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Kamille | |
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Birth name | Camille Angelina Purcell |
Born | London, England | 29 June 1988
Genres | |
Occupations |
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Years active | 2008–present |
Labels | Virgin EMI, BMG Rights Management, Pure Cut |
Camille Angelina Purcell, known professionally as Kamille, is an English singer-songwriter and record producer from London, England.
Camille took part in many school productions and plays and studied part-time at the Sylvia Young Theatre School to strengthen her singing, dancing, and acting skills. However, she was encouraged to focus on her education, which her parents always prioritised over extra-curricular activities. Camille then decided to finish her school, sixth form and university qualifications, where she gained a degree in Economics.[1]
Kamille began her career by spending her extra curricular time in studios she was introduced to by a friend.[2]
She appeared on The X Factor as a vocal coach/mentor and on the couch panel of ITV2's The Xtra Factor.[3]
In June 2020, she became engaged to producer Tazer and the two married in August 2021.[4] Purcell gave birth to a son in April 2023.[5][6]
Kamille's break as a songwriter came in March 2013 when her first co-write, "What About Us" by The Saturdays featuring Sean Paul, was a UK number-one single.[7]
Later in 2013, Kamille co-wrote 3 songs for girl-group Little Mix for their sophomore album ‘Salute’. This began a long-term relationship which propelled them, and Kamille herself, to worldwide success. ‘Black Magic’, co-written for Little Mix and released in 2015, became not only Kamille's second UK number-one single,[8] but also gained her her first Brit Award nomination for Best British Single.[9] Another notable hit written for the group is ‘Shout Out To My Ex’ in 2016. The track spent 3 weeks at #1 in the UK and has since been certified 3× Platinum in the UK,[10] becoming the first single by a girl group in a decade to achieve this milestone. The track won Kamille her first Brit Award in 2017, for ‘Best British Single’.[11]
Kamille has co-written a total of 32 songs for Little Mix, which have contributed to seven consecutive UK Top 5 albums and ten UK Top 20 singles.[12] She has been considered the group's unofficial 5th member, both publicly by Little Mix themselves,[13] and by the national press.[14][15] She featured on their fifth studio album 'LM5 (album)' on the song 'More than Words' which she wrote about their close relationship over the years of working together.[16]
Kamille has collaborated with other globally successful artists, achieving multiple successes. In 2018 she achieved two UK #1 singles back-to-back, first with ‘I'll Be There’ co-written for Jess Glynne, immediately followed by ‘Solo’ co-written for Clean Bandit featuring Demi Lovato.[17] ‘Solo’ was named the ‘most-Shazamed’ song of 2018.[18] Kamille's achievements were recognised at the A&R Awards 2018 where she won Songwriter of the Year.[19]
In January 2019 Kamille co-wrote ‘Don't Call Me Up’ for Mabel with Steve Mac. 'Don't Call Me Up' has become Mabel's most successful song to date, peaking at #3 in the UK singles chart,[20] being nominated for a Brit Award for ‘Best British Single’,[21] achieving 2× Platinum status[22] in the UK and amassing over 1 billion Spotify streams. The song finished 2019 as the 9th best-selling single for a female artist in the UK, and fourth best-selling by a female artist.[23] Kamille has additionally co-written ‘Mad Love’ and ‘Boyfriend’ for Mabel which have both achieved Platinum[24] and Gold[25] UK certifications. She also appeared as a featured artist on Mabel's debut album ‘High Expectations’, singing a verse on the track ‘Selfish Love’. Kamille has co-written 5 of Mabel's top ten UK singles. [26]
2019 saw Kamille further recognised for her contributions to the music industry when she was awarded the Music Creative Award at the Music Week Women in Music Awards for “significant contribution to the making of music behind the scenes, through songwriting, studio production, or studio technology”.[27]
In November 2019 Kamille officially launched her record label and publishing company, Pure Cut. She has cited fellow artist and businesswoman Beyoncé as an inspiration behind creation of the label, stating: "Seeing the empire Beyoncé's building now, it just cemented how I felt all along: that I want to be able to do that, and I want more for myself. I think that's driven me. What I want to do is be a helpful hand for artists with whatever they need, I can't have this knowledge and experience and not give that to others and share that with people. That's really where I'm coming from."[28] With herself as an artist as her first signing, she has released multiple tracks, and plans to launch her first Pure Cut artist signings in late 2021. Alongside the launch of Pure Cut, Kamille built and launched her own recording studio called 'Saint Studios' situated within London's Metropolis Studios, where she will write and produce tracks for artists as a songwriter, as well as records for Pure Cut artist signings.[29][30]
In 2020, Kamille was nominated for the Mercury Prize for her work on Dua Lipa's album ‘Future Nostalgia’,[31] and she contributed to five UK Top 10 Singles: Little Mix's ‘Break Up Song’, Mabel's ‘Boyfriend’, AJ Tracey & Mabel's ‘West Ten’, Clean Bandit, and Mabel & 24kGoldn's ‘Tick Tock’. As well as co-writing, she also provided an uncredited vocal hook to Headie One, AJ Tracey and Stormzy's single ‘Ain't It Different’, singing the lyrics to sampled track 'No Long Talking' by Baby Saw.[32] ‘Ain't It Different’ also appeared on Headie One's album ‘Edna’ which debuted at #1 in the UK Albums Chart.[33]
2020 lead Kamille to take active steps in the music industry to promote opportunities for women in music. She took up a year-long mentorship of songwriter and producer Griff as part of the Ivor's Academy Rising Star Award programme,[34] and she teamed up with producer and songwriter Fred Again to launch the 'Next Up' programme with She Is the Music to seek and mentor a female producer.[35]
In March 2021, Kamille won her first Grammy Award as 'Future Nostalgia' won 'Pop Vocal Album' at the 63rd Grammy Awards. She was nominated for a Brit Award for the sixth time as 'Ain't It Different' was nominated for 'British Single'.[36] In September 2022, Kamille achieved her 7th UK Number 1 Single[37] with David Guetta and Bebe Rexha's 'I'm Good (Blue) which also peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.[38] In 2023, she co-wrote 2 songs on Kylie Minogue's sixteenth studio album Tension which debuted at number 1 on the UK Albums Chart.[39] This achievement marked Kamille's tenth UK Number 1 album as a credited songwriter. In February 2024, Kamille received her 2nd Grammy Award for contributions towards Fred Again's studio album Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022) which won Best Dance/Electronic Album.[40]
Overall, Kamille's co-writing and co-production contributions have accumulated to over 10 billion streams on Spotify alone, as well as 25 UK Platinum certifications, 7 UK #1 singles, over 20 UK Top 10 singles, #1 singles in over 15 countries and hundreds of hours of airplay on radio across the globe.
In 2017, Kamille officially launched her career as an artist in her own right. She first released the single "Body" featuring Avelino, followed by "Raindrops". These singles featured on her debut EP, My Head's a Mess on 17 November 2017 through Virgin EMI.
In March & April 2018, Kamille featured as a live solo artist for the first time when she opened for Jessie Ware on her UK Tour.[41] In June 2018 Kamille featured as the vocalist on Gorgon City & Ghosted's 'Go Deep', and in July she released her new solo single 'Emotional' featuring Kranium and Louis Rei. The song was later remixed to include verses from Chip and Stefflon Don.[42]
Kamille has featured as the live vocalist for British DJ Jax Jones, performing with him in the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge,[43] at the 2018 Jingle Bell Ball at the O2 Arena in London, and on the Christmas Edition of Top of the Pops in December 2018.[44]
In 2019, Kamille focused her artist efforts on collaboration. She appeared as a featured artist on 'My Love' with Dr Vades & 'Easy Loving You' on SG Lewis' EP 'Blue', and she collaborated with GRM Daily on the track 'One More Night' featuring herself, Wretch 32 & WSTRN. Kamille finished 2019 as an artist by appearing alongside Little Mix for the first time as an artist when she featured on single 'More Than Words' taken from the group's fifth album, LM5. Kamille performed the song with Little Mix on four nights of their LM5 tour at the O2 arena in London, including the final date which was filmed for LM5: The Tour Film.
At the tail end of 2019, Kamille officially launched her record label and publishing company, Pure Cut. With herself as the first signing, her first Pure Cut release was single 'Don't Answer' featuring Wiley. She then released her first Christmas single on the label, 'Santa x4' featuring Next Town Down.
In 2020, Kamille released two new solo singles, 'Love + Attention' and 'Somebody' featuring Ebenezer, as well as featuring as an artist on 'Miss Jagger' with Lotto Boyzz.
In January 2021, Kamille released the single 'AYO!' with S1mba, which is set to be the first single for an as yet untitled debut solo album. The music video for 'AYO!' featured her new studio, Saint Studios, in public eye for the first time. The second single, 'Mirror Mirror' released in March 2021, has a music video with cameos from MNEK and Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall.[45] The track went viral on TikTok, reaching #1 on the UK Hot 50 Chart and the associated hashtag #WhoTheBaddest being used over 68 million times.[46][47] Kamille provided the vocals for 'Move' by Kingdom 93 & Goldfingers in May 2021, released on Warner Records. In July, she released the song "Sad Party", featuring Haile and Ivorian Doll.
In 2022, Kamille released two singles, "Learning"[48] and "Weight Loss".[49]
On 12 May 2023, Kamille released the lead single from her debut album, "Muscle Memory". The song featured Nile Rodgers.[50] A month later, Kamille released "Options", featuring Tamera and Bellah.[51] "Time To Kill", the third single from the album, was released in August 2023.[52] On 8 September 2023, Kamille released her debiut studio album, K1.[53]
In 2013, one of her demos titled "One Love" leaked online. It was initially guessed to be Barbadian band Cover Drive, who later denied involvement with the song. It was then a case of lostwave until the song was included on Tzuyu's debut EP abouTZU in 2024. After the announcement, people analysed the song writing credits which included Kamille, along with Red Triangle members Rick Parkhouse and George Tizzard. Kamille was contacted via Instagram and confirmed that the song was her singing, and that the demo was leaked.[54][better source needed]
Title | Details |
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K1[55] |
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Title | Details |
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My Head's a Mess[56] |
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Title | Year | Album |
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"Body" (featuring Avelino) |
2017 | My Head's a Mess |
"Raindrops" | ||
"Go Deep" (with Gorgon City and Ghosted) |
2018 | Escape |
"Emotional"[57] (featuring Kranium and Louis Rei (Wstrn)) |
Non-album singles | |
"My Love" (with Dr. Vades) |
2019 | |
"Don't Answer" (featuring Wiley) | ||
"Santa x4" (featuring Next Town Down) | ||
"Love + Attention" | 2020 | |
"Somebody" (featuring Ebenezer) | ||
"AYO!" (featuring S1mba) |
2021 | |
"Mirror Mirror" | ||
"Sad Party" (featuring Haile and Ivorian Doll) | ||
"learning" | 2022 | |
“weight loss" | ||
"Muscle Memory" (featuring Nile Rodgers) |
2023 | K1 |
"Options" (featuring Tamera and Bellah) | ||
"Time to Kill" | ||
"Manifesting" - Pt. 2" (with Kojey Radical) |
Non-album single | |
"Headline" | 2024 | TBA |
"Freak" |
Title | Year | Other performer(s) | Album |
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"Anthem" | 2015 | Brookes Brothers | Non-album singles |
"Get Some" | 2017 | Ghosted | |
"More Than Words" | 2018 | Little Mix | LM5 |
"Easy Loving You" | SG Lewis | Blue - EP | |
"One More Night" | GRM Daily, Wretch 32, WSTRN | Non-album single | |
"My Love" | Dr Vades | ||
"Selfish Love" | 2019 | Mabel | High Expectations |
"Lifestyle" | 2020 | Tiësto | The London Sessions |
"What's It Gonna Be" | |||
"Miss Jagger" | Lotto Boyzz | Non-album single | |
"Move" | 2021 | Kingdom 93, Goldfingers | |
"Kammy (like i do)" | 2022 | Fred Again | Actual Life 3 (January 1 - September 9, 2022) |
indicates a background vocal contribution.
indicates an un-credited lead vocal contribution.
indicates a credited vocal/featured artist contribution.
^ indicates a production credit in addition to a songwriting credit
Year | Nominee / Work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2013 | Herself | ASCAP - "Foundation Stone Award" | Won[58] |
2016 | Little Mix - "Black Magic" | Brit Award - "Best British Single" | Nominated [59] |
Herself | A&R Awards - "Songwriter Of The Year" | Nominated[60] | |
2017 | Herself (for contributions to "Black Magic") | BMI - "Pop Award" | Won[61] |
Little Mix - "Shout Out To My Ex" | Brit Award - "British Single Of The Year" | Won[62] | |
Herself | A&R Awards - "Songwriter Of The Year" | Nominated[63] | |
2018 | Little Mix - "Power" feat. Stormzy | Global Awards - "Best Song" | Won[64] |
Herself | A&R Awards - "Songwriter Of The Year" | Won[65] | |
2019 | Jess Glynne - "I'll Be There" | Brit Award - "Best British Single" | Nominated[66] |
Clean Bandit - "Solo" feat. Demi Lovato | Brit Award - "Best British Single" | Nominated | |
Herself | Music Week Women in Music Awards - "Music Creative" | Won[67] | |
Herself | A&R Awards - "Songwriter Of The Year" | Nominated[68] | |
2020 | Mabel - "Don't Call Me Up" | Brit Award - "Song Of The Year" | Nominated[69] |
Herself (for contributions to "Don't Call Me Up") | BMI - "Pop Award" | Won[70] | |
Dua Lipa - "Future Nostalgia" | Hyundai Mercury Prize | Nominated[71] | |
2021 | Dua Lipa - "Future Nostalgia" | 63rd Grammy Awards - "Album Of The Year" | Nominated |
Dua Lipa - "Future Nostalgia" | 63rd Grammy Awards - "Pop Vocal Album" | Won[72] | |
Headie One, AJ Tracey, Stormzy - "Ain't It Different" | Brit Award - "Best British Single" | Nominated[73] | |
Herself | Ivor Novello Awards - "Songwriter of the Year" | Nominated[74] | |
2023 | Herself | Ivor Novello Awards - "Outstanding Song Collection" | Won[75] |
Herself (for contributions to "I'm Good (Blue)") | BMI Awards - "Most Performed Songs" | Won[76] | |
2024 | Fred Again - "Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022)" | Grammy Awards - Best Dance/Electronic Album | Won[77] |