CamelPhat, Jem Cooke: The Soulful Voice of UK House Music

CamelPhat, Jem Cooke represents a powerful collaborative force in modern electronic music, merging the Grammy-nominated production prowess of Liverpool duo CamelPhat with the soaring vocals of British singer-songwriter Jem Cooke. Originating from the United Kingdom, their partnership catapulted to global fame with the 2020 crossover house anthem "Breathe," a track that dominated charts and airwaves internationally, achieving platinum certifications in multiple territories.

Early career

Liverpool-based production duo CamelPhat, formed by Dave Whelan and Mike Di Scala, had been steadily building a reputation in the tech-house scene since the early 2010s with releases on labels like Defected and Spinnin' Deep. Simultaneously, Jem Cooke was honing her craft as a vocalist and songwriter, contributing her emotive voice to tracks by various dance acts before her path decisively crossed with the duo.

Breakthrough

The definitive breakthrough arrived in 2020 with the release of "Breathe." Released on the duo's own When Stars Align label in collaboration with RCA Records, the track became an inescapable hit. It peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart and achieved multi-platinum status across Europe, while also earning a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording, cementing the trio's status as hitmakers.

Key tracks

Breathe — This Grammy-nominated single is their signature track, a platinum-certified global hit that defined the melodic, vocal-driven house sound of the early 2020s.

Be Someone — A 2019 collaboration with Jake Bugg, this track showcased an earlier, successful fusion of indie songwriting with CamelPhat's deep house production, becoming a club staple.

Cola — Although originally a CamelPhat and Elderbrook track, Jem Cooke's live vocal performances of this earlier Grammy-nominated hit have become integral to their joint sets, linking their histories.

Panic Room — A later collaboration from 2022, this track continued to demonstrate the potent chemistry between Cooke's lyrical depth and the duo's atmospheric, driving production style.

The success of "Breathe" established a lasting creative partnership. They have since released a steady stream of singles and performed at major festivals worldwide, with Jem Cooke often featuring as the central vocalist during CamelPhat's live performances, turning DJ sets into live electronic showcases.

Fans of the emotive, vocal-led house of CamelPhat, Jem Cooke should also explore the sounds of Artbat for a similarly atmospheric but more driving techno-inflected style. The melodic progressive house of Anyma shares a grand, cinematic scale with their music. For another UK-based act blending soulful vocals with deep house, try Disclosure. The songwriting approach of J Majik in the drum & bass realm offers a different tempo but a similar fusion of vocal emotion and club energy.

The music of CamelPhat, Jem Cooke maintains a strong presence on radio, particularly across electronic and dance-focused FM stations and specialist online radio streams that champion the cutting edge of club music.

Listeners can discover the dynamic sound of CamelPhat, Jem Cooke on various electronic and dance music radio stations featured on our website. Tune in through onairium.com to hear their catalog of melodic house anthems on rotation.