Candice Pillay

Last updated

Candice Pillay
Birth nameCandice Pillay
Born (1981-06-10) June 10, 1981 (age 43)
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Genres Pop, R&B
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals
Website www.candicepillay.com

Candice Pillay (born June 10, 1981) is a South African singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. She is best known for writing songs for artists including Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Calvin Harris, Christina Aguilera, Dr. Dre, Eminem, ScHoolboy Q, Why Don't We, Rita Ora, Sevyn Streeter, Logan Paul and Tinie Tempah. [1] [2]

Contents

Career

Pillay was born and raised in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa in an Indian family. [3] She released her first mixtape in December 2014. The mixtape, titled The Mood Kill, is a 15-song compilation written by Pillay and collaborators such as Alex da Kid and Dem Jointz. [4] In August 2015, Pillay's vocals were featured on two songs from Dr. Dre's album "Compton"; "Medicine Man" (ft. Eminem and Anderson .Paak). In an interview with MTV, Pillay spoke about working with Dr. Dre stating, "He really made an impression on me from the moment I met him. Of course, he's a legendary guy. We all look up to him. You never know what to expect when you meet someone of his caliber. But, from the first meeting, he was one of the most humble guys I've met." [5] [6]

In 2015, Candice co-wrote Rihanna's American Oxygen in a collaborative effort with Alex Da Kid and her KIDinaKORNER label-mates X Ambassadors. [7] Pillay told reporters the song hit close to home for herself, Alex Da Kid and Rihanna who all moved to America to further their careers in the music industry. [3] In September 2020, Pillay released Stand Silent ft. Jon Connor [8] in the midst of protests following the murder of George Floyd. In April 2021, Candice announced her upcoming EP, The Rise [9]

Influences

In an interview with Toronto Paradise, Candice spoke about her musical influences. "I have African and Indian heritage, and mixing the African and Indian rhythms and drums together is very close to RnB and hip hop," she said. "A lot of my melodies are very Indian and you wouldn't think that because they're under a heavy 808, but I try to access all those cultures that I grew up on." [3]

Discography

Singles

TitleYearArtistAlbumNotes
"Bang Ya Head Harder" (ft. Lloyd Banks, Dr. Dre & Candice Pillay)2010 50 Cent The Reconstruction Mixtape
"Don't Sell Out" (ft. Candice Pillay)2013 Tinie Tempah Demonstration [10]
"Witch Doctor" (ft. Candice Pillay)2013 Tinie Tempah Demonstration
"We Receive You" (ft. Carnage & Candice Pillay)2014 Morgan Page DC To Light
"Genocide" (ft. Kendrick Lamar, Marsha Ambrosius & Candice Pillay)2015 Dr. Dre Compton
"Medicine Man" (ft. Eminem, Candice Pillay & Anderson .Paak)2015 Dr. Dre Compton #40 US R&B
"WHateva U Want" (ft. Candice Pillay)2016 Schoolboy Q Blank Face LP
"F-VR" (ft. Candice Pillay & No Riddim)2016 Far East Movement Identity

As lead artist

TitleYearArtistAlbum
"Bombz Away"2009Candice Pillay-
"Loveless"2010Candice Pillay-
"Stand Silent feat. Jon Connor"2020Candice Pillay-
"Hotel Avenir (Saw It Coming)"2021Candice PillayThe Rise EP
"Honey Boy"2021Candice PillayThe Rise EP
"Song Of Solomon"2021Candice PillayThe Rise EP
"Saint Tropez"2021Candice PillayThe Rise EP

As a songwriter

SongArtistWriter (s)AlbumYear
"Lotus" Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera, Candice Pillay, Alexander Grant, Dem Jointz Anthony Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Justin Meldal-Johnsen Lotus 2012
"Make The World Move" (ft. Cee Lo Green) Christina Aguilera Alexander Grant, Mike Del Rio, Candice Pillay, Jayson DeZuzio, Dwayne Abernathy, Armando Trovajoli, Thomas DeCarlo Callaway Lotus 2012 [11]
"Cease Fire" Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera, Candice Pillay, Alexander Grant Lotus 2012
"Circles" Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera, Candice Pillay, Alexander Grant, Dwayne Abernathy Lotus 2012
"Best of Me" Christina Aguilera Candice Pillay, Alexander Grant, Dwayne Abernathy, Mike del Rio, Nate Campany Lotus 2012
"Shut Up" Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera, Candice Pillay, Alexander Grant, Dwayne Abernathy, Jayson DeZuzio Lotus 2012
"Light Up the Sky" Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera, Candice Pillay, Alexander Grant Lotus 2012
"Cockiness (Love It)" Rihanna Candice Pillay, Robyn Fenty, D. Abernathy, Shondrae Crawford Talk That Talk 2011 [12]
"Don't Sell Out" (ft. Candice Pillay) Tinie Tempah Okogwu, Ryan Nile Sutherland, Andrew Stewart-Jones, Candice Pillay, Dwayne Abernathy, Vaali, S. S. Thaman Demonstration 2013
"Witch Doctor" (ft. Candice Pillay) Tinie Tempah Okogwu, Candice Pillay, Alexander Grant, Abernathy Demonstration 2013
"Consistent" Sevyn Streeter Sevyn Streeter, Candice Pillay, Dem Jointz, Justin Robinson, Askia Fountain Shoulda Been There Part 1 2015
"American Oxygen" Rihanna Alexander Grant, Sam Harris, Candice Pillay, Robyn Fenty -2015
"Genocide" (ft. Kendrick Lamar, Marsha Ambrosius & Candice Pillay) Dr. Dre Candice Pillay, Young, Kendrick Duckworth, Ricks II, Marsha Ambrosius, Sly Jordan, Dwayne "Dem Jointz" Abernathy, Jr. Compton 2015 [13]
"One Shot One Kill" (performed by Jon Connor ft. Snoop Dogg) Dr. Dre Young, Jon Freeman Jr, Candice Pillay, Edwards Jr, Lawrence Jr. Compton 2015
"Medicine Man" (ft. Eminem, Candice Pillay & Anderson .Paak) Dr. Dre Candice Pillay, Young, Marshall Mathers, Mohrle, Anderson, Ricks II, Abernathy Jr, Edwards Jr, C. Chambers Compton 2015
"White Lightning", Candice Pillay & Anderson .Paak) Dr. Dre Candice Pillay, Young, Marshall Mathers, Mohrle, Anderson, Ricks II, Abernathy Jr, Edwards Jr, C. Chambers Compton 2015
"Medicine Man" (ft. Eminem, Candice Pillay & Anderson .Paak) Dr. Dre Candice Pillay, Young, Marshall Mathers, Mohrle, Anderson, Ricks II, Abernathy Jr, Edwards Jr, C. Chambers Compton 2015
"Blank Face" (ft. Anderson .Paak) Schoolboy Q Candice Pillay, Quincy Hanley, Tony Russell, Sounwave Blank Face LP 2016
"Cash Out" (ft. ScHoolboy Q, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Shelley FKA DRAM & Funk Wav) Calvin Harris Brittany Hazzard, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Roget Chahayed, Adam Wiles, Quincey Hanley, Shelley Massenburg-Smith, Candice Pillay Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 2017
"Help Me Help You" (ft. Why Don't We) Logan Paul Candice Pillay, Troy "R8dio" Johnson Help Me Help You" (ft. Why Don't We) - Single2017

[14] [15]

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References

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  2. Naik, Sameer (August 22, 2015). "I'm just getting started, says Candice". Saturday Star. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
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  6. Clark, Trent (September 18, 2015). "Compton Co-Star Candice Pillay Drops New EP, The High". Hip Hop Wired. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  7. Lewis, Corner (April 15, 2015). "Rihanna to release new song 'American Oxygen' on iTunes". Digital Spy . Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  8. "Stand Silent - Single (Feat. Jon Connor) - Single by Candice Pillay". music.apple.com. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  9. "The Rise - EP by Candice Pillay". music.apple.com. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
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