignant imagery and striking metaphors guide the listener through a visceral journey that shows who the artist is and what she has to say. On the making of the project, Schmidt says, "This EP is very much about looking back at all the things you’ve been through in your childhood, looking back on the different versions of yourself you’ve been in friendships and relationships, the different fake versions of self you’ve presented to the world and then sort of asking with a real honest earnest hope, is there something else? And then betting with your life that there is."
The EP opens with “Your Game,” an introspective feast using real life as a metaphor for the inner workings of your mind. The chorus is showstopping as she calls herself out, “I can’t play your games / When you make the rules / Yeah I’m a hypocrite / I said, ‘Right here is my heart and how to make it start and stop.’” The track introduces self-reflection and hypocrisy as its central themes, which are heavily discussed throughout the five other tracks. In “Red and Blue,” a haunting melody over a piano ballad helps us dive deeper into the core of these feelings. Vocal layering pierces the soul as Schmidt unloads a stream of consciousness, repeating the reality of the situation like a mantra until it actually sinks in.
Schmidt’s unique metaphors and imagery shine in the third track, “Bumblebee Drinks Lavender.” She describes the relatable moment of observing an animal and comparing our own life to it, feeling a hint of jealousy at the simplicity they’ve always known. In “Fakeout Ending,” she sings about another universal experience, being so influenced by what we consume that it's hard to tell what we truly enjoy. The track has a more charged guitar strum, upping the intensity and questioning what happens when something untouched is exposed to the elements. The ending is genius in a way that needs to be experienced to properly describe it, but let’s just say a true fake-out ending is more than delivered.
The second to last track, “Wake Up,” is a mantra for overcoming addiction in its many forms. It’s one of the darker songs in terms of lyrical content but has the most upbeat, happy-go-lucky production. Schmidt’s quirky personality is shown again as she reflects on the past, recalling “You called all my friends losers / Who still calls people losers?”
The final track, “Bird On A Telephone Wire,” draws further comparisons and metaphors that shed a bright light on the singer-songwriter's singular perspective. In these closing remarks, she reflects on her role in her own life and the lives of others. This is where the healing is realized, as she declares to be done playing the part. In a soft declaration of hard truth, she recalls “You promised tonight you’d touch me / But you’re still lit up by a screen.” Schmidt’s ability to turn modern life into poetic musings transcends. By the end of the song it becomes even more stripped back, and she has you hanging onto every word.
Camille Schmidt’s debut EP has all the elements of what makes indie folk popular, but doesn’t rely on the genre to connect with listeners. It’s a true exploration of self, delivered in ways both digestible and complex. Good Person is an impressive debut from an artist with a bright future ahead of her.
Listen to Good Person below:
