When Tasmanian guitar wiz Stuie French was touring Australia with Merle Haggard in 1996 did he see a sign foretelling that in years to come he would fall in love with a Maori woman who sang like an angel and they would end up making beautiful music, and a family, together'
When Camille Te Nahu arrived in Australia in 1999 her vocal talents were immediately recognised by Kasey Chambers and Beccy Cole who employed her as their backing singer both on the road and in the studio. Over the years, Camille and Stuie released their own albums – Stuie with the Feral Swing Katz (Come out Swingin’, Feral Swing Katz with Peter Busher and Round 3) and Camille’s solo album (Camille Te Nahu), and their paths would often cross as they both toured with Australian country stars (Troy Cassar Daly and Gina Jeffreys). But it wasn’t until 2002 when their stars aligned and they fell in love.
“I’ll never forget the first time I heard Camille sing. It took my breath away as well as the rest of the guys in band, and suddenly our musicianship went up a couple of notches. Over the years she has taught me a new way to approach guitar playing. After all, why would you want to get in the way of a voice like that' Our different musical backgrounds over time has combined to give us a fresh yet traditional sound.” Stuie French
In September 2016 Tommy Emmanuel invited Stuie to be a tutor at his “Tommy Emmanuel Guitar Camp Australia”. He also invited Camille and Stuie to perform as guests at the annual CAAS (Chet Atkins Appreciation Society) Festival in Nashville in 2014. They had three well received shows, and then were invited to sing with The Time Jumpers and a duet with Vince Gill during their weekly set at the 3rd and Lindsley. That year Camille and Stuie also won the Frank Ifield International Spur Award.
At the 2013 Tamworth Golden Guitar Awards, Camille and Stuie won their first Golden Guitar Award together for “Best Alternative Country Album of the Year”. This is their fourth, and finest album together, Big Days & Little Years. In March 2014 they were awarded the Frank Ifield International Spur Award.
Camille and Stuie have also had two of their songs (Gone for all money and Pretty Katalina) featured on the hugely popular, new Channel 7 drama “A Place to Call Home”. Camille also featured on New Zealand television this year with a full episode of her musical life on “Unsung Heroes of Maori Music”.
Stuie is a master of the country/jazz guitar-style (Les Paul invited him up to play in New York), and his smooth voice harks back to the days of Tommy Duncan singing with Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys – no pretense or exaggeration. Stuie always has a band that can create the perfect bed for Camille’s gentle, velvet voice. She sounds like no other singer with a style that is effortless, a sound that is rich, deep and very easy on the ear.
Camille and Stuie are truly a musical marriage made in heaven and their latest album Tahi is a must-have collection of beautiful moments shared together and with their young son Sonny.
www.camilleandstuie.com
