Kandace Springs

Kandace Springs' refined mix of R&B, jazz, and pop has been showcased with Soul Eyes (2016), Indigo (2018), and The Women Who Raised Me (2020), albums the singer, songwriter, and keyboardist has released on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Blue+Note%22">Blue Note</a>. While all three recordings are tied together by an aesthetic throughline, each one is a distinct synthesis of classic and contemporary inspirations. The first two projects both landed at number two on Billboard's contemporary jazz chart.

The Nashville native's path to the revered <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Blue+Note%22">Blue Note</a> label begins with her father, session vocalist Scat Springs, who introduced her to the piano and classic recordings by artists including <a href="spotify:artist:7G1GBhoKtEPnP86X2PvEYO">Nina Simone</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:19y5MFBH7gohEdGwKM7QsP">Luther Vandross</a>. At the age of 15, the younger Springs recorded a demo with her father, who delivered the result to veteran producers <a href="spotify:artist:0kbIz7wAczMyXXs9tfdDNE">Evan Rogers</a> and Carl Sturken (<a href="spotify:artist:0PcIlEZa7rreM7729ot05g">Stephanie Mills</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1l7ZsJRRS8wlW3WfJfPfNS">Christina Aguilera</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5pKCCKE2ajJHZ9KAiaK11H">Rihanna</a>). Through the duo's support, Springs secured an audition for <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Blue+Note%22">Blue Note</a> president Don Was and landed a deal. The artist debuted in September 2014 -- two months after admirer <a href="spotify:artist:5a2EaR3hamoenG9rDuVn8j">Prince</a> flew her to Minneapolis to perform at Paisley Park -- with a self-titled EP created with the likes of <a href="spotify:artist:0kbIz7wAczMyXXs9tfdDNE">Rogers</a>, Sturken, and Pop & Oak. After she made featured appearances on tracks by <a href="spotify:artist:6FD0unjzGQhX3b6eMccMJe">Ghostface Killah</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3uT7nEkZwWc2GBiqUZGoOe">Aqualung</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:4zeHJ3kiJyjYXlIOcG4MA7">Black Violin</a>, Springs completed her first full-length, Soul Eyes. Released in June 2016 with production from <a href="spotify:artist:0ej3IwUoiaLNMaWt9LFjRU">Larry Klein</a>, the album mixed originals and covers and favored lean instrumentation.

For her comparatively layered follow-up, Indigo, Springs worked extensively with <a href="spotify:artist:6e7BQ0gM6o8ecMXRZkXxlZ">Karriem Riggins</a> and maintained her connection with <a href="spotify:artist:0kbIz7wAczMyXXs9tfdDNE">Rogers</a> and Sturken as two of her primary co-writers. Issued in September 2018, the album likewise featured interpretations of classic and contemporary songs, from Thom Bell and <a href="spotify:artist:2Dk9O4J8UBA3dtuy9CtUcz">Linda Creed</a>'s "People Make the World Go Round" (popularized by <a href="spotify:artist:2O0Hw1WSMbskB5tD9aWah3">the Stylistics</a>) to <a href="spotify:artist:1R4GxRuSVTPSb6oy56SPST">Gabriel Garzón-Montano</a>'s "6 8." The Women Who Raised Me followed in March 2020. Springs reunited with <a href="spotify:artist:0ej3IwUoiaLNMaWt9LFjRU">Klein</a> for the sessions and went in a traditional jazz direction while honoring artists such as <a href="spotify:artist:2E3nXyfocf7qfHAIFNbBuj">Carmen McRae</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0W498bDDNlJIrYMKXdpLHA">Roberta Flack</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:47zz7sob9NUcODy0BTDvKx">Sade</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:2Mu5NfyYm8n5iTomuKAEHl">Lauryn Hill</a>. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi