CJ Camerieri has had a hand in recent music from Taylor Swift, Paul Simon, The National, and plenty more, but now he has centered his focus on the release of his own self-titled debut album under the moniker CARM, which features flourishes of horns and entrancing instrumentation, along with guest appearances from Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, Sufjan Stevens, and members of Yo La Tengo.
CARM is the solo project and inaugural album of multi-instrumentalist, producer, and arranger CJ Camerieri. Whether it’s playing the iconic piccolo trumpet solo on Paul Simon’s “The Boxer;” anthemic horn parts on songs like The National’s “Fake Empire,” Sufjan Stevens’ “Chicago,” or Bon Iver’s “For Emma, Forever Ago;” performing with his contemporary classical ensemble yMusic at Madison Square Garden; or recording lush beds of french horns for artists from John Legend to The Tallest Man on Earth, you have undoubtedly heard the virtuosity of Camerieri on record or in arenas across the globe.
A graduate of The Juilliard School, Camerieri plays trumpet, french horn and keyboards for some of the most important artists of our time. He founded the classical ensemble yMusic, joined Bon Iver—winning two Grammy awards for the band’s sophomore album—and became an integral member of Paul Simon’s touring band in 2014, assuming a pivotal role in the legend’s last two records.
The music of CARM features the trumpet and french horn in roles typically reserved for drums, guitars, and voices, while also seeking to escape the genre categorizations normally reserved for music featuring an instrumentalist as bandleader. It is not jazz or classical music, nor is it a soundtrack to a larger narrative. This is contemporary popular music that features a sound normally used as a background colour and texture as the unabashed lead voice.
CARM started with the question: ‘What kind of record would my trumpet-playing heroes from the past make today?’ I believe Miles Davis would want to work with the best producers, beat makers, song-writers, and singers to create truly culturally relevant music, and that’s what I sought to do with this project.” Produced by Ryan Olson in Minneapolis, it is a completely unique sound that additionally serves as a survey of the many collaborations that have come to define the artist’s career thus far.
Carm (aka yMusic co-founder CJ Camerieri) is one week away from releasing his guest-filled self-titled album, and you can read more about this song with Sufjan Stevens. due January 22nd via 37d03d Records, which features appearances by Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, Sufjan Stevens, My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Nova, Mouse On Mars, and Yo La Tengo’s Georgia Hubley & Ira Kaplan. CJ already released the songs with YLT, Justin Vernon, and Shara Nova, and today he’s unveiled the song with Sufjan Stevens, album opener “Song Of Trouble.” Sufjan penned the lyrics and sings lead vocals on the song, and it’s a gorgeous song that’s on par with anything Sufjan would release on one of his own albums.
“Sufjan’s use of orchestral instruments helped set the stage for everything I’ve done in my career,” says CJ. The song comes with a video featuring a painting by Nick Weber, and of that CJ says, “I’m struck by how Nick’s work balances a contemplative hopefulness with an intrinsic sadness. It seems super in line with this song and incredibly poignant right now. I’m proud of how Sufjan’s lyrics powerfully begin the record.
Justin Vernon also added on Twitter, “I’m so excited you can hear this song, by Carm, I’ve listened to over and over for years now. These lyrics may actually be the strongest lyrics I’ve ever heard from the master Sufjan. Aaaand maybe just a bit on point for these times.
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