Cami Bradley

Cami Bradley
Born (1988-05-26) May 26, 1988
Origin Spokane, Washington
Genres
Instruments
Years active 2013 (2013)–present
Labels Marrow MP
Website

thesweeplings.com

camibradleyphotography.com

Carmen Jane "Cami" Bradley[1] (born May 26, 1988)[2] is an American singer, songwriter and pianist from Spokane, Washington. Bradley self-released a solo album in 2013 and, later that year, gained fame as a contestant on season eight of America's Got Talent. She advanced to the show's finals, finishing in sixth place.

The following year, Bradley joined Huntsville, Alabama, singer-songwriter Whitney Dean to form the Sweeplings. Their debut album, Rise & Fall, was released on their own label in 2015.

Background

Cami Bradey was born into a musical family. Her father, Paul Miller,[3] was the worship leader at the family's church; he was practicing vocal scales in the car while on the way to perform services one day when four-year-old Cami started singing along. Her mother, Amy Miller, said that was when they knew she had both singing talent and an ear for music.[4]

Her parents soon were providing piano lessons for Cami. She began writing songs by age ten, though Bradley later called them "just terrible, but you have to start somewhere."[4] Her early style was influenced by a wide range of music, "from Natalie Cole to Christina Aguilera to Disney soundtracks."[5] She began performing her songs during her teen years; people responded by suggesting she try out for televised singing competitions like The Voice, but she declined because she didn't find the idea to be appealing.[4]

Her first album, Anomalous, was released in 2009 when Bradley was 21 years old.[6] She was happy with the album, but later said it didn't really represent who she was.[7]

Career

2013: Seas and America's Got Talent

Bradley self-released her sophomore album Seas in May 2013,[8] featuring her husband Eric on drums.[9] A Kickstarter campaign in April to fund the album's release concert raised nearly $4,000.[10] Seas comprises seven songs including "This Ocean", a duet with younger brother Ryan Miller,[11] one-half of the indie duo the Rustics.[12] For this album, Bradley said she wrote emotional stories based on the experiences of people close to her. "I’m an emotional person, and that’s a picture of what I see other people feeling."[7]

Early in 2013, Bradley got a telephone call from a scout with America's Got Talent suggesting that she send a video. The show's producers then sent her to Chicago to audition for the variety show.[lower-alpha 1] Her performance, an a cappella version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", was enough for the judges to put her through to the Las Vegas round, where she advanced to the live shows.[4]

At the quarterfinals, Bradley accompanied herself on piano in a stripped-down performance of "Believe". Judge Mel B called the arrangement "very bloody brave" and suggested that Cher might consider a similar approach.[13] Howard Stern said it was like hearing the lyrics for the first time, "and the words meant something to me."[14] Howie Mandel said Bradley had a "haunting" style and a "star quality ... that could possibly take her all the way."[15] Her mother said she was happy that Bradley got "her moment" after she had barely appeared in any previous episodes.[4]

Bradley continued into the finals of the competition with rearranged versions of pop songs, including "Can't Help Falling in Love" and "Livin' on a Prayer".[4] People praised her voice; it "pulls you in as she takes on classic songs and makes them her own."[16] She finished in sixth place, happy and newly confident.[17] "I'd never been a fame-seeker. But I thought this was a good way to get out of my comfort zone."[18]

After America's Got Talent wrapped, Bradley joined fellow finalists on a two-month tour.[17] She appeared on FORTE's debut album as the featured guest on "The Prayer",[19] and performed the song live with FORTE at Carnegie Hall.[20]

2014–present: The Sweeplings

Singer-songwriter Whitney Dean was working on his music while at home in Huntsville, Alabama, when his wife suggested instead that they watch a Bradley performance on America's Got Talent. Afterward, Bethany Dean said Bradley was "the girl you have to write with." She contacted Bradley, whose initial response was to decline; Dean persisted and, after a few months, the two musicians began collaborating via Skype.[21] Eventually, the Deans were invited by the Bradleys to visit their home in Spokane, Washington. The meeting went well. "It should be awkward the first time around, but I felt really at home with the two of them," Bradley said.[22] Within their first weekend, Cami Bradley and Whitney Dean had written eight songs together.[23]

The new duo did not do much publicly to begin with, because Bradley did not want her fans to be confused if the pairing did not work out. Instead, she released videos of cover songs as a solo artist so people would not forget about her. At the same time, Bradley wanted to make certain that she and Dean were not to be considered a romantic couple.[23]

In August 2015, the Sweeplings released their debut album, Rise & Fall, on their own label.[lower-alpha 2] NPR had premiered the song "Carry Me Home" the month before,[25] and iTunes later placed the song on its list of the 25 best singer-songwriter tracks of 2015. Two other songs, "In Too Deep" and "Snow May Be Falling", were used in promotional videos. Billboard premiered the video for "Under Your Spell" in February 2016.[26]

iTunes' staff said the Sweeplings' music reveals "a penchant for haunting, tender harmonies and a roots-inspired sound that bears similarities to The Civil Wars."[27][lower-alpha 3] PopDust called Rise & Fall "a potent collection of narratives with gut-wrenching textures built on a foundation of powerful harmonies and sharp musicianship."[28] Elmore Magazine said the album's songs tend to "blend together because of similar sounds, but the chemistry is concise and makes the album whole, not all over the place like many debuts seem to be."[29]

Personal life

Eric and Cami Bradley were married on August 25, 2006.[30] They live in Spokane, and work at her father's church there.[23] The Bradleys bought a small second home in Huntsville, Alabama, to facilitate her career with the Sweeplings.[31][lower-alpha 4] Cami Bradley is also a professional photographer.[26]

Discography

Albums

As a solo artist
With the Sweeplings

Notes

  1. ↑ Bradley later called this "a blessing ... I may have been really intimidated, if I had walked into a room of singers."[4]
  2. ↑ During a live performance at Tangled String Studios in Alabama, Bradley explained that the name Sweeplings means a small group that writes sweeping melodies.[24]
  3. ↑ Dean had toured previously with John Paul White.[28]
  4. ↑ The home search was featured on a 2016 episode of Tiny House Hunting.[31]

References

  1. ↑ "CamiBradley Photography (Carmen Jane Bradley) Credit report". InterCreditReport. Washington. May 9, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  2. ↑ Bradley, Cami [camibradley] (May 25, 2014). "What do I want for my birthday tomorrow?" (Tweet). Retrieved September 5, 2016 – via Twitter.
       Bradley, Cami [camibradley] (May 26, 2014). "Your golden birthday only comes one time in your life." (Tweet). Retrieved September 5, 2016 – via Twitter.
  3. ↑ Staff (September 18, 2013). "Bradley makes final round on America's Got Talent" (PDF). Buffalo Center Tribune. Buffalo Center, Iowa. p. 3. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Weinbender, Nathan (December 22, 2013). "After incredible run on America's Got Talent, Spokane singer eager to see what exposure may bring". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  5. ↑ Cornell, Kevin (June 13, 2016). "Interview: The Sweeplings and the Art of Songwriter Collaboration". TuneCore. Brooklyn, New York. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Cami Bradley – Anomalous". Amazon.com. April 14, 2009. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  7. 1 2 Jordan, Isamu (May 10, 2013). "Staying true to the stories". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Seas – Cami Bradley". Amazon.com. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  9. ↑ Staff (September 17, 2013). "Cami Bradley Giving It Her All on America's Got Talent". Christian Youth Theater. Spokane, Washington. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  10. ↑ Bradley, Cami Jane (April 1, 2013). "Cami Bradley SEAS album release concert". Kickstarter. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  11. ↑ "This Ocean – Cami Bradley". Amazon.com. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  12. ↑ Johnson, Laura (January 16, 2014). "Rustic Moments". The Inlander. Spokane, Washington. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Live from Radio City Music Hall". America's Got Talent. Season 8, Episode 16. 2013. Event occurs at 50:58. NBC. (Mel B:) Cami—well that was very bloody brave. But, you know, I have to say, I think you've given Cher an idea on how to actually sing that song.
  14. ↑ "Live from Radio City Music Hall". America's Got Talent. Season 8, Episode 16. 2013. Event occurs at 49:57–50:07. NBC. (Stern:) I've listened to that song a million times, like everybody else has. You took it, and for the first time I heard the words, and the words meant something to me.
  15. ↑ Mandel, Howie. "Which singing act does Howie Mandel think could win America's Got Talent?". Parade. New York City, New York. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  16. ↑ Blumm, K. C. (September 18, 2013). "America's Got Talent: Who Should Win?". People. New York City, New York. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  17. 1 2 Hensley, Nicole (September 19, 2013). "Spokane's Cami Bradley misses top prize, gains 'newfound confidence'". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  18. ↑ Johnson, Laura (September 24, 2013). "Falling In Love". The Inlander. Spokane, Washington. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  19. ↑ Jacobsen, Kevin (October 2, 2013). "America's Got Talent 2013 Finalist Forte Signs Record Deal with Simon Cowell Company; Releases First Single". EnStars. New York City, New York. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  20. ↑ Simunovic, Rosanne (November 18, 2013). "Operatic Trio Forte Takes Carnegie Hall By Vocal Storm". MasterClassLady.com. Timmins, Ontario, Canada. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  21. ↑ Wake, Matt (August 4, 2015). "The Sweeplings: Pretty songs, pretty people, pretty sure to blow up with release of new album". The Birmingham News. Birmingham, Alabama. Retrieved September 7, 2016 – via AL.com.
  22. ↑ Janci, Jenelle (September 10, 2015). "America's Got Talent appearance responsible for music duo The Sweeplings". Lancaster Online. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  23. 1 2 3 Johnson, Laura (October 15, 2014). "Crossing Lines". The Inlander. Spokane, Washington. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  24. ↑ Sweeplings, the (November 10, 2014). 'Goodbye' by The Sweeplings - LIVE at Tangled String Studio. YouTube (official channel). Event occurs at 0:06–0:31. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  25. ↑ Presley, Katie (July 8, 2015). "Song Premiere: The Sweeplings, 'Carry Me Home'". NPR. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  26. 1 2 Titus, Christa (February 8, 2016). "The Sweeplings Premiere 'Under Your Spell' Video: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  27. ↑ Staff. "The Sweeplings On Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  28. 1 2 Scott, Jason (December 5, 2015). "The Sweeplings Piece Together Music's Healing Power On Rise & Fall". PopDust. New York City, New York. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  29. ↑ Hillegas, Brenda (November 11, 2015). "Album Reviews: The Sweeplings Rise & Fall". Elmore Magazine. New York City, New York. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  30. ↑ Bradley, Cami [camibradley] (August 25, 2015). "9 years ago today I married this handsome fella" (Tweet). Retrieved September 5, 2016 – via Twitter.
  31. 1 2 Johnson, Laura (February 10, 2016). "Cami Bradley's the Sweeplings continue to impress on the national scene". The Indlander. Spokane, Washington. Retrieved September 5, 2016.

External links

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