Cameron Wyatt’s band, Kasador of Kingston, has been making rock and roll waves in Canada since releasing a few records and has even had one of their newest hits “Butterflies” open some Toronto Blue Jays broadcasts this year! His work is super strong, slick and energetic but he is quite humble. To great response, he has played The Cove solo many times with his slippery licks and sweet voice. Catch him Thursday, September 11, 2025 on The Cove Patio from 5-8pm. As always, please be generous to the musicians! Details and reservations here: web link

Seamus Cowan: What are your musical influences and heroes?

Cam Wyatt: As a trumpet player I looked up to some of the greatest players of our time including Herb Alpert, Wynton Marsalis and Dizzy Gillespie. I was (and still am) a huge Beatles fan. Paul McCartney's bass lines were a large inspiration towards my desire to play bass. I found it rare to hear such melodic bass lines in rock music that didn't feel they were conflicting with the vocals. The walking bass in their song "Michelle" opened my eyes to the concept of playing more than just the root note while singing a beautiful melody. As a guitar player John Mayer made a large influence on the way I hear lead guitar lines and how particular tones speak to me. That signature sound of the single coil pickups you can get from Fender Stratocasters and Telecasters will forever be intoxicating to me.

Q: Who inspired you to get into performing and creating?

Cam: My parents played a big role in inspiring me to pursue music. Growing up there was always music playing around the house and in the car on the way to 6am hockey practice. We would discuss lyrics and standout parts of songs that gave them their "x factor". My brother, sister and I would often exchange songs we liked and would try to sing and play along with whatever instrument we were focused on at the time. I'd like to give a big shoutout to my parents for supporting me through this non-traditional type of career and an even bigger shoutout to my brother and sister for taking the pressure off of me by pursuing careers that actually make money. I need to constantly remind them that my value comes from the "intangibles" I bring to the family when it's my turn to buy dinner. However - I love the idea of being able to inspire others to see the beauty of what the world has to offer through music. I feel like when we listen to our favourite song the weight of the world gets a little bit lighter and to be a part of that is all I could ever want.

Q: You did a lot of your own musical production during the dark COVID years. Can you tell us about that and in particular, what you have produced and what you have learned?

Cam: Not being able to collaborate in person with anyone drove my desire to be more self-sufficient in my creation of music. I love creating an arrangement where the final result is greater than the sum of its parts. I spent a lot of time learning how to create drum parts, piano parts, layer harmonies and mix them all together. I will not profess to be an expert at production but I do feel I have come a long way since the dark dawn of covid. I have since been fortunate enough to produce instrumentals for advertisements and even create original songs entirely recorded myself.

Q: What are some of the most interesting artists have you performed with?

Cam: I feel very fortunate to have been able to play with some absolutely amazing artists. I have been playing as a session guitar player for a pop singer named Jessia and over the last year have toured all over Europe and Asia with a band called OneRepublic. Being on the road with an organization of a world class calibre is incredibly inspiring. Seeing first hand the sheer level of organization, dedication to the craft and just pure work ethic has given me a whole new appreciation for the industry. A real testament to persistence and dedication to your passion. The music industry is so incredibly competitive and it is all too easy to throw in the towel while trying to chase this ever evading mirage of whatever it is that we define as "success". In my opinion waking up knowing that you're pursuing something you are truly passionate about can never be seen as a failure.

Q: Your band is Kasador. There have been some lineup changes in the past but you have settled into the lead vocal spot. Do you have some special insights and/or news that you would like to share about the band and those changes?

Cam: In a way it does feel reminiscent of Spinal Tap with a revolving door of mysterious exits and entrances of new members of the band. I love a good challenge and to me, rising to the role of front person of a band is the ultimate challenge. It is essentially the universe saying "what you got for us?" You are required to blend your deepest honest self with a version of you that is larger than life. It has led me to evaluate who I am and what I can offer to the world in a way that I never have before.

There is nothing more personal when the product that you are selling is who you are as a person. Thick skin is a requirement and has definitely led me to be more discerning in the type of criticism I will allow past the barrier. Ultimately I find nothing more fulfilling. While all the negative results can be seen as an outcome of personal short-comings, the positive results award a level of profound gratification I have been unable to find in other aspects of life. Reaching and inspiring people on a level of vulnerability that only music can facilitate is so uniquely humanizing. Posted: Sep 9, 2025