For Cam Chambers, a Pittsburgh-based vocal producer, singer and drummer, music is synonymous with love.
“It’s written in love. The intention is to love something — whether it’s yourself, whether it’s a person, whether it’s a moment, and that’s a reminder,” he said of music. “The process of being around it, it’s therapeutic for me. The way that I use my voice … (I) hope the moments the music is creating (reminds) people to love something.”
Chambers, 33, of Swissvale grew up in New Kensington surrounded by gospel music at Abundant Life Fellowship church on Kenneth Avenue. Now, he works as a teaching artist for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.
“Music was, I think, just the core of my family,” he said. “We were in church a lot so music was just around — that was just the foundation of the house.”
His parents favored faith-based music, while his grandparents were into jazz. And with those influences, Chambers said he’s found a music taste he can call his own.
“I listen to everything now,” he said.
In creating his own music, Chambers said he centers on soul, with some rock and hip-hop elements. With two albums already out on all music platforms, he will have more music out this spring.
“Until then, working with all collaborators playing drums, singing and getting on a stage somewhere,” he said. “I’m a live musician — I work and I live it.”
‘Intentional music’
Coming up on March 14 will be Chambers’ performance as one of the vocalists in the Kelly Strayhorn Theater’s Marvin Gaye tribute show, titled “A Tribute to the Prince of Soul.”
“I’m super excited about it,” he said, calling Gaye a “staple” in soul music. “His story, his songwriting — everything he did for music was intentional, and I think now, especially with everything going on in the world, we just need intentional music … rooted in love and feeling.”
Chambers said the Gaye concert will bring people together to have a good time, sing songs and reminisce.
“It’s for newer people that don’t really know what he did, but it’s also for people who experienced it live when he was alive, and they can remember,” he said.
Alongside solos, there will be duets and group numbers.
“We bring a twist to some stuff — it’s not going to be all the way the same, but it’s going to be rooted in what it was,” he said. “Expect some creativity, too. Everybody’s going to bring their own flavor.”
Chambers has over a decadelong relationship with the Kelly Strayhorn, located on Penn Avenue in East Liberty. Previously, he performed in a Prince tribute show there.
In the span of five years, Chambers also has performed in two other tribute shows — for Pharrell Williams and D’Angelo.
Ryan M. Tedder, one of Chambers’ friends and collaborators, is a music producer with Serenity Projects in East Pittsburgh. They have been working together on music for the past few years.
“Cam’s a very passionate and hardworking person,” said Tedder, 36, of Verona. “He’s very committed to who he is as a person and as an artist. I think that makes him special — he has a lot of fire to him.”
Tedder said Chambers has collaborated with all types of musicians in Pittsburgh, impacting many. He’s respected as a vocalist, musician and drummer.
“I love that he is a student of the game,” he said. “He really does a good job of studying the greats beforehand and having integrity as he pays homage to them.”
‘Talent like none other’
Phillip Thompson, known as DJ Big Phill, is a Pittsburgh-based DJ, producer and curator who has known Chambers for several years.
“The respect I have for him goes beyond the music,” said Thompson, 54, of Penn Hills.
Thompson and Chambers have a project coming out this year, and the two have collaborated via producing and various shows.
He called Chambers “a talent like none other.”
Thompson said Pittsburgh needs to embrace Chambers even more.
“His impact outreaches the city limits,” Thompson said. “I haven’t seen an artist like Cam locally or nationally in years. … Cam is different, and he cares about the music, he cares about his legacy.”
Singing since age 3
Chambers said he started singing when he was 3 years old.
“When I was talking, I was singing,” he said. “They were putting me at church singing songs — I was in an all-white suit.”
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When he was around 11 or 12, he picked up the drums.
“They needed a fill-in at my church,” Chambers said. “My cousin thought I had rhythm, and they just threw me up there and I learned as I went.”
When he was a student at the former California University of Pennsylvania, he started a band in 2013 with his friends.
“We traveled around the city, played at different colleges,” Chambers said. They were his first professional gigs. “That’s kind of how my name started circulating.”
Also in college, he was singing in a cappella groups as “the beatboxing guy”; he also was a gospel choir director.
“I was doing it all — I’m not ashamed of any of it,” Chambers said. “It looks hilarious but, at the same time, it elevated me.”
Since then, he has played numerous local jazz clubs, both singing and playing background for older musicians, and played drums on tour.
“I just learned in music, you have to be diverse … to have a chance at any kind of career,” Chambers said.
And right before the pandemic shutdown, Chambers was just getting started with his own tunes, which became hard to promote amid the global health crisis.
“(My) first real show was literally a week before the shutdown, at Mr. Smalls (Theatre) — all original music,” he said. “It’s just been about patience and resilience, my career.
“Just embody what you hope to be and what you hope to see — that’s what I try to put in my city.”
‘Conversation starter’
As a teaching artist for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Chambers has a curriculum and designs after-school and in-school programs for drums and creative work in general, mainly to kids from second grade to fifth grade.
“I teach just pretty much who I am and what I do,” he said. “I use drum circles and different elements of writing. … I teach kids soul, and they use their drums.
“I use drums and music as the conversation starter.”
Though he has worked with kids in the Pittsburgh Public Schools, Chambers’ programs are open to any district that wants to work with the Cultural Trust.
Music offers a message everybody can understand, whether it’s through the words or sound, he said.
“So much of life is the little things, and I think music to me is such a reminder of the small things and the way that the world is going right now,” Chambers said. “Zoom out and love what’s around you and hold something close — play your favorite song, listen to your favorite lyrics.”
For him, listening to music through headphones provides a feeling of safety.
“I just want people to feel safe any way they can,” Chambers said. “It just becomes my oasis. Creating moments for people to have an oasis in music is what I feel that my purpose is.”