Today we’d like to introduce you to Candice Cooper
Hi Candice, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started singing at age 4 leading the choir in church having a church background. I started taking taekwondo under Grand Master Anderson at age 4 as well. While in taekwondo, I exploring my music journey. I started writing songs at age 9 while doing taekwondo. I had older peers in taekwondo with me that also had musical interests. My peers could sing, dance, produce making beats, rap, and engineer. I recorded making a song for the first time with my peers. As I got older in taekwondo, I came across my first mentor, “Alim Muhammad” who was in the music industry who started taking taekwondo and actually became a black belt. My mom was the secretary at the taekwondo center and became friends with a popular musician, “Brian O’Neal” who was on tour with a big artist “Kem” who was his friend and grew up with. Brian convinced me to started recording myself since I didn’t have the money to go to a studio to record. I started recording demos. I was working a factory job in a warehouse and one day I said I’m tired of working a 9-5 in these warehouses and want to go after my dream of being a singer.. At this point I did some college as well and took a break from college to work. So I recorded my very first song professionally and sent it in to see if I can get a record deal or some kind of deal. I got a reply back being offered a distribution deal from Tate Music Group label at the time for an album. I was so excited and motivated! I decided to quit my warehouse job and started working on my first album. I started traveling doing shows in different states and networking. I got asked to sing the national anthem on TV “ESPN” for a semi pro basketball team in Atlanta. Then I finally finished my album and released it. After awhile I up and moved to California to go after my dreams there. I was doing so good there. I got a chance to be on a BET sketch comedy show with Grace Gealy “at the time” from the hit show, “Empire,” then got invited to go to a big meeting in Hollywood with BET, an organization, and multi Grammy Nominated Producer Haskel Jackson to be a part of an anti bullying event they were trying to put together. I connected with Haskel and he’s now one of my mentors in the music industry. Recently I’ve networked with a lot of people to the point I get invited to big award shows now. So far, I been invited to Grammy events, BET Awards, and NAACP Image Awards,. My single, “Vamanos” has a music placement in the Tyler Perry movie “A Madea Homecoming” which mainly opened a lot of doors for me to the point I had moved to Las Vegas, NV. I’ve been able to network with even more industry professionals and have been booked to open up for major artists and even have my own concert for my birthday. I also have my own luxury shoe and purse deal. I have a SONY situation for a single and an album as an independent artist. I am truly blessed to be where I am today in music. I’ve done music professionally at least 10 years so far independently. I still have a lot more goals to reach, but I’m definitely on the right path.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No it was not a smooth road for me going after my dreams. It takes money to do this. So I struggled financially trying to balance my personal life to pay bills and going after my dreams. With the industry being a male dominated industry, it’s a lol challenging for me. I’ve been offered big opportunities from some industry professionals who were guys for sexual advances. I turned it down because that’s not me. Not all are like in the industry, but some are. It’s mainly finances of funding my music career being independent that is my biggest struggle on my journey.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a musical recording artist who sings mainly R&B and a martial artist. I did martial arts for 16 years. 3 time world champion (forms, weapons, and sparring), inducted into the world martial arts hall of fame, 3rd degree black belt, and a specialist in nunchucks weapon. I currently don’t do tournaments. However, I will be merging my martial arts background into my image as a music artist. I’m known for R&B and martial arts. So I decided I will merge them together and rebranding to make that happen. I’m most proud of having the courage to go after my dream of pursuing music because I accomplished a lot so far. It’s not easy to do, but I had the courage to do it. What sets me a part is that I have a martial arts background and will incorporate that in my image in music soon.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
My favorite “go to” things that help me do my best in life is YouTube and my faith in God/Jesus Christ. I say YouTube because I love watching the scenario type skits of different life situations that are challenges in life that are acted out showing the good that can come out of the situations. That really motivates me a lot because it also has a Christian background incorporated in these skit situations. They are so relatable and motivating.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Misscc07
- Facebook: Candice Cooper
- Twitter: Misscc07
- Youtube: Candice Cooper
