Soulful Thunder: Kandace Springs on Music, Legacy, and Living Her Truth

By Sweet Baby J’ai Palm Springs, CA (The Hollywood Times) 11/12/24 – Maybe it’s that ever-so-slight twang in her voice, that Nashville accent that’s a little Southern and a little something else. Maybe it’s her authenticity—down-home style mixed with a cool, effortless hip-chick vibe that feels as real as it gets. Or maybe it’s that butter-melting voice, the one Prince himself blessed with his seal of approval. Whatever it is, Kandace Springs has it. She carries that magic with her everywhere she goes, leaving a trail of captivated audiences in her wake. Whether she’s behind the piano or lighting up the mic, Kandace isn’t just performing—she’s sharing a piece of herself with every note. In this conversation, I asked her to open up about her new album Run Your Race, her father’s lasting influence, and how she keeps the music all her own, no matter what. SBJ: Your new album, Run Your Race, is deeply personal, especially the title track which honors your late father. How did his influence shape your music, both growing up and in creating this album? KS: My dad was such a huge influence on me in every way. He bought me my first piano, and then really pushed me to start singing as well. And as I say in the song, he also taught me how to shoot basketball! He was just a larger-than-life person, an amazing singer and also incredibly funny as well. So, if you ever see me acting the fool on stage, that’s my dad coming out! SBJ: Good to know! Sounds like he spends as much time on stage with you in spirit as you do. He’s clearly a big part of your style and presence. You’ve developed such a unique sound, blending jazz, soul, and contemporary funk grooves. How do you go about creating that mix, and what draws you to those particular genres? KS: Well, those are all the genres that I grew up with my whole life, so they just come naturally to me. I don’t even really like separating them, it’s all just music to me. If I’m listening to Sarah Vaughan, then that’s what I get excited about, and if it’s Earth, Wind & Fire, then it’s Earth, Wind & Fire. Somehow, when I play, they all come out. I guess that’s why some people have a hard time describing what my style is, but that’s OK. It’s just me! SBJ: Well, we’re here for ‘just you,’ so keep doing what you’re doing! You’ve mentioned that during the pandemic, you took a step back from music and dove into flipping cars. How did pursuing that second passion help you reconnect with your love for music? KS: I’ve been flipping cars since I was a teenager, but when the pandemic started, that was all I could do really, we weren’t playing at all for more than a year. So partly it was to make money, but also, I do really love it, so I was pretty happy during that time actually. I started flipping a lot of RVs because that’s what everybody wanted during the pandemic, so they could travel around and not deal with people I guess lol. Honestly, I didn’t really think about music much for more than a year, until my managers pretty much begged me to get back in the studio and make some music. And that’s when the floodgates really opened, and I wrote “Run Your Race” and really got back into music. SBJ: Several songs on Run Your Race were written when you were a teenager. How does it feel to revisit those early creations now, and what do they represent in your musical evolution? KS: When I made the new album, it was the first time I didn’t have anybody trying to tell me what to do. So, I thought, well what do I want to do? And I realized there were a lot of songs I’ve written over the years that had never made it onto any record, and I felt they deserved to be heard. When I played them for my people, they all said, “Wow these songs are really great, where have they been?” And I said, “They’ve been here, where have you been?” LOL SBJ: It sounds like bringing those songs to life was a powerful, personal process for you. Fans have loved your take on Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For.” How do you go about “Kandacizing” contemporary songs like that and really making them your own? KS: I first heard “What Was I Made For?” in the movie theater at the end of the movie, and I just fell in love with it immediately, and I said I must learn how to play and sing that song. The songs that I cover end up sounding like me because to be honest, I’m not that good at learning how to play it the way the original person played it! It always just comes out sounding like me. And at the end of the day, I guess that’s a good thing. SBJ: Absolutely—it’s what makes your covers so unique. Speaking of putting your own spin on things, you’ve worked with legends like Prince and Christian McBride. How have those experiences shaped your artistic growth and influenced the music you create today? KS: I’ve been so lucky to work with so many great legendary musicians. I got to work with Norah Jones on my last album, The Women Who Raised Me, and that was incredibly special because she was my first real crush musically back when I was 16. And David Sanborn played on that record too, and he was sooooo nice, and I miss him. And of course, working with Prince was beyond description really, I treasure those moments now. SBJ: Those are the moments we tuck away and pull out when we need that little reminder of why we fell in love with music in the first place. We’re excited to see you perform in Palm Springs on November 9th. Can you give us a sneak peek of what fans can expect from your set? Any surprises in store for the festival audience? KS: I’m so excited to be coming back to Palm Springs! My new band is amazing, and we put on such a show, I think when people only know me from the records, they’re kind of shocked when they see me live LOL. I put on a show! I love to entertain and have fun. So everyone who’s coming to the show, start warming up your vocal cords, because I’m gonna have you singing too! Kandace Springs is set to bring her storm to the Sunset Music & Comedy Festival, and if you think her recordings are impressive, wait until you see her live. With a new band and an electric stage presence, she’s ready to take Palm Springs by force, leaving no heart untouched. Expect soulful grooves, jazz-filled moments, and that signature Kandace charisma that turns every performance into an experience. She’s not just performing—she’s inviting you into the eye of the storm, where you’ll laugh, sing, and feel the music on a whole new level. Get ready because Kandace Springs is about to blow the roof off the festival, and trust me, you won’t want to miss it. Get ready for a whirlwind of music and laughter on Saturday, November 9th, at 7 PM at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, 2300 E. Baristo Road, Palm Springs. The lineup includes award-winning cellist and singer Jennifer Corday, classical rock violinist Emily V, and comedy queen Karen Williams. This promises to be an unforgettable night of entertainment you won’t want to miss! Three days of incredible music and laughter – country, soul, jazz, blues, classical, and rock! For more information, visit www.sweetbabyjai.com. Click here for tickets.