I got a chance to chat with Camille Betton from BET’s Sunday Best yesterday. She was one of the Top 20 Finalists and, though she didn’t make it to the Top 10 this past week, she’s got lots to say and I think the industry will be seeing more of her!
In this interview, we get a behind-the-scenes perspective of Sunday Best , as well as chat about her music ministry and where you can find out more about her.
Folks, here’s Camille Betton.
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EJ: Hi Camille! How’s it goin’?
CB: It’s going okay, how about for you?
EJ: I’m good! I wanna start by talking about BET’s Sunday Best. You were one of the Top 20 finalists, which is an incredible accomplishment. So, congrats on that first!
CB: Thank you!
EJ: You’re welcome. We saw, this past Sunday, that you unfortunately didn’t move forward in the competition to a Top 10 slot. Still, the folks who watched now know your name and you’ve gained a bunch of followers in a very short time.
CB: Absolutely.
EJ: What was your Sunday Best experience like?
CB: EJ, it was awesome. To connect with, number one, Donald Lawrence, who’s just a phenomenal writer and producer, to have face-to-face, hands-on mentoring from him, that was invaluable.
The people that I met– the other contestants– just the relationships that I’m sure I’ll have from here on out. And just to be a part of the show, to have that level of exposure, to get the opportunity to promote myself AND JESUS. *laughs*
EJ: *laughs* Absolutely. You mentioned the relationships with the other contestants and, you know, we always see folks on talent competitions, like American Idol, becoming super close friends with the other contestants — what are the relationships like among the contestants of Sunday Best?
CB: Honestly, when you hear people saying that it didn’t feel like a competition, I’ll say that, early on, it really didn’t. It did not feel like that. Now, practically, it is a competition, so you had to still be aware of that. But even now, talking to people and texting them… it’s just been cool. Jessica Reedy just hit me up a few minutes ago, so it’s just been cool. It’s like an extension of your family.
EJ: Yeah. And that makes sense cuz, at the end of the day, it’s a Christian competition, so it SHOULD NOT be as cut-throat as some of the other competitions.
CB: Absolutely.
EJ: What’s a typical week like for the contestants?
CB: It was rehearsing and getting wardrobe done, and making sure that your outfits fit what you were singing, and I just enjoy that aspect of it. There’s nothing wrong with gettin’ pampered, to have someone serve you to make sure you are putting your best foot forward.
EJ: *laughing*
CB: Oh, I love that. Somebody saying “oh, lemme just brush your hair” or “oh, here are these blot sheets for you.” I love that whole aspect. That was the bomb.
But, also, being flexible was a big thing, EJ. If there was something that was scheduled and, for whatever reason, things had to be changed around, you had to be flexible for that, and that was a big part of the week. Or, rehearsing with Ray Chew and the group, and the background singers… Or having a roundtable at the end of the day to recap what happened… that was a typical week there.
EJ: Nice! What was the hardest part of being on the show for you?
CB: The hardest part was coming down those STAIRS!
EJ: *laughing*
CB: *laughs*
EJ: Y’know, that’s funny cuz when Kierra Sheard sang with Mary Mary on the first show, she kinda paused at the stairs and looked really focused… like “lemme make sure I can get down these stairs, THEN I’ma give it to ya.”
CB: Right. I think that was a smart approach for her to take because you’re trying to hear your intro, you’re trying to come down with some decorum and calmness, but you have to maneuver those stairs, so I think that was one of the toughest things.
EJ: *laughing* Fair enough. Ummm… who was your favorite of the three judges?
CB: You know, Erica [Campbell] is so well-rounded and I think she seeks to be the “Paula Abdul” of the group, if you will. So, I think I could respect what she had to say. She said what she needed to say. If it was hard sometimes, she would say it, but I think she– not that the others didn’t– but I think she exhibited more compassion out of the group.
EJ: Yeah, and I think that comes across on TV, too. Fill in the blank for me: “The viewing audience would be surprised to learn that, behind the scenes, _____________.”
CB: That we really were REALLY COOL. Behind-the-scenes, we really… just got along, we were helping each other with songs and giving each other advice, helping with arrangements. They would be surprised to learn that.
EJ: Do you think it’s hard to be on a CHRISTIAN talent competition? I mean, are there sticky points in terms of being edifying while still being honest? You mentioned Erica Campbell and her being compassionate and still say what’s tough– is that harder in a Christian competition?
CB: From the judges’ perspective, I think it is tough because they still have a job to do– that’s the practical application. But because they know that it is a gospel competition– I don’t think they’re sugarcoating it– but I think that they do have to walk a tightrope, trying to do that job and still have to maintain their calling as a Christian artist as well.
From a contestant’s perspective, I think competitions (the nature of them) are tough. So, you are going out to compete, but it’s tough when you hear “here’s five other people that are, so to speak, BETTER than you.”
EJ: Yeah.
CB: So, in that regard, it is tough. Regardlesss of whether it’s Christian or secular, any competition, as far as singing is concerned, is tough. This is not my first one, but… I’m hoping it will be my last one. *laughs*
EJ: *laughing* I hear that! I do. Lemme ask you one more question about the show– of the 10 finalists that did NOT move forward, who do you feel like the viewing audience didn’t really get a chance to experience, but REALLY needs to?
CB: And I can include myself in that? *laughing*
EJ: You’d BETTER include yourself in that list! *laughs*
CB: *laughs* And you’d better KNOW it!
EJ: *laughing*
CB: Honestly, I think any person would say that about themselves, but I honestly feel like I didn’t have that opportunity to give that full view– the well-roundedness of me, so I would have to say myself.
I love the hymns, EJ– I grew up singing them– but I did not select that particular one [on the show]. So, it was just hard to have that song and still try to give it… and then put a little spin on it. My fault was that I didn’t want to do TOO much to it because I didn’t want BeBe to eat me up.
EJ: *laughs* Right!
CB: *laughing* Like he did with the guy on the auditions, with “Amazing Grace.” And I thought “I don’t want to lose the authenticity of the song,” but yet I thought “I’ll put a little twist on it at the end.” So, I think that if I had another opportunity, I’d hopefully have another song that would give a different view of my vocal ability.
EJ: Yeah, it’s unfortunate that, with a lot of these shows– and, I said this to Jonathan Johnson too when he emailed me– the reality is that the editing makes it so that we focus more on some people’s stories and testimonies more than others, so the audience got the chance to connect with some, but there are others that we don’t know that much about.
And I think you’re probably a good illustration of that because I don’t feel like the audience got to see enough of you, based on what I’ve heard SINCE you’ve been on the show.
CB: Oh, I appreciate that.
EJ: No doubt. And that’s actually a good segue into us talkin’ about YOUR music. I’ve heard some of your stuff and it’s REALLY GOOD! You’re both a singer and a songwriter, right?
CB: Yessir.
EJ: Talk to me about your music ministry. What have you been called to do through music?
CB: I’ve been called to just impact people and make them want to be closer to God, whether that be an initial relationship or just broadening of the current one. But, that’s what I’ve been called to do– just impact people for a greater relationship with God.
EJ: That’s great. How did you start, what have you been doing before Sunday Best? I mean, people need to realize that MOST of these finalists have been working at it and grinding on “music ministry” for years and years and years– they didn’t just stumble into the auditions.
CB: Absolutely! Absolutely. I was probably about 14 when I started singing with my sister’s group, Melodies of Praise, and we were doing a lot of touring with our local church organization in Ohio. So, I got my feet wet with seeing what it was like to be called, requested and to work and receive payment for that.
Then, that group ended and I started doing things on my own. I released my own single in ’96 and, from then, have just really been writing and grinding. I’ve sung backup for Jonathan Dunn, who’s done some writing for Marvin Sapp. So, I learned a lot with him, then released my own CD in ’07 and, from that, have had the opportunity to just hit different spots and just really start to build a following and a fan base. And then came Sunday Best to kinda expand that and help blow it up a bit more.
EJ: That’s a lot of work. Great stuff. You know, I was listening to one of your tracks, “Prayze Is Awaiting You” and the passion and tone of your voice reminds me sooo much of Maurette Brown-Clark. Have you ever heard that comparison?
CB: A few people have mentioned that.
EJ: Such an authentic and passionate sound, I figured maybe she was one of your influences. But who are some of your musical influences?
CB: Don’t tell nobody, but DONNIE HATHAWAY! *laughs* In the home I was raised in, we were not permitted to listen to it, we snuck and did it. But Donnie Hathaway, to me, is the quintessential essence of music in an artist… I love Oleta Adams because of the control that she exhibits, I love Brandy, I love India.Arie and, of course, at the top of that list has to be Marvin L. Winans.
EJ: Oh, you’re SAYIN’ something now!
CB: Yeah, these are the people who are doing so much, but they do so little to get it done.
EJ: Mmm-hmmm. It’s a “less is more” approach.
CB: Yeah. And there’s nothing wrong with running, I’ve done it on occasion, but I love a person who stands flat-footed and just delivers, just stands up on a lyric, bends a note, and just hits the point home. That, to me, makes the greatest impact.
EJ: I agree. So, how can people find out more about you and your music?
CB: Aww, man. I prolly got about 11 websites. *laughs*
EJ: *laughing*
CB: You can find me on CDBaby.com (click here), but I’ve also got my own website, which is www.camillebetton.com.
EJ: That’s Camille with ONE ‘m’, people! *laughs*
CB: *laughing* It’s just ONE ‘M’!
EJ: *laughing* [Editor's Note: BET has perpetually spelled her name wrong (as "Cammille") and, in turn, so has everyone else. Camille KINDLY informed me via email a while ago that her name is spelled with just one 'm'.]
CB: I also have a MySpace page, which is www.myspace.com/camillewillsing. And if they Google “Camille Betton,” aside from some French entries, stuff will just… I thank God that He’s enlarged my territory. So, PLEASE order the CD. Please! Like you were saying, I think it reflects my true artistry.
EJ: Absolutely. Well, that’s great! What’s next for you? Anything come out of the show in a… tangible way or are we still in a holding period?
CB: *laughing* “In a TANGIBLE way.”
EJ: *laughing* I’m just sayin’.
CB: This has been my prayer, EJ. And it’s not a deep prayer. It was tough when people didn’t know the outcome and I already knew, but it hadn’t aired yet. People were saying such great things, like “oh, Camille, I know you’re gonna go all the way.”
And so, like I would tell people, I’m praying that, as a result of this opportunity, unusual doors are gonna open– not only to advance God’s Kingdom, but ultimately my destiny. I’ve had the opportunity to network with Donald Lawrence and I look for other opportunities to work with him.
EJ: That’s awesome.
CB: And then, just some of the singers– maybe doing some writing for them and getting my own material out the door. I know I just have to stay on the grind and I KNOW God’s going to open up unusual opportunities, whether it be through major distribution or, once I’ve completed another CD, a label will be willing to pick me up.
It’s not gonna come like it’s gonna come for others, but I know God’s going to open up doors for me.
EJ: Well, I’ll be praying that as well. And I know you have a bunch of folks who really enjoyed you. Part of the bloggin’ thing is that I’m constantly having to keep my ear to the ground. So, going to other sites and seeing what people are saying, you are one that people kept saying “you all did not hear Camille like you needed to hear her.” But now, I hear what we didn’t hear. I really do wish the best for you.
CB: Wonderful. Thank you so much!
EJ: Well, thanks for taking a minute to chat with me. And definitely keep in touch.
CB: Absolutely. And I will stay in touch cuz I’ll be on that blog!
EJ: *laughing* Very good! Take care.
CB: Alright. Bye.
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So, that’s THAT! Make sure you check out her links above and listen to hear music. I think y’all are really gonna like what she’s offering.
Thoughts??? Holla at me.
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