Boombox Blitz: Cameron Hawthorn sizzles in ‘Oh Hot Damn!’ video

Welcome to Boombox Blitz, an artist spotlight series showcasing overlooked singers, songwriters and musicians who are quietly taking over the world.

It’s no great mystery that the music industry has thrived on sex. The sex appeal of its pop icons like Madonna and Michael Jackson shifted millions of albums and made sure stadiums were always packed. Country music has certainly been caught in the act, as well; from Dolly Parton’s “Why’d You Come In Here” to pretty much any Tim McGraw & Faith Hill collaboration (see: “Let’s Make Love”), the “wholesome” American-made genre is unashamed to tantalize every once in a while. Drawing a pail of water from a similar well, Cameron Hawthorn turns up the heat with his brand new video, “Oh Hot Damn!,” containing a sticky, sweaty guitar part that never lets you breathe.

“You’re burning me up like a flame in my saddle,” he sings. The groove is scorching, and as he circles the dance floor, eyeing a particularly chiseled cowboy in skin-tight Wrangler’s, Hawthorn’s voice is equal parts soothing and sultry. There’s no escaping his reach, the temperature at first simmering and then erupting into a steamy boil. “Better call up the fireman!” he coos right into your ear. The visual, self-directed and co-produced with Kyle Einsohn (cinematography by Noel Maitland), begins in silky black and white, but once he hops into the line dance, the honky-tonk is splashed with neon vibrancy and a cool brand of charm.

“Texas in July, and I’m barely breathing / Tight jeans I just want to lose,” he sings, painting his words with a clearly seductive silhouette. “To be frank, it’s the first song I wrote about sex,” he says. “I was thinking about line dancing and how people — when they go to line dance, they own it, you know? They don’t care what anybody thinks. So it’s about being turned on by somebody and finding the freedom to express it.”

Hawthorn made headlines earlier this year with the release of his song, “Dancing in the Living Room,” a sparkling ballroom waltz that served as his coming out letter. Back to back, his growing catalog showcases an artist that isn’t afraid to blur the lines of genre, while still adhering to the roots of classic country music. “Oh Hot Damn!” bites with a hard pop hook, but it’s thrashing electric guitars and saloon-style slink plants it firmly in the spheres of modern times. Hawthorn’s presence is  undeniable, and this is only the beginning.

Watch below:

Photo Credit: Fredrik Brodén

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