Candy Craig

I grew up with music all around me. My paternal grandmother is a songbird and at an early age she taught me all about harmony and how to find harmony. I also grew up with my brother playing the guitar constantly and with my dad spinning great records in the living room most nights. As a student growing up I sang in choirs and played the piano. My mom says I started writing songs as a baby while rocking my feet on the sides of my crib. Once I discovered my songwriting tool, the guitar, I suppose there was no stopping me.

I have always loved to sing and my earliest memories and obsession with music involved The Beatles, The Shirelles and Olivia Newton John (yes I wanted to be in Xanadu). I would sit for hours with my dad's record collection and try to sing every note I heard. I absorbed the songs of Motown and the British Invasion. I was not introduced to folk music in my childhood, this is something I had to discover on my own in my 20s. I think this is why I have such leanings towards writing pop-tinged songs.

I feel that in my songwriting I am most influenced by a few well known artists such as The Beatles, Neil Young and Woody Guthrie but mostly by independent/lesser known artists such as Lou Barlow, Mary Lou Lord, Elliott Smith, Mirah, Devendra Banhart, and Welsh musician Euros Childs. I think what all of these artists have in common is their ability of either writing a beautiful melody or really capturing an emotion and making the listener feel something (which is what I strive to do in my songwriting).

Most of my favorite musicians are considered "indie" or "lo-fi". I have a great love of lo-fi. I prefer analog recording and equipment if given the choice. I am currently recording my first full length album in an all analog/vintage studio.

I lived in Scotland for a year after college and feel that has been a profound influence in my writing. I started to perform and wrote my first songs while living there. So many of my songs are inspired by my time there. I often feel it's my true home. I also feel most connected to British music. My favorite bands are all from the UK; Super Furry Animals, Camera Obscura, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, and Belle and Sebastian.

Although I can still get the jitters before getting up in front of an audience, there is nothing I love more than sharing my music with people. I love intimate perfomance settings where there is the opportunity to connect with people (such as art galleries and house concerts).