Duncan John Toombs is an Australian based singer-songwriter, musician and video director.  Already a 9 time Golden Guitar Winner, (7 for Music Video Director of the Year & 2 whilst writing and playing in “The Adam Eckersley Band”) Duncan has built a successful career filming, playing and singing behind various artists such as Kasey Chambers, John Williamson, Troy Cassar-Daley, Jimmy Barnes, Beccy Cole, Adam Harvey, Adam Brand, Lee Kernaghan, Shane Nicholson,  Archie Roach, Christine Anu & Kate Ceberano.  He now launches his solo career with his extraordinary debut single – Run

During his set at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January Shane Nicholson – singer, songwriter, producer and a champion of emerging artists – invited a guest to the stage. Her name was Camille Trail, a young singer songwriter from Central Queensland, who’s debut album Shane had just produced. 

One of the interesting things about Camille, Shane told the audience as his guest took to the stage, was that she’s the only person he’d ever worked with who paid for the recording of an album by selling a couple of bulls. 

As much as that is true – Trail was born, raised and still lives and works on her family’s cattle farm west of Rockhampton  – anyone in the audience expecting a singing cowgirl was in for a surprise. 

Instead Camille, accompanied by Shane and his band, delivered a haunting and masterful rendition of the moody title track of Nicholson’s ARIA award winning album Hell Breaks Loose. 

Camille nailed it, the audience loved it, and it tipped the scales into a recording agreement  with Compass Bros Records - a stellar start to 2020 for the 21 year old singer songwriter from the cattle farm in Central Queensland.

Camille Trail was introduced to the joy of music at an early age. “Most mornings I’d wake up to music - Norah Jones, Bob Dylan, Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson and other great singer songwriters.  Dad and I would dance in the kitchen while Mum cooked breakfast. I think that’s why I love music so much – plus I loved listening to my mum play piano accordion - it was my entire childhood really”.

She learned piano from the age of eight and was soon writing her own songs. After high school she committed to her musical ambitions and studied song writing at the JMC Academy in Brisbane.  

While attending JMC Camille would study by day and play as many gigs as possible at night – honing her craft, testing her songs on audiences and finding a community of peers. 

It’s also when she wrote the songs on her forthcoming album.  “I was writing in the early hours of the morning or late at night. I found that was when inspiration hit me the most. I was inspired by heartbreak of course, love, and also what I was reading at the time and even just looking out the window and people watching.”

Camille sent a demo to Shane Nicholson asking if he’d be interested in producing her album. Nicholson responded enthusiastically and the album was recorded in three weeks during February 2019. 

Camille Graduated from JMC with a Bachelor of Music, specialising in songwriting, in April 2019. In July that year her debut single and video Humming Chain was released independently. It reached #6 on the iTunes singer songwriter chart and introduced the world to an extraordinary new talent. 

Now, Camille releases her second single Devils Drink.

“I wrote Devil's Drink around the idea of something following you - whether it's a person or a fear - and no matter what you do, you just can't shake it off. I struggle with anxiety so this links in with me dealing with the pressures it brings and trying to shake it all off. I hope the song connects because I feel that the message is universal – in one way or another maybe everyone has something they're trying to outrun.”

The video for Devil’s Drink was directed by multi award winning director Duncan Toombs of The Filmery. 

“We see the shadow of a dark spirit following me through the late night back streets of Sydney. It possesses by-standers as I walk past.  The tension builds as I become more and more worried – looking over my shoulder and trying to outrun whatever it is that’s stalking me.” 

Devil’s Drink, the new single from Camille Trail, released on Compass Bros through Universal Music Australia  on February 28th.

Duncan Toombs is following