The lissom and ever so affable DJ cum music producer Candice Redding needs little introduction. Pegged as India’s top DJ, Redding has a portfolio that reflects her meteoric success — from being the Official DJ for the Indian Premier League and the Royal Challengers Bangalore team for the past couple of years and having performed at some of the most prestigious platforms in India such as Sunburn, Supersonic, Enchanted Valley Carnival, Arbitary Festival, and having shared the stage with industry sharks such as Martin Garrix, Sean Paul, Steve Aoki, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Dash Berlin, Dyro, Dannic, Hardwell, Kygo; this Delhi-based artiste has been on a roll! And now, her first event stint with a TV show is keeping her busy. She has been roped in for The Remix, a show alongside Nucleya, Amit Trivedi and Sunidhi Chauhan. Excerpts from the interview...
“We are working on The Remix. Sunidhi Chauhan is one of the judges on the show. I would love my expectations to be high, but it is my first TV show, so I am just going with the flow and it is working in my favour. I have been getting a lot of e-mails and messages from fans and people are absolutely surprised that I’m experimenting with the Bollywood music scene... I don’t know what to expect since this is a brand new concept for me, but it has been exhilarating,” she reveals.
While she has dabbled various roles — including a cameo opposite Salman Khan in Sultan, one of the highest grossing films, and her associations with international fashion brands — music was her calling, and she knew it at 14. “While growing up, I did not just listen to English and pop music. I listened to a variety from blues, jazz and everything under the sun. My dad was into music. I was 14 when my cousins took me to my first electronic music concert, that of Armin van Buuren. I could understand the music and realised this is what I’ve been wanting to doing.”
With over 250 shows to her credit, there’s no taking away from the fact that Candice has a knack of knowing the pulse of the audience. Her favourite Indian city to perform? “Well, that’s a tough one for someone like me who has travelled extensively,” she believes. But, then she has her favourites too. “I really enjoy performing in Shillong and other North-eastern cities. Bengaluru is right up there and then Mumbai. I know for a fact that people understand music on a very international level. Electronic music is still far behind in India. So considering that, these three cities top my list.”
Candice was also the host for the globally renowned Electric Daisy Carnival IN for Budweiser as well as played at Tomorrowland Unite and Amsterdam Dance Event (Global Sessions).
Known to be original with her music, we explore what her music influences are like. “I like all kinds of music, despite being an electronic music artiste. I really like Mala, Dark tongue and Glass animals at the moment. I love hip hop music too. In my set, I try to bring in a lot of hip hop sets. It’s really nice to see Indians enjoy hip hop and newer genres.”
Speaking about what her downtime looks like, she signs off by stating, “I love fashion and gardening. I’m an extremist and love anything adventurous — jumping out of planes, adventure sports, bungee jumping etc. I also take time out for myself. I think that is pretty important — to take time out and love yourself.”
