Westleaf Staff
What's up Leafers? Welcome to the latest edition of On the Rise where we interview upcoming hip hop talent. Today's guest is DJ Candy Crush. Candy Crush is a Latvian-born American DJ and music producer who lives in Miami, USA. She spent her early life in NYC and she still considers New York City as her hometown. She has achieved a lot of success in Miami and has been calling the amazing city her home since 2008. Candy Crush started her own label "Da House of Sound" in 2022 as well. The Miami based DJ has been on our radar for a while so we had to tap in with her! Check out the interview below.
Westleaf Staff: What's up, Crush? Your mixes are dope. When did you start making music?
DJ Candy Crush: When I was 4 years old. When I was little, my crib was in the same room with a grand piano and I heard my mom play it since I was born. She often would miss a note or sing off-pitch which helped me develop a near perfect pitch while listening to her obvious mistakes and being unable to say anything until I turned 2.
Westleaf Staff: That's dope! What city do you represent?
DJ Candy Crush: I represent the 305. Miami is and will be my home until I the end.
Westleaf Staff: Shout out to Miami. So how did you create your stage name?
DJ Candy Crush: Candy Crush is one of the most successful and addictive games ever created. Should I say more?
Westleaf Staff: I love that. Candy Crush is awesome. So how did your early life shape your interest in music?
DJ Candy Crush: Grew up in the 90's listening to Metallica, Nirvana, Green Day and Sound Garden. Had the. pleasure of actually meeting and chatting with James Hatfield from Metallica on a flight from SF to Miami where I live. Turned out we had mutual friends from the metal band called "The Anthrax". Fascinating.
Westleaf Staff: Dope! That's an inspiring story. So who is your biggest Musical influence?
DJ Candy Crush: Metallica, Nirvana. Those were the true last non-manufactured musicians. Also appreciate great works by the legendary Max Martin very much, although I do not listen to mainstream music these days. In EDM, I tend to resonate with Steve Aoki, I think he's really cool and hip.
Westleaf Staff: Dope! Metallica is fire! What's been the defining moment in your music career thus far?
DJ Candy Crush: Decision to enter electronic dance music field at the beginning of Covid by a complete accident. The story is a bit crazy but it is a real story. I promise.
Westleaf Staff: So cool! Salute for turning Covid into a win. So what makes you a unique artist?
DJ Candy Crush: I invented something I call "Dark House", a music genre based on bass house, future bass and future-rave like fusion with deep and often somewhat dark lyrics. Aside from this new genre, I created an EDM-infused hip-hop style, best described by songs like "Tokyo Vibes", "This is my life", "When I am alive" and other tracks from the upcoming album "Escape the Matrix".
And finally, I created "Progressive Rave" style, best described by tracks such as "Save the World" and "Lost". Almost nothing except a few tracks (out of about 50 that I have produced so far) have been released to public. I will start releasing one track per week starting June 2023 as I kick off my DJ tour.
Westleaf Staff: Dope! So what does art mean to you?
DJ Candy Crush: Financial success is not important to me. I am already a relatively successful person. What matters to me is my love of making music in my studio and having fun doing it. If only one person in the world appreciates my art, that is all I need. I would like to avoid making commercial music that targets a wider market and prefer to create musical art instead.
Westleaf Staff: That's deep! Where do you see your music career going over the next few years?
DJ Candy Crush: Touring Latin America with my Latin-infused one-hour DJ set "Los Vamos!". I love Latin people and Latin culture and I am looking forward to kicking off my tour in 2023.
Westleaf Staff: I wish you much success! Before we go, describe music in three words.
DJ Candy Crush: Music is the universal language that everyone understands, even my cat. Sometimes lol.
Follow DJ Candy Crush:
IG: @dj_candy_crush
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/da-house-of-sound
