This is how South African model-turned-DJ Candice Redding sees her career in India
While most DJs graduate from being bedroom producers or professional musicians, DJ Candice Redding was neither. The girl from Johannesburg, South Africa, gave up an established career in modelling and made
India her home. Currently seen in Amazon Prime Video’s reality show The Remix, where she’s paired with Indian Idol winner Sreerama Chandra to recreate Bollywood songs, Candice talks about switching her career and making it big in the male-dominated field of DJing.
Nervous about doing Bollywood songs
Even though she has played at the biggest festivals in India, like Sunburn, Supersonic, Enchanted Valley Carnival, etc. participating in The Remix made her nervous. “I’m not from Bollywood but have an EDM background and there was the language barrier, so paranoia set in,” she laughs. However, the show was a learning experience for the DJ personally and professionally.
“We had to make the songs exciting and give them individuality while being remixes. I was pushed to levels that I didn’t think I could achieve,” Candice says. Before the show, her only Bollywood experience has been a cameo with Salman Khan in Sultan.
Music for company
Originally a model, Candice travelled to Europe, South Africa, and Asia all the time. “While touring, I would constantly listen to music. So, for three to four years it was only audio because TV and movies were vague for me. I was also friends with people in the entertainment industry and DJs, whom I asked to teach me spinning and have taught myself thereon,” she says. Having a good ear for music and ability to entertain gave her the confidence to go on stage. “It’s more than just music. I interact with the crowd and take them on a journey with visuals and so on. There was so much magic in my career that it made it easier to switch from modelling to DJing,” she avers.
Finding footing in a foreign land
Apart from giving up modelling, another unusual choice Candice made was settling in India. “I first came to the country in 2008 for IPL Cricket League and fell in love with the place. India has its charm and it’s so culturally rich. Also, the music industry was growing and I was growing as a musician. So, it was a marriage made in musical heaven,” she smiles. “Thank God I’m very friendly,” Candice laughs when asked about relocating to a new place. It was also having friends in the music industry that helped her dive straight into the music.
A woman in a man’s arena
Candice admits that she is often asked about being a female DJ, which is predominantly seen as a man’s domain. “As long as women don’t have to sexualise themselves to get further and have the strength to stand up against people who are better, and also males, things are fine. If you stay focused about who you are and what you are trying to bring to the people then anyone can be anything,” says she. However, she adds that the industry is more accepting of women DJs now.
Sharing the stage with the biggies
Candice has shared the stage with international heavyweights like Martin Garrix, Sean Paul, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Hardwell, Kygo and more. “When I look at my CV, I ask, ‘Whose resume is that? (laughs)” Among Indian performers, she admires hip hop artiste Rajakumari and Monica Dogra who she opines is doing great things for the music scene. Candice has a collaboration with Mansi Scott (one of the participants in the reality show), EDM tracks and an EP to look forward to. While The Remix is her introduction to Bollywood, composing for films is not ruled out.
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 "DJ Candice Redding")
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