Have you ever feared the pain your passing would cause your loved ones more than death itself? That is exactly the thought that inspired Cameron Hayes to write her captivatingly stunning first solo single, “Lover, Please Stay”, released on July 4th.
A love song from beyond the grave, this soaring, emotionally charged anthem marks a defining chapter in her career. After years of lending her haunting vocals as a sought-after female top-liner in a male-dominated space, Cameron is stepping out on her own and already finding well-deserved success.
With almost 650,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Cameron’s fan base is only expected to grow more and more. Underpinned by a driving bass line and glistening, melancholic textures, “Lover, Please Stay” is a song that vibrates straight to the soul.
Her voice, both emotional, soft, powerful, angelic and beautiful, is what makes her new single so captivating. She draws inspiration from the likes of Matt Bellamy [Muse], Thom Yorke [Radiohead], James Blake and Sampha, as well as Mitski, Little Dragon, Rufus Du Sol, and Banks – Cameron Hayes finds comfort in voices whose emotion is shown through their tone. She describes her music as alternative electro-rock/pop, music that is authentic and honest. Explaining that songs always come from something she has experienced, wether directly or by just being a bystander. Her songs are the creation of something that is apart of her. Her life, her story, her thoughts, her voice, etc.
“Lover, Please Stay,” is a track that captures the moment a lover sits beside her grave at sunrise, catching up on time gone by. “This song is an imagination of a time after I’ve passed, and my lover is sat by my grave, while the sun rises, talking to me as if I was still there. They feel the reassurance that this isn’t the end, only a pause in this life, and that one day we will be reunited,” she explains.
Cameron is no stranger to exploring sensitive topics like anxiety and the struggles women face trying to succeed in a male-dominated industry. She explained, “You go into a session, which is usually men. I think I’ve had a session with two women on separate occasions and a session with one non-binary person and that’s it, then I’ve had 30–40 sessions with men. I don’t mind it, I get on with them really well, but the issue is, as soon as you want to have input in production, you get silenced a lot.”
Now she is working with a team that she loves. She works with people that both listen and make her feel equal.
But Cameron wants more. After years of not being listened to in production rooms, she feels she still has something to prove. By going solo and doing most of the production herself, she is showing to the world that she has got the talent to produce, write and do “Things that a lot of women are slightly scared to do sometimes,” she explained.
From entering the Voice UK at 16 and being mentored by Boy George and Paloma Faith, to collaborating with hit-maker Wilkinson and Sub Focus, Cameron’s name might not be known world wide yet, but she has definitely proved to be a true professional. After taking a break due to some health issues in 2023, she is back more fuelled than ever. Keep your ear out for the name Cameron Hayes.
The single “Lover, Please Stay” is available now on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
Written by Mhia Vignoulle
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