ENTERTAINMENT

Cameron DuBois lights the way to country future with new single 'Bridges,' which releases Friday

Advertiser readers get an exclusive first listen to the new song; the music video will premiere Oct. 5 on The Country Network

Shannon Heupel
Montgomery Advertiser

Songwriters often wait for a sign to inspire their talents. Montgomery native Cameron DuBois found one back in 2017, and the new country single “Bridges” that was born from it is releasing Friday. 

We’re giving Advertiser readers an exclusive first listen. 

“I’m really excited for this song,” DuBois said. “It’s a song that I think has more of a universal theme to it, that more people can relate to.”  

Cameron DuBois of Montgomery has a new single "Bridges" that releases Friday.

“May the bridges I burn light the way.” This powerful quote was made famous by a 1994 episode of "Beverly Hills 90210," spoken by late actor Luke Perry’s character Dylan McKay. In the decades that followed, the quote made it’s way onto all kinds of items, like t-shirts, hoodies, lighters, and many forms of artwork. 

One of those art pieces was handing on the wall at a 2017 house party attended by DuBois’ writing partner Britton Cameron, a fellow singer/songwriter from Nashville. 

“He wrote it down, and when we got into a writing session we got to talking, pondering what we were going to write about that day, he told me that he had seen that sign,” DuBois said. “I was like, oh, let’s write toward that, because it could have a very universal meaning.”

After it was written, she sat on the song for three years, playing it live but not recording it. This year when the virus hit, DuBois stopped traveling as much between Montgomery, Muscle Shoals and Nashville and started as the lead singer for Montgomery band Bama Sound. While looking for new material to record, “Bridges” popped up as a natural choice. 

Cameron DuBois' new single "Bridges" is out Friday, but the Advertiser has an exclusive first listen online.

“We got in the studio. Bill Hinds (a member of Bama Sound) is the one who produced it. He’s an incredible artist. An incredible guitarist. He used to be a session guy in Muscle Shoals,” DuBois said. “He put his twist on it, and it’s got a very Southern rock feel to it as far as the music. We ended up recording it in Prattville.”  

The Southern rock in “Bridges," mixed in with the earthy rhythms of the Muscle Shoals sound she’s studied extensively and a touch of soul, is where she sees her niche of country. 

“I relate to it more,” DuBois said. 

DuBois said that everyone has burned some kind of bridge in their lives. 

“If we pay attention to those bridges, it can light our way to the future in the sense that we learn from mistakes,” DuBois said. “We wouldn’t be where we are today if it hadn’t been for those mistakes.” 

National video release ahead

With each single DuBois releases, music videos are soon to follow. That’s the case with “Bridges,” which will have its video’s exclusive national debut Monday, Oct. 5 on The Country Network (TCN). It’ll release shortly afterwards on DuBois’ YouTube channel. 

The video for “Bridges” was shot in Tennessee at the village of Leiper’s Fork and in Nashville. Instead of McKay’s self-destructive teen angst from 90210, the video's story leans a lot more toward the 1977 film “Smokey and the Bandit.” There’s a runaway bride (DuBois), a lot like Sally Field’s character. 

“She’s not ready to get married. She wants to go to Nashville and chase her dreams for music,” DuBois said. “She doesn’t want to live the picket white fence dream right now.” 

While DuBois has never been a runaway bride, she said she can relate. She chased her own music dream after earning a degree in civil engineering, and even turned down job offers.  

She said her dad was excited to see her in the dress for the video. 

“It’s the first time I’ve ever been in a wedding dress,” she said. 

It was shot in a very hot time in mid-June. She said there were few people on set, because of COVID-19 concerns. 

“We had a lot of fun with that,” DuBois said. “That’s something I love a lot about country music. It’s the ability to tell stories.”

Sunday concert with Bama Sound

Along with continuing her solo show work in Montgomery, Auburn and Lake Martin areas, DuBois said she’s looking forward to branching out and doing full band gigs. 

She’s got one just ahead that’s helping a Montgomery family. 

On Sunday, Oct. 4, the day before her new music video releases, DuBois and Bama Sound will have a free live concert on the 1800 block of Graham Street in Montgomery’s Cloverdale community. 

“That’ll be my first time playing with the full band live,” DuBois said. 

DuBois joined Bama Sound in February, singing in place of Becky Folmar who stepped away from live performances in January.

For Sunday’s concert, there will be no seating provided. Guests can bring lawn chairs and space out to enjoy the show. Masks are required during arrival. Chairs should be at least 6 feet from non-related individuals.

During the concert, the neighborhood will be passing a donation bucket to help a neighborhood family with repairs for their car. 

Live music ahead

On Friday, the day “Bridges” releases, you can catch DuBois live in a solo show at The Tipping Point in Montgomery at 7 p.m.

She’ll be at Lake Martin in Alexander City on Saturday for a 3 p.m. performance. 

Some of her other local solo shows include Montgomery’s Sinclair’s East on Oct. 8 at 6 p.m., and Wynlakes Golf & Country Club on Oct. 9 at 6:30 p.m. On Oct. 10, she’ll be in Opelika at Resting Pulse Brewing Company at 7 p.m.

Catch more live music in Montgomery with DuBois and Bama Sound on Oct. 14 during a 7 p.m. outdoor concert at the Alabama National Fair. 

“I’m so thankful that they’re giving local music a shot,” DuBois said. 

More to record

There’s much more music to come. DuBois said she’d been writing a lot lately. 

DuBois’ song “Peace,” released in May, is one of nine competing currently in I-92 WLWI’s Montgomery Nash Next competition. 

She’s currently working on a Christmas song with Bama Sound’s Tony Castaldo for an upcoming holiday album. 

More new music with Bama Sound is in the works, and she said a future album is coming. 

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel at sheupel@gannett.com.