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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]
Candice Pillay | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Candice Pillay |
| Born | June 10, 1981 Pietermaritzburg, South Africa |
| Genres | Pop, R&B |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Website | www |
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]
Singles
As a featured artist
| Title | Year | Artist | Album | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "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
| Title | Year | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Bombz Away" | 2009 | Candice Pillay | - |
| "Loveless" | 2010 | Candice Pillay | - |
| "Stand Silent feat. Jon Connor" | 2020 | Candice Pillay | - |
| "Hotel Avenir (Saw It Coming)" | 2021 | Candice Pillay | The Rise EP |
| "Honey Boy" | 2021 | Candice Pillay | The Rise EP |
| "Song Of Solomon" | 2021 | Candice Pillay | The Rise EP |
| "Saint Tropez" | 2021 | Candice Pillay | The Rise EP |
As a songwriter
| Song | Artist | Writer (s) | Album | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "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) - Single | 2017 |
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