Despite still being very much within its infancy, Camila Cabello‘s solo career has already been rather unfairly mired in rumours surrounding her choice to split from her former girl group, ‘Fifth Harmony’. From the day Camila announced her departure, wild speculation and venomous allegations flew through the airwaves with no comment of ill from either party; seemingly the narrative of five bickering women proved more newsworthy than that of them respecting each other’s career choices. Nevertheless, Camila moves graciously through the attempted adumbration of negativity into the spotlight and onto our issue cover. With an AMA, VMA and countless other awards under her belt as part of Fifth Harmony and seldom mentioned co-writing credits for acclaimed artists Machine Gun Kelly and Shawn Mendes respectively, the sky is the limit for Camila Cabello. With that in mind, we sat down to find out more about the pressures and pleasures of going it alone.

Words: Miles Holder

 

Hi Camila, what’s been the scariest part of transitioning to a solo artist?

I think the scariest part about it is leaving a successful project to pursue a new dream with a path full of questions of self-discovery that only you can answer. But even when I feel so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of my former group, expressing myself as an artist became a necessity.

 

Do you feel a lot of pressure to have to get everything perfect?

I’ve always felt pressure to get everything perfect, and I’ve never gotten there, but I think that’s what keeps me growing, and keeps me frustrated with myself and keeps me reaching. I think if you’re ever comfortable and think “wow. This is it. I’ve figured it out.” , you stop trying and you stop growing.

What should fans expect to hear from your new music?

They are going to feel who I am. They are going to get a chunk of my heart, my experiences, my fantasies and everything in between.

 

What do you have lined up musically for 2017?

We’ll be touring worldwide for the rest of the year.

 

If you could describe the sound in 3 words, what would it be?

I couldn’t possibly boil it all down to three words but it will be me in sound form.

It feels like you’ve been working non-stop for the past 5 year, where did you find the time to prepare for your solo career in that time?

I was always writing, not necessarily for myself, but just because I really wanted to be a songwriter. I think as I was writing I found my own voice as an artist and as a person, and I’m discovering more about it every day.

 

What’s been the best part of the solo journey so far?

Working with so many talented writers and producers and following my own musical vision. I love the ability to create something out of nothing altogether.

 

You’re a young artist and it’s a very tough industry, where is your happy place when it all becomes too much?

My family and movies.

If you could give any advice to you younger self, what would it be?

Everything has to happen the way it’s going to happen so that other things can occur. And also, don’t be so hard on yourself.

 

There’s a lot of pressure on young artists (female performers especially) to be forced by the media to act a certain way or become bullied into dressing a certain way. What’s something you would never apologise for?

I think it’s important to make your own decisions about what feels right to you and follow your inner voice. Never compromise if it doesn’t feel right.

 

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Everything is temporary and life has seasons of its own. Just like flowers don’t bloom all the time, there are moments of sadness and happiness, struggle and joy, and being human means feeling all of it, even in the bad times, so that you’re that much more grateful for the good times when they come.

 

What are your plans for the rest of 2017?

I hope to release my first few songs before summer and then go from there and hopefully an album in the Fall.

 

What is your FAULT?

Overthinking, worrying about things that may not be in my control and not being present. I am sometimes too hard on myself and I get frustrated with how sensitive and emotional I can get, but I’m learning to love myself a little more during the times when I am sad or insecure, and I just remind myself that feeling those emotions is just a part of being human, and we have to love all the parts of our humanity, because they’re not there to hurt us, they’re there to make us understand ourselves a little better.

 

Read Camila Cabello’s full interview and see more exclusive photographs only in FAULT’s Special #25