Cameron Lam

Cameron Lam

Cameron Lam (he/they) is Melbourne-based composer, obsessive dabbler, excitable research nerd, and joyful collaborator. He creates music-based works that connect multiple artforms (and hopefully multiple humans) with his production company/record label Kammerklang and on other freelance projects. They are also a passionate curator and champion of the Australian art music community, running the Australian Art Music playlist on Spotify and in their previous roles as Art Music Lead at the APRA AMCOS and curator of High Score: Composition and Sound Art for Games.

His music has been described by Limelight Magazine as “a fantastical world in which mythological stories come to life” and “infused with a Northern European sensibility – dark, emotional, restrained”. Cameron excels at vocal and chamber music where each performer has agency and a chance to contribute to collective art making. This has most recently led to being shortlisted for Australia’s prestigious Paul Lowin Prize for their spectral a cappella song cycle about getting naked and loving your queer self, The Splendour of Lying Naked in the Sun.

Music Business

Named in 2020 as one of The Music Network’s 30 under 30 future leaders of the music industry, Cameron’s career has focused on collaboration, interdisciplinary practice, and entrepreneurship. In 2009 he founded Kammerklang, a production company focused on cross-artform collaboration and creating comfortable context for audiences to be curious in.

In the 15 years since, it has functioned as a new music ensemble, print music publisher, record label and event producer before resolving into the multi-purpose production house it is today. The organisation has been responsible for commissioning, premiering or recording over 150 new works by Australian composers, getting them into the ears of new audiences.

In their time as Art Music Lead at APRA AMCOS, Cameron has advocated for increased engagement with the sector, services offered, and created new opportunities for investment.

In addition to member events, resource creation and education talks, Cameron delivered major changes in the Art Music Awards guidelines and judging procedures, as well as new initiatives such as the Art Music Fund commissioning grant, and game audio conference High Score. He also worked closely with other departments to enhance their impact, including Sounds Australia’s delegation to Classical:NEXT, and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music Office.

Previous Projects

Music Style

Inspired by game designer Mark Rosewater and theatre director Anne Bogart, Cameron’s music advocates the role and experience of the player in artistic expression. Choice, interaction and agency feature heavily in his work, leading to music that grows and changes with each performance.

Aesthetically, his music draws inspiration from post-minimalism, art song, early video game music, and just intonation or spectralism. This leads to works that range from grand to delicate, playful to profound. Music that relies on communication and connection between performers is emblematic of his style, as is a playful irreverence to metre, and modular presentation options.

Major works include song cycles; The Splendor of Lying Naked in the Sun (with text by Salvatore Scibona, shortlisted for Australia’s Paul Lowin Prize), and The Art of Disappearing (text by Sarah Holland-Batt), concertos; Yggdrasil: The World Tree (contrabass clarinet) and Electric Phoenix (EWI – a wind synthesiser), and multifaceted collections; Cybermemories: Music for EWI and Palette Pieces (to be released in 2024).

Recordings can found via his record label, Kammerklang, and scores can be found either via his website or the Australian Music Centre, where he is a represented composer.

In addition to concert music composition, Cameron has had the pleasure on working on multiple arranging and media projects. Highlights include; Flight Through Entirety – a Doctor Who podcast, Untitled Star Trek Project, Super Effective! a Pokemon anniversary concert by Sinister Creative, and the Mega Man Symphonic Concert & UnderSCORE for PAX Australia.