SA artist makes it big with Dre

Recording artist Candice Pillay attends The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) 26th Annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on June 27, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. Picture: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images/AFP

Recording artist Candice Pillay attends The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) 26th Annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on June 27, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. Picture: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images/AFP

Published Aug 19, 2015

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Pop vocalist Candice Pillay has achieved what most musicians only dream about; being featured on Dr Dre’s album.

The 34-year singer, who is formerly of Pietermaritzburg, can be heard on two tracks on Dr Dre’s Compton: A Story To Tell album which was released on August 8.

Hip hop producer/star Dre has sold millions of albums around the world.

Besides lending her vocals on Dre’s Genocide and Medicine Man, the multitalented Pillay has also written songs for Rihanna, Britney Spears and others.

The Los Angeles-based artist has been vocal on social media about her experience sharing the studio with artists like Kendrick Lamar, Marsha Ambrosius and Eminem while recording the Dre album.

She said the offer from the “godfather of hip hop” came when she was losing faith in the music industry and “starting to doubt that there were any key players in the game who even still cared about ‘the music’ and not all the irrelevant things attached to the art”.

“Dre, I am overwhelmed and honoured to have had the opportunity to work with you. Your energy and spirit, the love and respect you have for the music and every aspect of it, is so refreshing and inspiring,” she wrote on Instagram.

“I’ve learnt so much that I will carry in my life and career ahead. Thank you.”

 

 

A photo posted by Candice Pillay (@candicepillay) on Aug 6, 2015 at 5:57pm PDT

 

Pillay moved to the US when she was 19 years old, working as an au pair. She moved to Los Angeles a year later and now calls the city her home when she is not in South Africa.

“I kept writing and singing, working hard to survive. Things weren’t always easy; there were times when I didn’t even have a place to stay,” she wrote on Facebook.

She started modelling and acting to make ends meet and was featured on the covers of various magazines.

Her debut album The Mood Kill was released early this year. “I now have the privilege of working with tremendously talented musicians, producers, writers and friends.

“My songs now I think are much better than my childhood poems.”

 

The Mercury 

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