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Interview: Cam And The Odds Against Women In Country Music

By Michael Cerio

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The honeymoon is over for country singing sensation Cam.

Literally.

Fresh off her wedding last month in the desert of California and back from her honeymoon, the "Burning House" singer is ready to hit the road with a stop at The Trocadero in Philadelphia on Saturday October 29th.

"I carved out out a little time" Cam says of her two week honeymoon. "So, it's ok the tour starts up right now."

Rested and ready, Cam is rare in the world of country crooners - not because of her California roots or the way she effortlessly blends bluegrass and shimmery pop with a classic country sound - for Cam it's the scarce success of women on the country charts.

"I was looking at record labels and everyone said, no one's signing girls right now. Like as if we were a novelty thing" chuckles Cam over the phone. "If you looked at like the top thirty, you would be lucky if you found one or two. There really is just Miranda and Carrie."

That being said, Cam has managed to break through the boy barrier of the charts with her album Untamed and the success of the single "Burning House".

"It's kind of weird thing, but, what's cool is there is a tradition of the women that do make it through have honed their craft so well. I'm talking about like, you know Dolly Parton and the women that have come before" explains Cam. "It set such a high standard too because you have to be that much better to make it, and that means that when you finally get music from a girl it's really good stuff."'

Cam doesn't know why it seems the industry is stacked against women, perhaps familiarity or fearful financial backers are a few of her theories, but maybe her breakout success can start the right kind of trend in country music.

"You know what's cool about music and art, is that when things start to narrow - when people start to hone in on a trend, all in the sudden everyone kind of gets on a trend" Cam describes. "All in the sudden an outlier will pop up with something just so cool and so different, and everyone at that point has been waiting for it. So then that will probably be the next trend."

You can see Cam this Saturday night in Philadelphia at The Trocadero. To hear much more from Cam check out the full interview below.

 

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