Womanly Interview: Candice Hoyes, by Amy Woehling
Words by Amy Woehling
Candice Hoyes’ new single Zora’s Moon blurs the line of past and present. Through earthy hues and nocturnal vocals touched by Sade and Minnie Riperton, her cinematic tones and transcendent/intimate melodies remind us of the power we have within our own stories that will carry us lightyears ahead. Read more of Hoyes’ story below.
Amy Woehling: Tell us a little about yourself and where your journey begins.
Candice Hoyes: I live in New York City, and I'm an artist by way of being a musician, songwriter, lyricist, producer, lecturer, and activist. I'd say, my purpose with music is always to center - not only where I'm going and my vision for the way that I want the world to look, but also to reflect my sense of legacy and where I come from. That was what really inspired me to write Zoras Moon. That’s the sort of trajectory for my next phase of life, of creating music.
AW: What’s the creation story behind Zora’s Moon?
CH: I always hope to transcend the constructs of time and space. With Zora’s Moon, I explore my girhood, the communal experience of Black women, and the aspects of wisdom that I've gleaned through the ancestral experience. I think of myself as a storyteller, and I always want to echo stories that haven't been amplified and highlighted to the extent that they should be. This song bears that.
AW: How is music connected to wellness, specifically for Black women?
CH: Black music is a mode of liberation. It's self-expression. It's movement of the body that is completely free, and I think in its highest form it is communal. The sensation of a basement party or a concert - there's an intimacy, directness, and emotive freedom. These are so inherent in music and that's why I love expressing myself through music. Black music is transformative. Every cultural movement has been defined and moved by Black music. It’s an ambassador for what people consider ‘American’ culture in so many ways. The faces most commonly representing Black music are so frequently Black women: Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Janet Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Lauryn Hill, all of these, all of these faces are representing the music for American culture and Black womanhood.
AW: You center a beacon of Black womanhood, Zora Neale Hurston, in your work. What intrigued you the most about Hurston and how has she helped shape you as an artist?
CH: What I was the most curious about at first was her warmth and the power in her tone. Through her sense of empowerment she was able to hit every note of human emotion; from colorism and gender oppression to existential questions, to just being able to beautifully and easily tell a joke while capturing the colloquial language. She was able to move so widely and freely, and that's what I loved about her. I've been intrigued by the boundlessness and limitlessness of Zora Neale Hurston - not just in the way her works are timeless, but also that she was able to hold and be completely candid about the systems of oppression that she was living amidst while also exceeding in joy, celebration, and noticing all the beauty that was present. Her story frees me: to range more broadly and to envision the world more freely.
AW: This single themes around the transcendence of time. So, if you could bring one piece of your present wisdom back to your child-self what would it be and why?
CH: I’d tell myself that all of my dreams and hopes are valid. I think about being a Black girl and how early I started to infringe upon my own view of myself; like the first time a racial slur was directed at me in first grade, and starting to understand the conversations my parents were having. So, I would tell myself to be at peace and stay deeply connected to the power of those early dreams and visions of myself.
AW: How do you stay grounded in your work as an artist and activist?
CH: I love yoga and connecting to my breath. I like to use the weight of my own body to make it stronger. Just singing. I love old movies. I love listening to love songs for hours, twisting my hair, and cooking Jamaican food. I wanted Zora’s Moon to be that kind of song - like a love song to the girl inside of you, because I think so many of us are hoping to find that connection to that little girl and help her heal.
Artist acknowledgements: I would say that I really loved writing this song with Sullivan Fortner. He's a writing partner who's one of my favorites, and that process of the songwriting was really beautiful. Joel Ross is an incredible vibraphonist. I chose his playing and style to convey the luminous presence of the moon. Casey Benjamin did a beautiful job producing, setting up a deep, futuristic groove where I could feel carefree and give the whole story with my voice.
Watch the new video for Zora’s Moon below!
