Candy Bleakz’s Wale paints an affecting scene: the Street Pop star is very much missed by her mother, and she misses her too in return, but their relationship has become strained due to her work, a situation Candy promises to remedy. The song plays out over throbbing Pop production, and on its remix, songbird Simi slots in perfectly to apply a healing balm to a sore spot for Candy Bleakz. While it debuted to a modest commercial return and has been praised for its effusive writing, the family issues that drove its creation are very much real. Early in her life, cracks in her family meant that Candy Bleakz had to grow up in different locations all over Lagos. The journey from there to music was just as rough, as she was eventually forced to drop out of school due to financial problems. Music, however, has provided a soft landing.
She channeled her story into her debut EP, Fire, where she showcased just how much her experiences so far had forged her into the tenacious person she is today. For Better Days, her reprise, she cools considerably, allowing a more structured Afropop framework to sit beside—but not replace—the flammable essence of slang-laden Street Pop, as she acknowledges the progress she has made in the industry in the last few years. The EP succeeds because it flaunts her range, showcases her eye for great chemistry with her guests and allows her music to remain an authentic representation of where Candy Bleakz is at each time.
In this interview that has been slightly edited for brevity and clarity, Candy Bleakz talks to Culture Custodian and walks us through the Better Days’ creation and its selection of guest artists, and the stories from her past that influence her artistry today. She is in great spirits, as she had in fact just reunited with her mother shortly before our interview for the first time in six years. Better, happier days are here for Candy Bleakz as she sets her eyes on a solid place in mainstream Nigerian music.
Better Days, your new EP, dropped two weeks ago and is getting a lot of love. Congratulations! What do you feel about all of that?
Well, a lot of people don’t see me like that. Everybody always thinks of me as Candy the rapper, the street gangster but this time around, I wanted to show the improvement I’ve made. I’ve been working and changing my sound. I’ve been trying to get it right, so everybody has been like “yo candy what’s this, I didn’t see this coming.”
I have some Igbo friends that don’t even understand what I’m saying in some of the songs but the melodies just keep ringing in their heads. So far I’ve not even seen anyone tell me I don’t like this particular song. So sincerely speaking it’s all been positive.
I’m happy to hear that because I liked it as well. I want to ask about your background. I know you grew up in Lagos, what was that like?
I was born in Bariga. At one point I left Bariga for my grandpa’s house in Oworonshoki. From there I moved to my mom’s in Ikorodu. I lived in Ikorodu for about nine years. From Ikorodu, I went to school and left school to go to Iyana Ipaja. I lived my life moving from here to there.
Growing up, what type of music did you listen to? Did it inspire your music as a creator?
Growing up I never really knew I was going to do music, I wasn’t a music lover. My dad listened to people like Haruna Ishola, but at one point I went to live with my mom and my stepdad is a big fan of Saheed Osupa, so from morning to night he’s always playing Osupa. I know all of Osupa’s songs so literally those are the people I listened to.
That’s interesting to hear because I see your music as an extension and a more modern form of Fuji. At what point did you start making music?
In OOU [Olabisi Onabanjo University], I did a rap battle in school which gave me a little popularity. I was called Blesskido then so when people saw me they were always hyping. I just felt like I wanted to do this music. I love the attention, I love the fame that comes with it.
And what was your parents’ reaction to that?
My parents didn’t want me to do music, so I had to run away. I didn’t run away from home but I went ahead to get my exams, GCE, and JAMB [UTME], without letting my mom know. Even when I gained admission I went to my dad and told him, he gave me money and I paid. I just forced myself to go to school so that I could have my freedom. Everything I did in school, they didn’t know. While I was in school I was hustling. I’ve done a lot of hustle. I sold rice, I sold shoes in Ikorodu, I was once a fuel attendant, I learned video directing, I do art.
Any way is a way. Then you went on to win Lagos Got Talent. How did that feel?
Then I was learning video directing and we shot a particular video for Artquake and a friend of mine, a rapper, asked me to do a freestyle, I did the freestyle and he collected my number. One day I was drinking Garri in the studio and a call came in. It was Artquake and he asked if I could make it to Lagos Got Talent immediately. As I was arriving they were literally locking the place. After 3,000 contestants, from five different locations, I was announced as one of the three winners. I won Lagos Got Talent and the story changed from there. It was held from the 25th of December 2016 until the first of January 2017.
So had you already left school then or had you decided that you were going to leave school by this point?
I didn’t decide to leave school. I left school because my parents couldn’t take me further. I was in Lagos learning video directing and I called my dad for school fees. He told me he didn’t have it and I said to myself “why am I stressing myself when I’m here learning video directing, I’m into music, and I’m gaining fame in school already. I’m talented and I’m already in love with this.”
And at that point, you started taking music seriously as an artist and a professional?
Professionally, I met Chocolate City [record label] after winning Lagos Got Talent in 2017. I was signed to the street Billionaires, affiliated to Choc City.
Under the Street Billionaires, you released Owo Osu with Zlatan and Naira Marley in 2019. How did it feel working with street legends that early in your career?
Honestly, it doesn’t matter who it is, whenever I give out my project, the moment I’m getting the feedback I’m already excited about it. But definitely, I would love to have [Olamide] Baddo on a project one day. Especially on Celepiano.
That would be cool. In your own words, how would you describe your music?
I would say “Not happy not sad.” Because in life you can never be happy all the time. I like making relatable music. On my songs even if I’m talking about pain or anything, you are feeling it, but you can still vibe so you are enjoying it. People from the street can learn and those that are popping those that are mainstream can vibe too.
On your first EP, Fire, you had no features, but this time you featured some artists. Why did you make that decision?
For my first project, it just felt necessary for me to be on my own. When I was recording Better Days, I didn’t even want to put any artist, it didn’t occur to me. I recorded Debe at Bankuli’s place and he was like “You have to put someone on it.” I tried to work with [UK-based rapper] Shaybo, but it didn’t work out. Bloody [Civilian] is my guy and I’ve always wanted to feature Bloody because put me on her song [I Don’t Like You Remix]. I sent Debe to Bloody and she sent me the verse. I loved the verse so much and I just moved on with her. Then I had DTG on Party Hard. He sent us two versions and they were fire. He didn’t stress us and that was even amazing.
Simi, I love Simi so much for her angelic voice. I made sure I had to do what I had to to get her verse. We did everything just to get her on it because when I want an artist I just go for it. Bella [Shmurda] is my brother and a real person too. I was with him and I played the song ‘cos I wanted to put him on it. Vector was there too. He heard the song and he was like “This is heavy, I would love to like give you a verse girl” and I grabbed my copy immediately (laughs).
Wale is my personal favorite. The song talks about your mother, you’ve not seen her in a few years. I also read similar things in your interviews as well. Have you been able to see your mother now?
After one year I’m finally seeing my mom today. Actually, she came down this midnight. I had not seen her for six years, but I did see her briefly, not at all for one year. She came last night.
That’s great. It must be a very happy day for you. What do you think about the Street Pop scene right now?
I feel like Street pop is becoming a big deal just like Afropop and Afrobeats. Street Pop is going global now, you see Asake doing it, Seyi Vibez is on it, and Zinoleesky too. Mohbad, may his soul rest in peace, his project made it to the US [Billboard Trending Charts]. I got the Grammy Academy recognition thing three years ago and this year, the Grammy also put me among the female artists to listen to. It’s a big flex, it means I’m getting close.
I know you must be focused on promoting your new EP as much as you can. But beyond that, what do you see in your future?
I’m focused on promoting Better Days, making it the number 1 in Nigeria and other countries in Africa. I’m planning to shoot videos for some songs on the project and I have plans to drop another project back to back this year.
