Almost two years have passed since Exchecker, the Nottingham hip-hop group that once played the main stage at Rock City, released a song. Largely dodging the labyrinth of live music restrictions in the UK, its frontman Cammy Chad popped up here and there at Eastwood’s DH Lawrence Music Festival and obscure open mic nights, acoustic guitar in hand.
It’s no secret that the artist has always had a soft spot for folk and pop music. Shortly after hometown rum bar ‘The Bird & Hat’ opened, he was spotted performing acoustic covers of Jason Isbell, The Courteeners, and George Gadd on a Sunday afternoon. What was a mystery was his talent as a singer-songwriter in his own right. Now, with the release of the debut EP ‘Tomorrow’s Problem,’ that talent is on full display.
Eclectic expression
The five-song, 12-and-a-half minute release is a spellbinding but idiosyncratic affair that ventures seamlessly into the worlds of acoustic pop, folk, country, and indie. Intro track ‘Talk Show,’ recalls the intoxicating melodies of Taylor Swift with a hint of lyrical Morrissey, while early fan-favorite ‘The Boys’ has more in common with Nashville than Nottingham.“I wrote most of the record in one week,” Cammy Chad reveals. “Each day, I picked up my guitar with just an idea. It was a happy coincidence that five different styles came from that.”
A Frank Turner flair
But the most prominent inspiration for Cammy Chad’s music perhaps comes from Hampshire troubadour Frank Turner. Throughout the record, something about the detailed lyricism, stripped-back sound, and warm vocal tones recall Turner’s mid-2000s output.‘Postcard,’ a 2-minute lament on lost city romance, elicits the most comparisons, though its writer maintains the likes of Johnny Lloyd and Jay Jay Pistolet influenced it more. The three are all staples of the contemporary London indie scene.
Somewhat of an outlier on the largely acoustic project is ‘Carmine, Bear in Mind.’ Its swirling indie pop guitar lead was created by miking up a Fender Mustang amplifier where the other tracks were recorded unplugged. Again, the songwriting is Taylor Swift-like, with the supporting instrumental echoing the reverberating intimacy of a late album cut by The Smiths.
Mental health motivation
The story really for Cammy Chad fans is ‘The Boys.’ This straightforward, four-chord country song addresses the subject of male suicide with striking candor. Its moving yet tragic lyrics are set to a delicately simple melody, only contributing to its emotional impact.“Sadly, there aren’t many people who haven’t lost someone they know to mental health issues,” Cammy Chad says. “On ‘The Boys,’ I wanted to put aside my melodrama for a second and talk about a subject I’m passionate about. I’m happy to see it resonate with so many.”
Indeed, Frank Turner has also written about the subject on tracks such as ‘A Wave Across a Bay.’ Cammy Chad’s approach is less specific, focusing on moving forward with the passed person’s message in mind. Though it’s primarily concerned with suicide in men, he lost a fellow Nottingham musician while recording the song, which has broadened its meaning for the singer-songwriter.
Despite no prior promotion, ‘Tomorrow’s Problem’ has already made an imprint on the folk scene. On the closing track ‘Eighteen,’ Cammy Chad claims life isn’t always about ‘our innermost hopes and dreams.’ But, with his debut collection of acoustic songs, the 23-year-old singer-songwriter may soon realize them.
