Brian Campeau

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Brian Campeau
Elana Stone, Campeau
May 10, 2015
Background information
Born1980 (age 43–44)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician, producer
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals
Years active2004–present
LabelsArt As Catharsis
Websitebrian-campeau.bandcamp.com

Brian Campeau (born 1980) is a Canadian multi-instrumental musician and producer, based in Australia since 2002. He has released six solo studio albums Brian Campeau and the Solitary Game (2004), Two Faces (2006), Mostly Winter Sometimes Spring (2009), Don't Overthink It, Overthink, Overthinking (2015), Old Dog, New Tricks (2018) and Ambient Driver (2020). He is also a member of bluegrass band, Green Mohair Suits.

Early life[edit]

Brian Campeau is originally from Ottawa, Canada. He graduated from Guelph University in 1999. He moved to Sydney, Australia in 2002. He later relocated to Melbourne.

Career[edit]

Since 2002 Brian Campeau has released six studio albums as a solo artist. He has also collaborated with other artists: Elana Stone, Melanie Horsnell, Passenger, All Our Exes Live in Texas, Hinterlandt and Clio Renner. He released a solo double-album, Two Faces in mid-2006.[1] The Sydney Morning Herald's Bernard Zuel determined, he is "interested in both electronic and folk music... one disc placing a greater emphasis on a song-based approach; the other exploring their electronic possibilities."[1] Zuel notes that Campeau is a former jazz and punk musician.[1]

Also in 2006 Campeau formed a bluegrass band, Green Mohair Suits, in Sydney with Richie Cuthbert (Cuthbert & the Nightwalkers), Jason Mannell and Ben Romalis as a tribute to Gram Parsons.[2] By 2010 they were joined by Mikey Floyd and Elana Stone.[3] The group have issued four studio albums, Sing Songs from the Heathen Hymnbook (2009),[3] Green (2012), Wooden Duck (2014) and Evans St (2016). theMusic.com.au's Chris Familton provided a review of the six-piece's performance in July 2015, showcasing "quiet, lilting songs or the brisk, brittle bluegrass workouts."[4]

For his next solo album, Mostly Winter, Sometimes Spring (August 2009), Campeau used a different instrument for each of 15 tracks and produced the recording himself.[5] theDwarf.com.au' Daniel Townsend found it an "intriguing concept" but "doesn't make for much of an album" with "no real radio-friendly moments".[5] Zuel rated it at 3 out-of 5.[6] Micheal Dwyer of The Age called it an "extraordinary second album".[7]

Old Dog, New Tricks was issued in August 2018 via Art As Catharsis.[8] Hamza Siddiqi of Overdrive Music Magazine approved of Campeau's "positive vibes and psychedelia" as "Each pleasingly mid-pace song throws hook after hook at you from every direction."[8] MediaSearch's Carmine Pascuzzi described Campeau as "an established and highly regarded musician and an essential staple of the Sydney music scene."[9]

His song "Montreal" was used in NAB's 'More Give, Less Take' advertisement campaign.[10]

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

solo

  • Brian Campeau and the Solitary Game (Independent – 2004)
  • Two Faces (2006) Vitamin Music[1]
  • Mostly Winter Sometimes Spring (2009) Inertia Music
  • Don't Overthink It, Overthink, Overthinking (Art As Catharsis – 2015)[11]
  • Old Dog, New Tricks (August 2018) Small Pond/Art As Catharsis
  • Ambient Driver (Art As Catharsis - 2020)

Green Mohair Suits

  • Sing Songs from the Heathen Hymnbook (Independent – 2009)
  • Green – The Green Album" (Independent – 2012)
  • Wooden Duck (Independent - 2014)
  • Evans St (independent - 2016)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Zuel, Bernard (9 June 2006). "Two Faces - CD Reviews - Music - Entertainment". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 19 September 2006. Retrieved 8 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "The Green Mohair Suits". Triple J Unearthed. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b Swadling, Kathleen (2 April 2010). "The Shack - July 2010". Jam – NSW Folk Federation. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  4. ^ Familton, Chris (31 July 2015). "Live Review: The Green Mohair Suits, Caitlin Harnett, William Crighton". theMusic.com.au. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  5. ^ a b Townsend, Daniel (23 August 2009). "Mostly Winter, Sometimes Spring - Brian Campeau". theDwarf.com.au. Archived from the original on 8 October 2009. Retrieved 8 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ Zuel, Bernard (28 August 2009). "Mostly Winter (Entertainment Guide)". The Age. p. 10. ISSN 0312-6307.
  7. ^ Dwyer, Micheal (18 July 2009). "CD: the critical guide". The Age. pp. A2. ProQuest 364168109.
  8. ^ a b Siddiqi, Hamza (19 July 2018). "Review: Brian Campeau - Old Dog, New Tricks". Overdrive Music Magazine. Archived from the original on 16 October 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ Pascuzzi, Carmine (12 May 2019). "Single Release: Brain Romance – 'Honest Words'". MediaSearch. Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ News on Montreal being used for NAB ad (taken from his website)[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ Zuel, Bernard (8 June 2015). "Album reviews: Jamie xx, Melody Gardot, Archer and Brian Campeau". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 February 2024.

External links[edit]