Music

new music: afropunk fest 2014 alum kandace springs’ debut ep #soundcheck

September 24, 2014

Most of the time, when an artist gets this much buzz without having even released a proper record, it’s all hype. But as anyone who saw her electrifying set at AFROPUNK Fest 2014 can attest, the attention on Kandance Springs is more than just hype. On her debut self-titled EP, streaming below via Soundcloud, the young singer flexes her vocal chops and proves herself a versatile and vital artist.

Words by Nathan Leigh, AFROPUNK Contributor

Opening with the fashionably retro “Love Got In The Way,” Kandace Springs matches au courant mid 90’s hip-hop production with classic soul songcraft (see our video premiere here). She’s one socio-political message song away from being the heir apparent to Lauryn Hill. But it’s on the neo-neo-soul “West Coast” that Kandace Springs sounds most at home. Her confident voice stretches out and carries the melody with an effortless charm. It’s a classic tale of getting over an ex, laced with dope horns and minimal but undeniable groove.

On the back half of the EP, Kandace Springs summons a voice from a bygone era. “Meet Me In The Sky” has a kind of acid jazz feel. This is the kind of vocal that DJs used to sample back in the day, melodic, joyous, and full of open space. The EP closes out with the ballad “Forbidden Fruit.” Accompanied by little more than her electric piano, Kandace Springs goes all in on her old soul. It’s the kind of song that can outlive trends and hype performed by the kind of voice that can do whatever the hell she wants to do with it.

Kandace Springs’ Self Titled EP drops September 30th. Pre-order it here.
Photo above by Leann Mueller

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