Satisfying Your Sweet Tooth: Getting to Know Tallahassee’s Beloved Soul Candy
Image Courtesy: Spencer Wang (@wangswrld)
As the summer comes to a close, Soul Candy – one of Tallahassee’s most iconic bands – began flourishing in Atlanta, a metropolis steeped in music history as rich as the band’s distinctive R&B, funk, and soul sound. While the group’s lineup ebbs and flows, the roster that launched them into local stardom comprises the founding singer/songwriter Farah Bijou, keyboardist Gilbert Voegtlin, bassist Andrew Rafferty, and drummer Lawrence Turner. Their palpable chemistry as friends and collaborators creates an alluring atmosphere where audiences feel encouraged to connect, learn, and blossom.
“I would like fans to really appreciate the music. And how it had an impact on their lives. And then also other musicians that I really respect, they listen to our music and they’re like, ‘Oh, they're doing something. They're doing something here,’” keyboardist Voegtlin said regarding the motives behind their musical efforts.
Image Courtesy: Spencer Wang (@wangswrld)
Founded in 2020, Soul Candy’s evolution from a free-flowing collective (featuring many of the FSU’s College of Music’s brightest) to a tight-knit group honing in on their “sound.” Beginning with performances for funk-loving older crowds at local bars and restaurants such as Gordo’s, the band thought to expand their fanbase to college students. By introducing their genre-bending music to fresh faces via house parties like Surf Club Band Night and eventually through shows at their personal production studio and performance space: the “Soul Garden,” they quickly grew a loyal following of “Soulmates.”
“Surf Club Band Night was the first one when it was all the same members that have been Soul Candy for like the last year,” bassist Andrew Rafferty said. “Then we just played it a few others and started throwing our own shows when we got a house together.”
Image Courtesy: Spencer Wang (@wangswrld)
Early last year, Voegtlin put Cops on pause to wrangle the team for a pop-up performance in College Town – a frequented residential and commercial area – just a few blocks from FSU’s campus. Following the rapid recruitment of his fellow bandmates and all their gear, Voetglin, Bijou, Turner, and friend/bassist Jack Byerts set up on the porch of SunStop and began to play.
“...We drove into College Town, and I was like, ‘I think this would be a spot.’ Because I've heard people bring their speakers outside and just blast music, so I was like, ‘Why can't I just bring my band?’” Voegtlin said. “We had a steady crowd of 50 people out there that just never heard us before, like losing their minds. It was a lot of fun and we did it one more time; The second time was even crazier, and then we never did it again because I never really asked for permission.”
That night, the SunStop crowd, which even included Bijou’s mother, saw the magic of Soul Candy; the infectious energy exchange between the band and their expanding fanbase inspired a second SunStop performance soon after – where they were joined by Rafferty on bass. This era became pivotal for the band’s visibility, eventually catalyzing the conception of their EP, Sweet Tooth.
“It was special because of the time, dedication, and love we all poured into the music. I believe the seriousness of the band really kicked off when I joined and was elevated once Andrew joined,” drummer Lawrence Turner said of this chapter. “We became a band; A model for the perfect way to handle success in a city. We just capitalized on every opportunity and just put our own personalities into the music.”
Image Courtesy: Ben Sheehan (@thebensheehan)
Soul Candy’s résumé of gigs at weddings, pool bars, and sorority formals came to a point when they were asked to perform at the Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival earlier this year. As an annual whimsical music festival – which recently featured stars such as Lil Yachty, Earth, Wind & Fire, JPEGMAFIA, Indigo De Souza, Baby Keem, and the Free Nationals – and a capacity for tens of thousands of attendees, this quickly became a career-defining event. Recommended by a peer, the band was invited to play on the Grand Artique Stage at “Okee,” amongst other local acts and rising stars. But this unique opportunity at the beginning of their peak came with its own stressors.
“...It was like everything was leading up to that. Because we found out we were playing Okeechobee, and at that point, we didn't have any original music out,” Bijou said. “And we also didn't have the website, so for that chunk of time before Okeechobee, it was like: Website, EP recording, doing photo shoots, making this marketing plan for the EP, and still playing gigs. I don't even remember breathing during that time.”
Image Courtesy: Soul Candy (@soulcandyband_)
However, with the help of close friends, Soul Candy soon had a comprehensive website, professional photos, recorded songs, and an executed plan by the time their first festival appearance came around. The group packed all their gear and camping supplies, and they and their closest friends all made the five-and-a-half-hour trek to Okeechobee. After driving into town that same day, they held an impromptu rehearsal at their camp and later hiked to their stage; Voegtlin volunteered to be the designated gear-holder, clutching their equipment for dear life as he got a ride on a golf cart of desert-like terrain while the security card weaved in and out of crowds. Accompanied by Lauren Buete and Megan Eileen on backup vocals, Soul Candy rocked the first night of Okee on the Grand Artique stage.
“Dude, it was very stressful. But yeah, you get there, and after we played, it went well; You know – it was good. We had a couple of backup singers, which was really fun to have. We don't usually do that. And it went well. And then [this] giant weight lifted off our shoulders and we just partied,” Rafferty recalled.
Image Courtesy: Molly Royce (@mollyroyce)
Covered in sweat but still riding high on the euphoria of their biggest performance yet, Soul Candy got to celebrate and take full advantage of their free tickets and VIP passes all weekend. They watched GRiZ’s futuristic, electronic funk set and enjoyed the Free Nationals crossover jam session with Earth, Wind, & Fire, and even stood front-row during a surprise appearance from Anderson .Paak himself. When it seemed like the trip couldn’t get any better, Soul Candy had the privilege of meeting their musical inspirations, and the night concluded with half the band making it into an exclusive afterparty with the Free Nationals and Earth, Wind, & Fire.
“And I go into this room, and literally everyone that was playing at that pow-wow stage was just partying together: Anderson .Paak was like on the aux, running the whole vibes of everything. I was talking to the keys player for Earth, Wind & Fire for a solid 10 minutes. Big Boi was there for a little bit. It was just a cool vibe. And I was talking to T.Nava and the bass player Kelstro and I was just like, ‘Guys, I love y'all. My band just played our first festival – Soul Candy!’ And [Kelstro is] like, ‘Soul Candy! Soul...Candy, I’ll remember that.’ And then they're like, walking away and they're [still] like, ‘Soul Candy...,’” Voegtlin said, beaming. “At one point, Anderson [. Paak] was on his phone deejaying, trying to queue stuff up and I go up next to him, like: ‘Ey, yo! DJ Pee Wee, what you got queued up?’ And then he's scrolling, he's like, ‘No, no, no. This is trash, don't look at it.’ And [he] covers his phone and kept scrolling.”
Image Courtesy: Ben Sheehan (@thebensheehan)
Soul Candy’s official branching-out has also included the recent funk tribute concert at Cascades Amphitheatre where they honored musical icon George Clinton (of Parliament-Funkadelic fame) with Hub Chason on guitar and Joey Ferazzoli on drums. Soul Candy’s hand in tributing one of their inspirations, not only represents their musical maturity and undeniable success but also serves as a testament to the emotional growth they have endured to get here. Having been in the spotlight from a young age, Soul Candy’s members needed to come into their own to project their charismatic and confident image to their Soulmates.
“I don't get nervous anymore, but I get those butterflies, especially once they’ve already started, and I know I can walk out whenever. It's [doing] affirmations and “turning on” – because I would say I'm pretty introverted and sometimes it's like a switch I have to flip... I jump around and shake it out a little bit. And then I walk out there, and I do my thing,” Bijou shared. “People are always like, ‘Wow. You look so confident on stage. How are you so confident?’ Or like, ‘You inspired me to dress how I want.’ And... I don't know, it took a lot. I'm not comfortable with that all the time, but I feel like I have found confidence with Soul Candy; a big thing about Soul Candy is that I want to inspire the audience to feel confident and feel good about themselves and to just have fun and let go, and they've helped me do that. And I don't think I was as confident in myself before the band... I wasn’t, that's a fact. I wasn't as confident in myself or how I dress.”
Image Courtesy: Spencer Wang (@smn.flicks)
As a means of creating community with their fans and just expressing themselves, Soul Candy touches on the experiences and lessons that come with growing up. Their debut single “Bloom,” which began as a poem about heartbreak, captures the often-conflicting emotions that accompany coming of age. Bijou’s silky, layered vocals – reminiscent of Kali Uchis and Erykah Badu – bring goosebumps with each play; while Voegtlin and Rafferty’s progressions craft a soft dreamscape that envelopes the listener, Turner’s carefully timed beats highlight the pensive lyrics and elevate the track.
“‘Living in the future strips away the beauty of the present.’ Like if you are always just thinking about the future...you’re forgetting to live life as it comes,” Bijou said, crediting singer Jordan Roberts. “And I feel like, I don’t know, I've been happy with where we're at right now, and if we continue to grow. And if we just continue to take it day by day and keep growing, keep doing our thing, keep getting better, I feel like that's where the true happiness and success [lies].”
Image Courtesy: Carly Mayzum (@carlyskylar)
Bookended by their second single, “Yerba”– a tribute to caffeinated tea staple commonly found within the Soul Garden – the EP is set to prove to be worth the anticipation. Both “Bloom” and “Yerba” were recorded, produced, and mixed by the band themselves and mastered by Danny Bedrosian, keyboardist and vocalist for George Clinton and P-Funk. The pauses in the Latin and Funk rhythms found in “Yerba” add a layer of tension to the song, bolstering lyrics that caution listeners to be cognizant of outside influences while working to attain their goals. As another autobiographical track, the song tackles the difficulties that come with becoming what others view as “successful” and navigating real praise and constructive criticism by taking both with a “grain of salt.”
“Well, there are three kinds of mistakes you make in music. There’s the ones that you notice. Where you’re like, ‘Oh, I made another mistake.’ There's the ones your bandmates notice, and then there's the ones that people listening notice,” Rafferty explained. “And really, as long as you can stay away from the ones people listening notice, you're doing alright, you know?”
Image Courtesy: Ben Sheehan (@thebensheehan)
Following their recent Tallahassee farewell show at Firebetty’s, many Soulmates wonder what is in store for Soul Candy. For Bijou, Voetglin, and Rafferty, their focus will be on continuing to expand their fanbase in Atlanta and diligently working on their first full-length album. We can stay tuned for new collaborators playing with the group and manifest a “homecoming” weekend of performances this fall. In the meantime, the eyes will be on Turner to see whether a project or a reunion will be in the cards.
“I, of course, have plans to continue my career. I could potentially join them in Atlanta or apply for grad school. It hasn't really been decided,” Turner said. “Be on the lookout, though. Might make a return soon...”
Image Courtesy: Soul Candy (@soulcandyband_)
Regardless, Soul Candy’s music has and will pervade in skillfully meshing genres in a manner that not only displays an extensive and deliberately applied knowledge of music and its history but perpetuates the themes of love and growth that have appealed to mass audiences of various music tastes for generations. Farah, Gilbert, Andrew, and Lawrence all have planted strong roots as Soul Candy and have the potential to continue growing to great new heights.
Strike Out,
Writer: Isabel Wilder
Editor: Jayna O
Tallahassee