(March 2, 2026) At times, talented behind-the-scenes gurus find their way to the front of the studio session. Growing up, Darhyl Camper, Jr. simply wanted to live out his childhood, yet family members noticed a special life-changing gift. Eventually mastering the piano to play at various churches would lead to a career promised land.
Before stepping into his solo performance chapter, the producer/songwriter now known as Camper earned 6 Grammy nominations in the production chair, including a win for Best R&B Album – H.E.R. ‘s self-titled debut in 2017 featuring the 2x multi-platinum single, “Focus.” And his delicate piano-laced rhythmic R&B that suited voices such as H.E.R., Brandy and John Legend and his dedicated work ethic kept developing further musical collaborations, leading to Camper’s debut solo CD, Campilation.
Our latest edition of First Listen introduces Camper on the lead microphone with the dreamy but edgy tale from Campilation entitled “Love Me,” alongside Stevie Wonder. As usual, Camper does not tamper with the musical recipe that brought him the respect of his peers. Launching with finger snaps and a haunting backing vocal arrangement, the narrative ponders a troublesome situation:
“I been reaching for your guidance/
All I hear is silence, babe/
Where’s my peace and quiet?/
Holding hands in public, go to private island, vibing.”
While Camper possesses a decent voice, his production savvy turns into the real showstopper of “Love Me,” thanks to Stevie’s intuitive jazz harmonica taking over the second half of this track alongside Camper’s familiar keyboard framing. Overall, this is a riveting pairing that makes Campilation far from another compilation showcase. Take a listen!
By Peggy Oliver
