CQ Corral: Camp Bedford – “Our America”
By Christopher Treacy
For their latest single, “Our America,” New York-based trio Camp Bedford (Roxanne Quilty, Mariela Flor Olivo, and Tallen Gabriel) leans into their Americana side, using their gift for plaintive harmonies to simultaneously express dismay and disdain… but there’s some hope sprinkled in. Released to coincide with the end of Pride month and the Independence Day celebrations, “Our America” follows the trio’s spring EP, So Often & So Sweet. Produced and engineered by Julian Giaimo, the track doesn’t mince words: “Stolen land, bloodied hands/Let freedom ring…” it begins, while the last few lines really sum it up with “…and when their America has finally died, we won’t cry.” Especially when paired and with the black and white cover image of bustling flames, the message is powerful, underscoring divides in this country that continue to shock as we head into another election cycle. Maybe it’s time to start building your lefty playlists now… “Our America” should be in the first few tunes.
“Our America is a national anthem for a country in peril,” Camp Bedford said in an accompanying statement. “It’s easy to find ourselves in a cycle of existential dread amidst near-constant news of gun violence, attacks on queer rights, police brutality, and climate crises fueled by corporate greed. ‘Our America’ is a call to the listener to stand together against the hatred and fear that our nation is built upon. It’s a plea to maintain hope in community and each other, to remember that we keep each other safe. Most of all, ‘Our America’ imagines our ability to build a nation that truly uplifts and protects all of its inhabitants.
To find out more about Camp Bedford, follow them on their socials.
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CQ Corral is an emerging feature at Country Queer that will bring you new music several times weekly, culminating every two weeks in the CQ Roundup our readers have come to expect. If you think your work could be a good fit for coverage at CQ, fill out our submission form!
Christopher Treacy has been writing about music and the music industry for 20 years. He’s contributed to The Boston Phoenix, The Boston Herald, Nashville Scene, and Berklee College of Music’s quarterly journal, as well as myriad LGBTQ+ outlets including the Edge Media Network, Between the Lines/Pride Source, Bay Windows and In Newsweekly. He’s the Managing Editor for CQ and lives in Waitsfield, VT.