Candi Staton Interview

By Yasmin Ahmed

 

You performed at Glastonbury 2010? What was the experience like for you?

Candi: Oh my goodness! It was an experience of a lifetime! All the people are there and the atmosphere is so charged! Everybody is there expecting, and it's amazing that every stage they have there is filled!

You are performing at the Big Chill and Tartan Heart in August, do you prefer performing at festivals? Do you find there is a different atmosphere to other gigs?

 

Candi: Yes, I just go to concerts and I do what I do! Every concert they're going to be getting Candi Staton!

 

Your albums have had various different styles over the years, what has been your favourite genre? 

 

Candi: My favourite genre? That's a hard one! I do so many, from country to... It's a soul thing, if you don't put your soul in it, you don't feel it, and I'm a very feeling singer.  Any genre that I do I put my whole heart in it, I love all of them, it's so hard to distinguish, but I guess if I had my preference I would say country! It's one of my favourites!

 

You went back to a Gospel style for your last album, what made you decide to go back to Gospel?

 

Candi: Oh, Gospel is my staple, and I will never leave that. That is the foundation of my music and I will always do Gospel music. I left it a long time ago when I was doing Young Hearts Run Free, I never touched any Gospel music for about 13 years. But after that I went back to Gospel and I'll never leave it again.



As well as recording some classic hits, you've also recorded covers, Do Right Woman and Suspicious Minds being a couple of examples, do you enjoy making covers and giving your take on a particular song?

 

Candi: Oh I love it! When I listen to a song that's already been recorded, I sing along with it and I think "What could I do with this if this were my song?" If this were a demo and somebody had sent this song to me, how would I interpret it? So I go interpreting it my way, then I go to the studio and say, "Why don't we do my style on this song and see what happens?" And a lot of times they turn out very good!

Do you enjoy listening to the many covers that have been made of your own songs, such as the Florence and the Machine cover of You Got The Love?

 

Candi: Oh yeah! She did her take on that and she touched her generation with it. I take it as a compliment when I hear people covering my songs and giving their takes on them.

Your voice is sounding just as great as when you first started out, what are your tips for someone who is just starting out in the industry?

Candi: I would say just be true to yourself. Don't mimic anyone, don't try to sound like anyone else. That's how stars are born; when a song comes on the radio and you can't be compared to anyone else, then you know you are an artist.



What is your favourite song at the moment?

 

Candi: You're coming out with all the hard ones! My favourite song for the moment... I have so many favourites! I'm kind of basking in the work of Stevie Wonder right now, You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, I guess maybe that's a good one, I love the way he presented that. There are so many, You Got The Love - I love that, I love doing that now more than ever. Young Hearts Run Free will always be one of my favourites.

 

Same here! You lead such a busy life, what do you do when you want to relax and get away from your hectic lifestyle?

 

Candi: Well I recently got married in January.

 

Congratulations!

 

Candi: Thank you! We bought a home in the country and we have a big old swimming pool. When I want to relax and get away from everything I jump in the pool and float around in the pool. It's so comfortable and it feels just like a resort, and I come home! That's my enjoyment - coming home.

What do you feel has been your greatest musical achievement so far?

Candi: Oh, I would guess, being on the big stages with everybody. I thought, when I was being raised in Alabama that it was all a dream that I would know and be around and look at these people as peers, Gladys Knight and Aretha - I know all these people. I guess the greatest accomplishment was being able to be in the same genre of music and on the same stages as these people who I've admired so much all my life.



Are there any artists in the UK at the moment that you would love to collaborate with?



Candi: You know what, Amy Winehouse! I would love to do something with her! I know it sounds crazy but I would! She is a great singer!