Music Q&A:
Kandace Springs

With a sound that touches on jazz, soul and pop Blue Note’s singer and pianist Kandace Springs is playing her first UK headline tour. She tells us about her private concert from Prince

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What informs your music?
I am constantly inspired by the greats that came before me – Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and more recently Sade , Lauryn Hill and Norah Jones. I’m kind of an old soul.

How have you evolved musically over the years?
I have learned so much about how much work goes into being an artist. I’ve grown as a musician and singer from all the touring and opening for great artists like Gregory Porter, Prince, Jamie Cullum. And the business side is pretty crazy. It’s not my favorite part of what I do but you have to understand it all.

What are you up to at the moment artistically?
I’m currently in the studio writing and recording new songs for my second album. I’m so excited about it. It’s gonna have more energy and edge. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it!

What’s on your rider?
I don’t have anything unusual on my rider but, wherever we go, I’m always sending my tour manager out to search for soul food – I’m a southern girl from Tennessee! We could be anywhere in the world – Tokyo, Amsterdam, Paris – they usually find it!

Tell us your most embarrassing or surreal experience!
My most surreal experience would have to be laying down on some pillows at Paisley Park in the studio while Prince played the piano and basically gave me a private concert. He just went from one classic to another. I still can’t believe that happened.

What song do you wish you’d written?
First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. I always close my shows with that song. It’s an amazing song, so timeless.

What’s your worst lyric?
Wow, that’s a tough one – so many! Lol. A lot of the earliest ones I can barely remember but one time me and my team were working on a song called You Took the Good out of Bye. It still makes us laugh!

Kandace Springs plays The Lowry, Salford, 28 April

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