Cameron Whitcomb brings the energy (and chaos) to New Zealand

The Canadian artist hit the stage last night for a sold-out show at Auckland's Powerstation, bringing his signature chaos, energy, and honesty to Kiwi fans.

We caught up with him backstage just before he stepped out, where he gave us a glimpse into life on the road, his first impressions of NZ, and exactly what we were about to witness.

Speaking about his time here so far, Cameron kept things real. “Most of the day that I’ve been here has just been playing video games,” he admitted, adding that when he’s not gaming, he’s been soaking up “great food, great people... everyone’s so polite.” 

And in what is apparently true Cameron fashion, he’s also picked up a pretty random souvenir… a hippo skull.

“I didn’t have room for it, but I’m getting it… it’s gonna be shipped back to Canada,” he laughed. 

His NZ visit comes off the back of a huge run of shows overseas, including Stagecoach, something Cameron describes as “unbelievable,” even if he tends to keep things pretty low-key when he’s not performing. 

But when it comes to the stage? That’s a whole different story.
When we asked him what Kiwi fans could expect from his show that evening, he summed it up pretty easily:

“I take my shirt off and I get crazy… do a couple flips, sing a couple songs,” he said.

And he did exactly that!

His show was the perfect mix of chaos and connection, with high-energy moments (read: flips) balanced by stripped-back ones, giving fans a chance to really lock into the stories behind the songs.

But there was one powerful moment mid-show that truly stood out.

Speaking to the crowd, Cameron revealed he’s now two years and 11 months sober, before going on to share just how much moments like this mean to him.

“It’s just crazy, man… people often ask me what keeps me going, and to tell you the truth, it’s you guys. So I just want to say from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for saving my life. I love you. You guys have given me a purpose, man.”

And speaking of fans, they're not something Cameron takes lightly. While his music continues to gain traction online, he admits social media isn’t always easy. “I’m too sensitive… there’ll be a thousand comments saying you’re great, and one guy calls me an idiot and I’m done,” he shared. 

That honesty and openness, is part of what makes his music hit so hard. He credits that emotional side to being an artist. “Sensitive people make good artists,” he said.

And it’s clearly connecting. Last night's crowd was singing along word-for-word, proving just how deeeply his music is connecting here in NZ.

Missed out? Don’t worry, he’s already planning his return.

“We’re coming back for sure… I love this place”

We'll see you again soon Cameron!

Watch our full convo with Cameron Whitcomb above.

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