Fife singer's fraud sea shanty goes viral

Cameron Barnes has teamed up with Natwest to produce two sea shanties to raise awareness of scams and warn customers fraud, as well as urging them to save. The first, about fraud, has now been released on his social media channels.

The last year has seen Cameron hit the top of the iTunes singer/songwriter chart and team up with actor Blythe Duff for a re-imagining of the Christmas classic, Fairytale of New York, to raise funds for freelance creatives and their families – but is the first time he has worked with a business, and performed a sea shanty.

"I watched a documentary on sea shanties on YouTube and took it from there,” Cameron said.

"It’s not far from folk music, where I started. It was quite difficult finding something to rhyme with fraud, though.

"I've done music with theatre before, but this is the first time working with a big company like Natwest.”

Sea shanties – which were traditionally sung by sailors, fishermen and whalers at sea – have recently become popular again, after making waves on social media platform, TikTok.

Scottish postie Nathan Evans went viral on TikTok after releasing several videos of himself performing sea shanties.

"We follow each other on TikTok,” said Cameron. “He’s flying the flag for sea shanties. They have become a big hit in Scotland – I don't know why. I think it's because they are really catchy. They get stuck in your head.”

With lockdown restrictions starting to ease, 2021 looks set to be another big year for the Methil singer.

Cameron has gigs booked in Edinburgh and Aberdeen on June 25 and 26 respectively, with the former having already sold out. He is also set to team up with a country music star.

"After the gigs, I’m off to Nashville to write music,” said Cameron.

"I spoke to Clay Walker's management and they want me to come out and write some songs. We’ll be writing and playing music together. It's not every day you get an offer like that.”

To watch the sea shanty video, click HERE.