Kandle
Montréal, Quebec, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2011 | INDIE
Music
Press
VANCOUVER — Unbeknownst to many in her home province, B.C.-bred singer-songwriter Kandle is stirring up a storm in Eastern Canada.
The daughter of 54-40 singer and guitarist Neil Osborne relocated to Montreal three years ago, where she fully launched her musical career.
Kandle has received a copious amount of media attention since the release of her debut album In Flames earlier this year, a dark, moody record whose sound and vision has been likened to a cross between Lana Del Rey’s pouty pop and Nick Cave’s noir-influenced rock.
Here are 10 things you should know about Kandle.
1. Homecoming
Despite her local roots, Kandle hasn’t performed in Vancouver in three years. The last time she did was part of a band called The Blue Violets with her sister Coral and singer-songwriter Louise Burns. “Louise, my muse,” she said in a recent phone interview. Burns, of course, will be opening for her longtime friend at the Biltmore Cabaret show Sept. 11.
2. Father’s shadow
“It was hard to be taken seriously for a while, having everyone in the B.C. scene being very familiar with my dad,” the 23-year-old said. “I sent everything I did to all his contacts and everyone I know. And instead of what I hoped would happen, which was to help start my career, they were like, ‘Aw, that’s cute, sweetie.’ So I decided to take it to Montreal because nobody knew who I was there.”
3. New connections
Her relocation to Montreal was in part motivated by her collaborating with guitarist and producer Sam Goldberg, Jr., of Broken Social Scene fame. Goldberg helped produce her first EP and her album In Flames, released on Montreal label Dare To Care. He continues to perform live with Kandle.
4. Influences
Kandle takes her noir influences from everything from the Delta Blues to current artists, but her biggest source of inspiration is film soundtracks, and especially the works of Quentin Tarantino. “I remember watching The Good, The Bad & The Ugly when I was younger and thinking, ‘Oh my god, there’s whips and chains in that song.’ It would give me goosebumps and shivers. I was always attracted to dark and weird. I don’t know why. I don’t connect with music unless it gives me the chills.”
5. Music videos
Kandle’s love of the cinematic arts also influenced her music videos, which have a distinct “noir” vibe. Her video for Not Up To Me deals with a friend’s severe depression after suffering mental and physical abuse, while the black and white video for Demon echoes the song’s lyrics about blaming dark forces for one’s bad actions.
6. Photography
Before being fully involved in music, Kandle studied photography. In fact, she shot a number of famous Canadian musicians for online and print publications, including critically acclaimed Polaris Prize-nominated duo Timber Timbre, Victoria band Jets Overhead, singer-songwriter Aidan Knight, and Canadian rock favourite Sam Roberts.
7. Collaboration
Speaking of Sam Roberts, he appears on Kandle’s album In Flames, singing harmonies on a song entitled Protector. So do Louise Burns, father Neil Osborne (as co-producer), and Quebec singer-songwriter and former tour mate Beatrice Martin (a.k.a. Coeur de Pirate), who sings on Baby.
8. Media frenzy
Quebec media has been going crazy for Kandle in the past few months, and Kandle has been featured on numerous high profile television and radio shows. Most notably, Kandle appeared on the cover of influential Montreal urban weekly Voir earlier this year, making her the first anglophone artist to grace the cover of the francophone publication. “I thought there were a lot of separatists here, but they’re all singing Demon,” she said with a laugh.
9. Fashion forward
Could Kandle be a fashion icon in the making? Her neo-noir, Bardot-inspired style has been featured in a number of fashion magazines (Elle, Flare) and in newspapers’ fashion spreads (The National Post, Globe Style Advisor). “I mean, I’m definitely inspired by the ’60s style and I’m pretty much always in black. I don’t know how that happens,” Kandle said. “My sister and my mom have always been fashionable people. So they’ve definitely influenced me a lot.”
10. The future
Kandle admitted her career is now in transition as she looks for new management. “I want to have a long-lasting, consistent career where I’m able to continue making records, play for as many people as possible and keep exploring my creative ideas while surviving.” - VANCOUVER SUN
This upcoming Sunday we'll be airing from George's house with Kandle Osborne. She is a Canadian singer-songwriter born in Vancouver and raised in Montreal with her debut album, 'In Flames' being released late February. She'll be joined by Sam Goldberg of Broken Social Scene and Jason Kent and they'll be reminiscing about the creation of this record, the influence of her family that includes Neil Osborne of 54-50 and will also perform a few songs acoustically in the broom closet and premiere a few tracks off her forthcoming album, 'In Flames'. For further musical musings, new and old, join the collective for The Strombo Show on CBC Radio 2, every Sunday night at 8PM. And if you'd like to catch up or relisten, all of the episodes are archived on our Radio page. - CBC Music
Discography
Kandle - EP (May 2012)
Photos
Bio
Kandle is the solo project of Victoria BC native Kandle Osborne, a songstress whose elegiac and moody brand of singing and songwriting reflect a maturity well beyond her years. Having grown up in a richly musical family, Kandle’s artistic nature became evident early on in her study of photography and her love of music. In her late teens she formed the group The Blue Violets with her sister Coral and friend Louise Burns. It was then that she fell in love with songwriting and slowly conquered stage fright, playing guitar in the shadows before being able to focus on her own solo material.
Kandle met her musical partner and co-producer Sam Goldberg Jr, (Broken Social Scene, Yardlets) in 2010, after he approached her to take press shots for one of his musical projects; she agreed, on the condition that he play on some songs she had recorded. Goldberg found himself locked in a basement studio for days working with Kandle, recording guitar and bass, the two of them naturally complementing each other in weaving together a somber, haunting world of longing vocals and dark, eerie guitar lines. Produced by her father, 54-40’s Neil Osborne, Kandle’s debut EP was released to critical acclaim in 2012, following her decision to move to Montreal. With this move, Kandle found herself living closer to collaborator Sam, and to Montreal’s vibrant music scene. The move also found Kandle stepping outside of her comfort zone, leaving behind the relative safety and familiarity of her musical upbringing in Victoria to become a self-reliant artist. Much to Kandle's surprise, she and Sam quickly formed a band with some of Montreal's most credible musicians : Jason Kent on bass, David Deiäs on drums and Emmanuel Ethier and Félix Dyotte on guitars and keyboards.
Following the EP’s release, Kandle and the band embarked on tours throughout Europe and Canada including shows at CMJ, Osheaga, Pop Montreal and M for Montreal. Kandle spent much of 2013 recording her debut full-length album, which was co-produced by Neil Osborne and Sam Goldberg Jr. The album “In Flames”, set to be released in March 2014, features first single “Demon”, an eerie rhythmic chant-like song, released in October 2013, alongside a video as powerful as the song itself. This upcoming year is the year of opportunities for Kandle and the band, as they will have the chance to showcase the band’s full potential across North America and Europe.
Band Members
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