We recently connected with Candi Cane and have shared our conversation below.
Candi, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
My confidence and self-esteem came from my mom and with time and years of experience that confidence has only become stronger. Her strength and ability to always show me positivity especially towards myself is something that I will cherish for my years to come. Being born with a portwine stain I remember asking my mom why it was that my sibings didn’t look like me? and her reply was that when I was being delivered by the “stork” that it got too close to the sun, therefore tinting one side of my face. I genuinly recall beliving that story, and to this day it’s those little stories that showed me love and confidence for myself which only radiates love for others.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I strongly believe that life takes us exactly through experiences at our own rhythm no matter the time. One thing that I have always been committed to is music, from singing and playing guitar at a young age to dancing.
I fell in love with House music in particular in the early 90’s, attending events and following DJ’s accross the states for shows, and that has put me to where I am today. It all started when I started attending Souleil at Bourbon Street back in 2014, religiously, I started meeting amazing people, & from there I started working as the resident “merch girl” selling apparel, working the door and organizing events, and in 2022, inspired by the residents of Souleil, I too started playing and booked my first gig in Sept of 2022, I was added to the Souleil roster of resident DJ’s and have been playing and working on the craft on a daily basis.
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I always felt like I’ve been living my life backwards. Becoming a DJ, being a promoter, and working events at my age, is sometimes funny to think about and it makes me laugh, but I wouln’t change it for the world.
Summer is full of events coming up and not only do I have some events with my Souleil residents with 3 block parties in Hillcrest, I also have an upcoming gig with Sephora, promoting a Brazilian Line at the Grove in L.A. and I am very excited for this new path, and looking forward to collaborating and being an example to our younger generation.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I feel it is most important to surround ourselves with like mind individuals. I have always been a hands on type of person as well as an observer and from observation I have navigated life and learned many skills from watching and having conversations with those that have been doing it a bit longer than myself.
I hope to teach from example, because learning from observation, hands on and conversations are some of the best skills i have gained and has only made me become a better individual in all aspects of life.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
Challenges come in all shapes and sizes and a few challenges for me is age and time, however, facing challenges only makes me in particular feel younger and fierce. The bigger the challenge, the stronger I feel.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://the-merch-girl.square.site/
- Instagram: candi_themerchgirl
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaweetCandi/
- Other: https://www.mixcloud.com/CandCane/
