Kandace Springs
Every so often a new singer emerges who’s able to assimilate multiple musical touchstones and still come off sounding remarkably fresh and unburdened by the past. Kandace Springs is one of those artists. The 27-year-old, Nashville-based singer, songwriter and pianist counts such stylists as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Roberta Flack and Norah Jones as her heroes, but as evidenced by her sparkling full-length Blue Note Records debut, Soul Eyes, Springs mimics none of them. Instead Springs allows her comely alto to become a conduit that touches upon soul, jazz and pop while transforming those aforementioned influences into a personalized sound that reveals itself effortlessly.
Kandace Springs first turned ears three years ago. Her self-titled debut EP netted the singer/songwriter/pianist a late-night trifecta (Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon) plus gigs at the Bonnaroo and Afropunk festivals.
The 11-track Soul Eyes features an eclectic mix of originals and covers about love and romance that cater perfectly to Springs’ alluring alto and innovative piano arrangements. Helping Springs foster her own organic style: her longtime production collaborators Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers of SRP (who discovered and signed a teenaged Rihanna). The pair also brought in Grammy-winning producer Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell).
Then a chance online encounter gave Springs even more personal insight from a surprising source. After hearing her cover of Sam Smith’s “Stay with Me” on Okayplayer, Prince invited her to play with him at Paisley Park for the 30th anniversary of Purple Rain. Recalls Springs, “From the beginning when I played some jazz standards for him, Prince said, ‘Be who you are: minimal production, live instruments; center on your voice.’ He was absolutely right.”
Kandace was dubbed a “suave songstress” (Wall Street Journal), “a versatile and vital artist” (Afropunk), and “a vocal force to be reckoned with” (Okayplayer). Essence Magazine named her a New & Next artist and Interview Magazine made her their Music Discovery, writing that while “Hearing the word jazz might revert a listener's thoughts to the music of yesteryear...Up-and-comer Kandace Springs aims to change this notion. The singer, songwriter, and pianist blends elements of soul, jazz, and pop, producing a unique and modern twist on the genre that appeals to young and old listeners alike.”
Lindsey Webster
"If Carole King and Sade had a kid, she would be Lindsey Webster."- SoulTracks
Growing up in an artist community, the daughter of loving hippie parents, in Woodstock NY, the allure of music was never far from Lindsey Webster. The adorable, instantly likeable and earthy singer/songwriter, who grew up listening to her parent's Jimi Hendrix, Beatles and Elvis Costello LPs and later the Supremes, once pursued medical school before finally settling on music. Webster has been taking the contemporary jazz world by storm, scoring a #1 hit with her soulful original "Fool Me Once." This feat is remarkable in numerous ways. Not only is Lindsey half the age of the male instrumentalists who dominate the genre, but her #1 is the first vocal driven song that has topped the Billboard smooth jazz chart since Sade's "Soldier of Love" in 2010. Lindsey exclaims, "This honor has changed the game for me. Once a dream comes into fruition, it really lights a fire."
November 4, 2016, Shanachie Entertainment released Webster's anticipated label debut, Back To Your Heart. Influenced by everyone from Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera to Steely Dan and Earth Wind and Fire, there is an honesty and authenticity that reverberates through Lindsey Webster's enchanting, smoky, rich and soulful honey-toned pipes. Joining forces with her husband, pianist and musical partner, Keith Slattery, the duo crafts evocative soundscapes that fuse the best elements of R&B, jazz, pop and soul.
Back To Your Heart opens with the chart-climbing title track and single, which debuted at #15 on the Billboard charts. It's an intoxicating and emotive number that sizzles and a song that Webster said wrote itself. Highlights on Back To Your Heart include the show-stopping ballads “Those Three Words” and “Living A Lie,” which offer two of the most arresting and stunning moments on the CD. The gorgeous and stirring numbers are nothing short of superb. Lyrically, the songs poetically detail the travails of love and showcase the depth and subtle nuances of Webster’s voice that make her a remarkable vocalist with a maturity well beyond her years. Webster's phrasing, rich vocal timbre and delivery hit all the right spots.
Webster's mission is to make an emotional connection with her fans. Somewhat of an old-soul, the young singer concludes, "With all the pop tunes out nowadays, literally about nothing, I think it's important to hold the torch for the artists before us who found it important to write real music." With the release of Back To Your Heart, Lindsey Webster is poised to find her way into your heart...and this is just the beginning!