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Photo by Bao Ngo

Rising singer-songwriter Camille Schmidt contains multitudes, and as she gears up to release her debut album, listeners are gaining more and more insight into what the project might sound like. In her new single “Stanley”, Schmidt contemplates her own life through the lens of others while flexing her songwriting skills and ability to make the specific feel universal. The track follows the release of “XOXO”, the first offering from her upcoming record, and builds upon the sound and subject matter to give us a look into what the full album will have to offer. 

Over a jarring, almost off-beat groove with a tantalizing guitar riff on top, Schmidt sings about being enthralled with the details of strangers' lives. She lets her mind wander from that point, running wild with the small amount of information she has gathered, using it as a jumping off point for her own inner thoughts. The repetition of the phrase “Going nowhere” throughout the track seems to represent the endless possibilities of what could – or couldn’t be – from the random details being collected. 

On the inspiration behind the track, Schmidt shares: “I started thinking about my plane ride the night before. This woman in front of me had been texting a friend about her boyfriend, Stanley...it was a time when I was searching for comfort in anything – overheard conversations, interactions with strangers, little jokes I would make to myself." Although she knows nothing about these people and their relationship dynamic, Schmidt started to ponder the gut-wrenching experience of being with someone who doesn’t complete you like they should. “Stanley” is proof that inspiration can strike anywhere, and take you to unpredicted places that can even result in a banger hit song from your upcoming debut record.

Schmdit has a knack for memorable one-liners and in “Stanley," it’s “I had a hot matcha and a heart attack.” Her ability to toe the line of serious and playful is an art, and we can’t wait to hear more of it throughout the album. The track ends with a switch-up of vocal delivery, turning into an almost spoken-word vocal performance that has you hanging onto her every word. With “Stanley” and “XOXO” as our guide, it’s safe to say Camille Schmidt’s debut album is one of our most anticipated of 2025.