Camille Contreras on Novelists, CODA, and Proving Everyone Wrong
As the electrifying force breathing new life into the French progressive metalcore band Novelists, Camille Contreras is more than just a frontwoman — she’s a revolution.
Known for her dynamic vocal range — effortlessly switching between soaring melodies and visceral screams — Contreras joined the band in 2023, marking a bold new era for the venerated group. But labeled as their “unexpected lifeline,” her arrival didn’t just fill a vacancy; it redefined the band's sound, injecting raw emotion, technical prowess, and undeniable charisma into every track.
Our publisher, Kristin Prim, caught up with Camille ahead of the release of Novelists’ latest album, CODA, to discuss her arrival to the band, representation, and proving everyone wrong.
KP: First of all, I’d like to congratulate you on being Novelists’ most recent addition – you’ve been beyond amazing!
CC: Thank you very much! And thank you for having me on Noir.
KP: Of course! The guys asked you to join the band after being featured on their 2020 track, “C’est La Vie.” How did all of that come to be? I’m sure you were thrilled, and maybe even surprised.
CC: In 2023, Nico, the bassist and manager of the band, asked me to have a drink while he was in Marseille. He wanted to talk to me about something. At first, I thought he wanted to start a rock band, but in fact, he offered me the chance to become the new singer of Novelists. I was so shocked and surprised. I didn’t even consider the possibility of being the new singer, as I didn’t even know that they were looking for one. And, of course, since it was the best opportunity of my life for my music career, I took it. And here I am. :)
KP: At Noir, female artists are always telling us how difficult it is for women in music – especially for women in rock – so I cannot imagine how intimidating and tough it must have been not only replacing a vocalist in general but also replacing a male vocalist in a band that has only ever had male vocalists before. How was that experience for you?
CC: For me, it was a very good experience. I think that I was surrounded by great people, and the whole band supported me a lot during this transition. I was well-prepared for the fact that when you change singers in a band, you’ll inevitably have a portion of the fans who won’t be happy. And honestly, I understand them. But the band evolves, and you have to accept that. Either you only listen to the old albums because that's all you liked, or you’ll follow the journey and keep listening.
As a woman, I didn’t find it difficult, honestly. And I didn’t get more haters than the former singer who replaced the original one. I understand that, for some women, it can be hard to face the misogyny from certain fans. But I don’t give any credit to those people; they’re just unhappy. You have to ignore them and give credit to the fans who support you and bring positivity instead.
And most importantly, for me, it was the greatest opportunity of my life, so I wasn’t going to spoil my good mood with negativity – I only kept the positive.
KP: That’s a great mindset to have. I never understood people who ignore the positive just to focus on the negative.
As you’ve just hinted at, you’ve been extremely warmly received with many people lauding your arrival, but did you initially experience any prejudice or pushback for being a woman? If so, how did you push through it?
CC: As I was saying, I was definitely prepared for the comments from the haters. When we released the first single, “Turn It Up,” there were many comments saying that they preferred the former singers. I understand their disappointment with the change, and that’s okay! However, there were definitely comments saying things like “a girl shouldn’t do metal” or “a girl shouldn’t scream.” And I didn’t take those comments personally at all. Those people are just ignorant, and more importantly, it won’t change the fact that I will continue to make metal, scream at concerts, and that many other women will keep doing it, too! :)
KP: Exactly. And you’ve said that many men have come to the shows and approached you afterward, saying that you turned them from a skeptic into a believer – which you take as a great compliment, as you should. As women in male-dominated fields, we have a lot to prove – as it’s often said, we need to work ten times as hard to get just halfway to where they are. Do you feel the weight that comes from having to constantly prove yourself simply because you are a woman, to be inspiring or exhausting? How do you stay so locked in?
CC: Yes, I’ve often had fans who said that they were skeptical about my arrival in Novelists, and who were ultimately convinced after seeing the live show! I find it very inspiring and motivating to prove to people that I belong in this band and in the metal scene in general. Sometimes I walk into concert venues, and I feel like the people welcoming me think I’m the girlfriend of a band member or that I’m doing the merch. I really enjoy seeing their faces afterward when they see me get on stage and totally crush it! [Laughs]. For me, it’s really not a big weight on my shoulders – I’m just focusing on the performance, the music, and having fun !
KP: That’s the way it should be!
You’re a self-trained vocalist, which is incredibly impressive. What do you feel gave you the confidence to pursue that on your own?
CC: Thank you! That's a good question! I’ve always done music, since I was 7 years old. I played piano, music theory, cello, and I also played in an orchestra. I’ve always sung, and when I learned to scream around the age of 18, I tried to find a way of doing it that sounded nice and didn’t damage my voice so that I could do it regularly. I used to practice in my car with the windows closed on the highway. [Laughs]. I kept trying to improve, always by ear, to enhance the tones of my screams.
KP: That definitely worked for you! [Laughs].
What advice would you give women who wish to train on their own as well?
CC: I would advise them not to hesitate to practice – they shouldn’t hold back from trying and training. There are many videos on YouTube that offer vocal warm-ups and exercises to work on scream techniques for women. Just go for it! :)
KP: Novelists’ two latest singles, “Coda” and “All For Nothing,” were applauded for still sounding like the band while adding a rich new dimension. You can immediately hear it upon listening – it’s really incredible. Are you always seeking to keep things new and unique, or has that come as a natural byproduct of working together?
CC: I think it's both. The fact of working with all five of us together – a new line-up – inevitably brings freshness and novelty. But there is also a strong desire to bring something new. Musically, in terms of creativity, everything has already been done, so it's difficult to be creative. You really have to step out of your comfort zone and seek what might disturb or shock in order to be creative. And that's what we tried to do on this album. We are very proud of it and are already thinking about how to be creative and innovative for the next album.
KP: The music videos for the singles are really cool – all of your music videos are! Do you have any personal stories about shooting them that you can share?
CC: The first two music videos, “CODA” and “All For Nothing,” were filmed in just one day. We started with “CODA” at 11 AM and finished at 8 PM. Then, starting at 8 PM, we began filming “All For Nothing” and finished at 2 AM. It was very intense, very exhausting for us! We had to cut a few planned shots to fit the schedule, but in the end, we’re very happy with the results of these first two videos.
KP: Wow! Do you have a favorite music video that you’ve ever shot?
CC: I think my favorite music video is “All For Nothing.” I imagined it last summer while on the train. I was listening to the song, and the concept came to me right away. I'm very happy with the result. It wasn't easy; we had to act for the first time, but the final outcome is quite convincing. We also laughed a lot during the shoot, partly from the fatigue from the long filming day and also because seeing the guys in lab coats and doctor outfits was really funny!
KP: [Laughs]. I could imagine!
Novelists’ forthcoming album is out May 16th. What was it like recording it? What can we expect?
CC: Oh, it was hard work! We had a very tight deadline – we had to finish the album during the two summer months between a tour in the US and a tour in Europe. So it was intense! But it was worth it!
This album means a lot to us; we put all of our hearts and emotions into it. The songs talk about life experiences, breakups, and grief. There are some very catchy tunes, ballads, and more dynamic tracks. It represents our five personalities, and there are songs that will probably surprise you. I hope that this album will resonate with the hearts of many people.
KP: I’m sure it will!
You’ve spoken about representation being vitally important for women in rock, which is undoubtedly true. Many girls have approached you after shows, saying that they want to be like you when they grow up, which must be an amazing full circle moment. What advice would you lend them about pursuing a career in rock as woman?
CC: It’s a completely full circle moment! It’s a real source of pride to be able to inspire women, especially when I myself am inspired by other women. I always tell women who want to get into rock and metal music to go for it, to not set any limits for themselves, and to not be afraid. There’s room for all of us. You’ll have to work hard for your dream, but it’s worth it!
KP: Is there anything you wish you knew then that you know now?
CC: There’s nothing I know now that I wish I had known back then. I’m glad that I was able to have the carefreeness of the early days, discovering this whole world, being surprised, and having to adapt! If I could talk to myself two years ago, I’d say to trust myself, to trust my instincts, to always make my choices based on my gut, and to do what feels right. :)
KP: That’s something we hear a lot – to trust your gut. As women, we naturally have killer intuition. It’s for a reason – we have to use it!
Who are some of your favorite women in rock, either historically or contemporarily?
CC: Historically, there’s the singer of this Spanish hardcore band, We Ride, her name is Mimi. Back then, 10 years ago, it was very rare to see female frontwomen. She had such energy on stage and an aura that was really inspiring. They’re doing a reunion show in April in Spain.
Of course, there’s Hayley Williams from Paramore. For me, she’s the best rock singer of all time. She doesn’t use autotune live – she sings perfectly while jumping and moving around everywhere. She’s a real performer!
KP: What do you feel makes a provocative woman?
CC: For me, a provocative woman is a woman who dares to be who she wants to be, who dares to have a sense of humor, who dares to exist in a predominantly male environment, and who dares to speak up and assert herself.
