From her pink aesthetic to her iconic harp playing, Candice Lee has made a statement in the pop-rock scene. Her music is the epitome of female empowerment, turning the negatives many of us face into a shared experience.
I talked with Candice to learn more about her passion for music, everything that goes into being an independent artist, and her latest music!
MSM: I noticed from your Instagram you've also been a part of your family band, which is so cool that you all have that musical connection! What was that like growing up in a musical family, and how did that influence who you are as an artist now?
CANDICE: Growing up with a musical family was really fun and it's such a special and unique connection with each other. Our family band used to frequently perform at local bars/restaurants, street fairs, etc. and I think that gave me a great foundation to start performing and pursuing my own original music.
The harp tends to be popular with the classical genre. How did you decide to include it into your pop-rock style? In your opinion, what elements of pop-punk music work best with harp?
Playing the harp has been important to me. I am classically trained, and I had fun incorporating the harp into pop/rock music because I love its unique and ethereal sounds—sounds that people may be surprised to hear in that genre. When I first added the harp into my songs, I realized that it wasn't going to be a one-time thing, and that I was going to strive to include it in most of my songs going forward! I love how it has now become part of my signature sound. If you listen closely, you can hear it in all of my music!
From start to finish, what does your creative process typically look like?
My creative process definitely varies from song to song. I wrote a couple of the songs from this upcoming EP myself on my guitar, and a few of them in co-writing sessions in Nashville or over FaceTime. Once a song is written, I bring it to my producer(s) and collaborate with them to start building and shaping the sound. I record a lot of my own instruments that you hear on the tracks, including guitar, harp, and some vocals. Then I record, comp, and edit all of my vocals with one of my producers. The song then gets mixed and the final step is getting it mastered by my mastering engineer.
Once the song is done, I love creating visuals around it to build a universe for it. This includes cover art, lyric videos, music videos, visualizers, and even short-form social media content. I'm obsessed with creating DIY music videos, and I have so much fun directing and editing these myself with my team. They are huge projects that are so involved and so rewarding. It's always exciting to see our ideas come to fruition so that my "Candies" (fans) can be a part of this universe that is constantly evolving.
This process wouldn’t be possible without my amazing and talented team of people, so I want to give a huge thank you to:
- Audio: Larry Gast, Elaine Rasnake, and Cyrille Taillandier
- Visuals: Lyssa Campbell, Sarah Court, Samantha Grossman, Tyler Haas, and Olivia Mendez
What is your most played song that you listen to right now? Why do you think it's that song?
I've been listening to "iloveitiloveitiloveit" by Bella Kay and "Love’s a Gun" by Daniel Seavey on repeat. They're both just super catchy. Bella Kay's voice is so captivating and Daniel Seavey is insanely talented. Fun fact: Daniel Seavey has been supporting me and my harp covers for so many years!
The music video for "Catch A Flight" was a one-take video. Can you tell me a little bit about that experience?
This music video was so much fun to make! Since it's a one-take video, there's a little more pressure to get everything right lol. Sam helped me book the location, Tyler was the video operator and color editor, and I co-directed it. We ran through the choreography a few times to practice, and we filmed a few takes. Then we ultimately decided which one we thought was the best overall. My family [was] on the plane with me, and I always love including them wherever I can. It was especially special having my grandma in this one, who thought the whole experience was incredible.
A lot of your musical themes revolve around relationships and negative experiences. What other themes do you see yourself exploring as your sound evolves?
I would love to hone in more on using negative experiences, turning that anger into fuel to feel empowered, and to help others feel the same. I'd love to explore themes that spread positivity and are uplifting. As far as specific topics, it's hard to say as I really like to write about what’s happening in my life. So, we'll see what the future brings!
Your pink hair and guitar are iconic! How does that color relate to you as an artist and as a person? What made you decide on that aesthetic?
Thank you! Pink is my favorite color—a preference that has been passed down from my great grandmother, grandmother, and mother who all loved the color too! It's a small way to feel connected to the females in my family. It's so important to me to stay authentic, so I wanted to lean into this being my favorite color. Of course, as an artist I can be creative, embrace this, and build upon it. Pink represents femininity, compassion, and playfulness all of which strongly resonate with me.
What have been some of your biggest roadblocks so far as an artist?
As an independent artist, it can be tough to navigate this industry as there is no one path to succeed, and of course success looks different to everyone too. I think there's beauty in the process because you get to be creative and create your own path. In addition, as independent artists, we have to wear a lot of hats, which is challenging but personally I also find it exciting (though there isn't enough time in the day!). And lastly, funding myself as an artist is difficult, too!
What is your favorite element about your new single, "Can I Just Come Over?" In your opinion, what makes the song a hit?
I love how fun and high energy this song is and the Y2K vibe it brings. I love the chord progression and how quickly it moves between chord changes. The stacked vocals help give the song that full sound, and inclusion of the harp and the guitar solo at the end is epic too, in my humble opinion ;)
Where do you hope to find yourself in five years?
In five years, I hope to still be creating music and inspiring others. I hope to continue connecting with people worldwide as connecting with people through my music is special to me. I'd also love to be touring and performing more so I can share that experience with my fans and meet them in person!
What other projects can your followers look forward to seeing from you in the future?
I’ll be releasing my EP called "Motion" in September! My Candies can expect lots of new visuals and fun content along the way as well! [I'm] hoping to do more live shows, too. I'm so excited for everyone to hear what I've been working on and hope people feel inspired and empowered by it :)
