Candy Apple Blue | The Official Website. Includes the synth-pop duo's latest news, music, videos, photos, and band biography. Read up on their recent activity, collaborations, remixes, and bonus content. ♫
Candy Apple Blue - If Anyone Falls (ft. Apollo Rogers and Nick Bramlett)
The universe is compelling. Thought vibrations can manifest reality. I have an endless number of stories that prove this alignment in my own life. Different doors open and close for reasons that are sometimes not immediately clear to us.
Let me share with you a recent event that proves this. Our last four singles (Moving Out of Town, I Wanna Party, Special Star, and A Touch Too Much) were all produced and mixed by the extraordinary Matt Pop. So when it came time to call on a mixer for our forthcoming single, If Anyone Falls, we contacted him. Unfortunately, he was too busy producing the new Tight Fit album to accept any new projects. Initially, I was crushed, knowing that this Stevie Nicks cover would have perfectly suited his dance music production style.
But then the strangest thing happened. I inadvertently reconnected with a mixer we hadn't worked with in years.
I excitedly got back to work crafting my unique instrumental and scheduled a vocal recording session with Apollo Rogers and Nick Bramlett. I reached out to Micah Blakeslee and he was able to lay down some guitars for us. Everything just started to fall into place.
It's always been my experience that the correct path you should be on will build itself right in front of you. Trust the process. ~ Carly
Candy Apple Blue - If Anyone Falls (ft. Apollo Rogers and Nick Bramlett)
It's a real thrill for Hoyt and I to get the chance to record with Apollo Rogers and Nick Bramlett on our cover of the classic Stevie Nicks song "If Anyone Falls." Recording this song as a duet has given it a completely different vibe. We wanted to take it in a new direction.
This release has been a long time coming. We've been Stevie Nicks fans since before we were teenagers. When "If Anyone Falls" came out I was only 11 years old and Hoyt was 9. I remember watching the music video on MTV and being vastly impacted by her visual and vocal performance of the song.
Stevie's music, both as a solo artist and with Fleetwood Mac, has tremendously influenced us as songwriters. Even though we have a wealth of our own original material to record, we thought it was the right time to pay homage to one of the best romantic poets to ever walk the earth.
When we were laying down the vocals on Sunday, Apollo reminded me of something that I had long forgotten. He said, "A duet is a conversation." And that really resonated with me. Good music is and should be about connecting with people. It's my greatest wish that you connect with the music we make.
We hope you will enjoy our cover of "If Anyone Falls" as much as we enjoyed the process of recording it.
Moving Out of Town: The Music Video World 🌎 Premiere!
We cordially invite YOU to come set your reminder now to join us for the music video world premiere of our LGBTQ+ Pride 🏳️🌈 anthem Moving Out of Town! Summer might be ending but honey we are queer all year! 🦄 🏳️⚧️
Our release makes its big hot 🔥 shot debut this New Music Friday on August 30th. Hoyt, Nick, and I will be live in the chat room at 1 PM. So join us and let's watch the premiere together!
"Moving Out of Town" is a dance-pop song by Candy Apple Blue about the LGBTQ+ experience of moving to big cities to find love, acceptance, and live authentically. The song's writers, Hoyt and Carly, drew from their own experiences, having moved to New York City themselves. They wanted to write about this experience in a universal way. The song has a strong message of gay empowerment.
A Fading Brunette™ Film, LLC. Carly Emerick produced, filmed, and edited the music video. Fading Brunette™ Films camera & lighting assistants: Bradley Schmidt, Betty Stolar, Shannon McGill, and Hoyt Emerick
Music video theme: A 1980s aerobics-styled short focusing on a high-spirited fitness group and Nick Bramlett's performance of the song.
Starring the "Candy Apple Blue Crew": Nick Bramlett, Hoyt Emerick, Carly Emerick, Ross Kinsey, Whitney Love, Marilynn Fuchsia Raye Phoenix, Matthew Chance, Miley Rheagan Michaels, J.R. Daniels, Samuel Eugene, Shannon McGill, Haley Colaizzi, Marcy McKenney, and Darin Mullins
Filmed at Art & Style Dance Studio in Pittsburgh, PA. https://www.artandstyledancestudio.com/
Moving Out of Town is dedicated to both Matthew Shepard (1976–1998) and Brandon Teena (1972–1993) and the thousands of others like them who never made it out of town alive because of homophobia, transphobia, and hate.
Verse 1: Lately, all I think about is leaving This town has torn me inside out, I'm bleedin'
Lead In: I'm gonna find my tribe I'm gonna get out alive Nothing or no one can make me stick around
Chorus: I'm movin' out of town, in search of safer ground Movin' out of town, where allies can be found
Verse 2: Breakout when the moment's right you'll know it You can live your life with pride and own it
Lead In 2: I know I'm born this way Yas queen! Today we slay! Riding rainbows that lift me off the ground
Chorus: I'm movin' out of town, in search of safer ground Movin' out of town, where allies can be found I'm movin' out of town, where love is all around Movin' out of town, it’s time to claim my crown
(Guitar Solo) Yeah!
Post Chorus: (He's really movin') Moving out of town!
Spoken Breakdown: I've been living here too long where I don't belong And I’m not gonna stay!
Lead In: I'm gonna find my tribe I'm gonna get out alive Flying unicorns that lift me off the ground
Last Chorus: I'm movin' out of town, where love is all around Movin' out of town, it’s time to claim my crown
I’m moving out of, moving out of town Moving out of, moving out of town I’m moving out of, moving out of town Moving out of, moving out of town I’m moving out of town (He's really movin') Moving out of town!
It is with great PRIDE 🏳️🌈 that we deliver to you our most anticipated release of the year. In the enduring magic of gay anthems, our forthcoming single "Moving Out of Town" sits right up there with the best of them! (i.e. "I Am What I Am", "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)", "It's Raining Men", "Smalltown Boy", "I Will Survive", "Y.M.C.A", "Dancing Queen", "Believe", "I'm Coming Out", and "Born This Way")
Candy Apple Blue - Moving Out of Town (Official Cover Art)
Press Release: "Moving Out of Town"
3-Track Remix EP + Official Cover Art Reveal
It is with great PRIDE 🏳️🌈 that we deliver to you our most anticipated release of the year. In the enduring tradition of gay anthems, our forthcoming single "Moving Out of Town" sits right up there with the best of them! (i.e. "I Am What I Am", "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)", "It's Raining Men", "Smalltown Boy", "I Will Survive", "Y.M.C.A", "Dancing Queen", "Believe", "I'm Coming Out", and "Born This Way")
Hoyt and I poured our musical hearts into this composition. It tells our personal story of how we left our small town and moved to New York City to live our lives authentically. This song has been 30 years in the making and is like a page torn out of our diary. We hope its universal message of empowerment will help to lift the spirits of the LGBTQ+ community for years to come.
The lead vocals are sung passionately by Nick Bramlett. There are "Divine" influences here at play. The exciting rock guitars performed by Micah Blakeslee are simply out of this world! Matt Pop's outstanding music production is top-notch! His work here is worthy of an award for its sheer audio excellence. 🏆 The glorious cover art was hand-drawn with great care and illustrated by the magical Magenta Soulstar. We all worked hard as a team to make this extraordinary release possible.
Moving Out of Town is dedicated to both Matthew Shepard (1976-1998) and Brandon Teena (1972-1993) and the thousands of others like them who never did make it out of town alive because of homophobia, transphobia, and hate.
Sincerely, Carly xoxo
Release Date: August 30th, 2024 (New Music Friday)
Track Listing: Track 1: Moving Out of Town (Matt Pop Radio Mix) 3:34 Track 2: Moving Out of Town (Matt Pop's Riding Rainbows Club Mix) 6:03 Track 3: Moving Out of Town (Matt Pop Instrumental Mix) 3:34
The year was 2003. I was 30 years old and was excited to see Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle on the big screen! People would often tell me I looked like Cameron Diaz back then. It was a great film and a great time in my life.
"When Nick, Hoyt, and I combine our talents, we make music that is beyond anything we could create alone. Our superpower as a musical trio is our ability to evoke a strong emotional connection with our listeners through the power of song." ~ Carly
FLASHBACK ⚡ to January 1st, 2015 as Nick, Hoyt, and I celebrate the new year! Nick has been our main go-to vocalist for 10 years now. It's not by coincidence that our biggest music releases feature him as the lead vocalist. He's a passionate vocalist who puts his heart into the material we compose for him.
Hoyt Emerick of Candy Apple Blue (1993) WDVE Rocks
We've always been music lovers and music makers. The concert line-up for August 1993 makes me want to return in a time machine. I love all of these artists! I'm in front of Pittsburgh's concert banner for a local radio station called 102.5 WDVE Rocks. Do you guys remember any of these bands? ~ Hoyt 🍬🍎🟦
AI algorithms cannot replace the human heart that goes into our art. The current-day Crucifixion of all indie artists is blasphemous. Our work is just as important, if not more valuable, than the music the major labels release. We are independent warriors of the synth-pop music scene. We are Candy Apple Blue. 🍬🍎🟦
In the early 1990s, I was a huge fan of gothic rock. Bands like The Cure, Depeche Mode, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Gene Loves Jezebel resonated with me. (They still do, actually.) My happy summer song was 1987's Black's "It's a Wonderful Life."
This pic makes me feel nostalgic for those "new wave" days. ~ Hoyt
In the mid-90s, a sibling duo from Pittsburgh was "Moving Out of Town" to the Big Apple. Like countless aspiring musicians before them, they saw boundless opportunity in the city that never sleeps. It was there that Carly and Hoyt Emerick began defining their style, crafting their music, and clubbing...lots of clubbing. With influences like Aimee Mann, Boy George, Pete Burns, and David Bowie, they set out to conjure catchy pop-sensible synthwave music for the new millennium.
Eventually, they settled in Astoria, a neighborhood in Queens. Armed with their trusty CrossWave synthesizer the Ensoniq SQ-80, the duo began to find their footing as a band. In those early days, Carly admits, "We both knew that we couldn't really sing our way out of a wet brown paper bag." They placed an ad in The Village Voice for a vocalist to breathe life into their sonic creations. Elton Lin (currently of Notorious MSG) answered, they hit it off, and he assumed the lead singer duties. As The Inertia Case, the trio wrote, recorded, and performed in the NYC clubs. Carly laments, "I look back on these days with so much fondness. If only we had the deep pockets of a major record label behind us. I feel confident that we could have made it big time."
Then 9/11 happened. Carly confesses, "After 9/11 we moved back home because we truly thought that the world was coming to an end. We lived in NYC when that occurred, and it affected the people who lived in Manhattan the most. It was a very scary time." A seven-year hiatus ensued. But in their late 30s, they both felt the creative itch of those halcyon days. Carly says, "Our creative souls needed an outlet."
Being used to leaning on Elton Lin for vocals, the duo struggled to get back into the swing. They reincarnated themselves as Candy Apple Blue and released their first single "Graveyard" in 2010. After the reboot, they began putting out new synthwave and dance-pop music reminiscent of the golden age of new wave but with their own fresh and fantastic twist. Eventually, they put out a pair of full-length albums Powers Activate and Second Sight collaborating with singer Nick Bramlett. In the process, they became the house band for YouTube superstar TechMoan.
Their latest project looks to be the most ambitious of their career: "Moving Out of Town." Carly describes it this way, "I'd say it has a classic disco-rock sound—the kind that was big in the late 70s and early 80s. It was influenced by songs like "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer, "I Was Made for Loving You" by KISS, and "Call Me" by Blondie. We also threw a pinch of 90s Europop in there for good measure. (Think "Be My Lover" by La Bouche.)" They hope to release just in time for Pride month. Carly goes on to say, "The song is about what a lot of us LGBTQ+ Gen X'ers did. We moved to big cities to find acceptance and get the chance to live our lives authentically. That's what Hoyt and I did." They began composing the ditty way back in 1997 in NYC; it's a song 27 years (and multiple rewrites) in the making.
Personally, I've been following the band ever since I caught their music on a TechMoan HiFi review video back in 2018. As a fellow Gen X'er, I love the memories their synth-driven pop evokes. They are SUCH a fun band to turn up to 11 on my preposterous Pioneer stereo system. As a fellow creative soul, I love finding other artists of my vintage still making fantastic art—it gives me tremendous hope and inspiration! As a fellow music lover, it was a BLAST to collaborate with them on their video for "Graphic Equalizer" (see video for my Pioneer HiFi gear cameos). If you are looking for new synthwave pop tunes done with flair and style, check out Candy Apple Blue!
[Blake Donley wrote this article about us and sent it out in his email-based subscription newsletter. He let us reproduce it here (by kind permission) so that it could be read by people who are not subscribed to the Apocalypse Music News. "Subscribe to the newsletter The Man doesn't want you to read."]
Here is a picture of me in the early 1990s when I was eighteen years old and living in my first apartment in Shadyside on Fifth Avenue in Pittsburgh. At the time, I thought I had really made it by moving to the big city of Pittsburgh! ~ Hoyt
What can I say? The year was 1997, and I was going through a "Spice Girls" phase. I mean, who wasn't? I had the Spice Girls CD and I even had a Spice Girls-themed birthday party. (kidding) That "red-eye" effect is totally giving me 35mm flash camera realness! How 90s!
Dive into Episode 005 of Catching Up with Candy Apple Blue where Carly and Nick unpack the enduring magic of their song "Awakening". A song that marked a pivotal point for the band. 8 years on it's still a fan favorite and remains their biggest track on Spotify. Awakening is cherished by fans for its timeless and resonant quality.
Catching Up with Candy Apple Blue 🍬🍎🟦 A "Behind the Music" Podcast Video Series Episode: 005 - "Awakening"
Key Points of Interest:
• "Awakening" by Candy Apple Blue & Juno Dreams, released 8 years ago, remains their biggest track on Spotify, demonstrating the longevity and impact of the song.
• The song is cherished by fans for its timeless and resonant quality, highlighting the enduring power of music that connects with its listeners.
• The discussion between Carly and Nick showcases how a single song can serve as a transformative moment in a band's journey, shaping their narrative and making a real impact.
Surviving a Flop: The Comeback of Candy Apple Blue 🍬🍎🟦 How the Duo Dodged a Bullet.
Carly of Candy Apple Blue shares the band's tough journey of overcoming a major setback with a disappointing flop single to collaborating with Espen Kraft on their indie hit song "It Happens All the Time." Influenced by Pet Shop Boys, their new single had revitalized their status in the synth-pop music scene. They were once again everybody's favorite "darlings of synth-pop". Tune in for an inside look at how the duo dodged a bullet. Don't miss this tale of resilience and artistic reinvention!
• Collaborating with Espen Kraft from Norway helped Carly and Hoyt from Candy Apple Blue regain their status in the synth-pop scene after hitting a rough patch.
• They didn't let a flop single dampen their spirits. They quickly got back up, dusted themselves off, and returned to work on their craft.
• Their new song "It Happens All the Time" was influenced by Pet Shop Boys, showcasing the impact of how artist inspirations put them back on track.
The success of their album "Second Sight" demonstrates the resilience and creativity of artists in navigating challenges in the indie music industry.
In 2018, Candy Apple Blue struggled vocally on a song titled "No Good Together" originally slated for their album Second Sight. After their main vocalist Nick Bramlett took a break, the duo faced new challenges. Despite their best efforts, the release failed, leading them to urgently search for a new vocalist.
In this episode, discover how vocal struggles impacted the duo's single release in 2018. The search for a new vocalist becomes urgent after the disappointing results. Tune in to uncover the challenges and decisions faced by Candy Apple Blue during this pivotal time.
Key Points of Interest: • A main vocalist taking a break can significantly impact the creative process and sound of a band. • Struggling vocally on a song can indicate a need for a change in approach or personnel. • Even established musicians can face failures that prompt the need for urgent changes to their lineup.
Dive into Episode 002 of Catching Up with Candy Apple Blue where Carly opens up about their debut single "Graveyard," their unique sound inspired by legends like Kim Wilde & Debbie Harry, and their musical journey after a break. Tune in to hear how the duo re-emerged in their late 30s, rekindling their passion for music-making. 🎤✨
Key Points of Interest:
• Candy Apple Blue draws inspiration from artists like Kim Wilde and Debbie Harry for their music, blending punk and dance-pop elements in their signature sound.
• The band took a 7-year-long hiatus and returned to music-making in their late 30s, finding enjoyment in crafting songs and solidifying their identity as a band.
• Carly talks about their first single "Graveyard" released in 2010, showcasing the band's evolution and growth over the years.
Episode: 001 - "Mad About You" Songwriter Carly Emerick talks about composing "Mad About You".
Get behind the music! "Mad About You" took a dark turn during the songwriting process. "It's not really a love song. It's a song about obsession." - Carly Emerick
Join songwriters & bandmates Carly and Hoyt Emerick as they go behind the scenes. In each episode, they'll share their craft of composing and tell you never-before-heard stories about their music. To keep things interesting, the duo will be sharing these podcasts as visual stories to help bring more focus to their back music catalog.
A few of our listeners have asked us what sound they can expect from our forthcoming summer pride anthem Moving Out of Town.
If I had to best describe it, I'd say it has a classic disco-rock sound. The kind that was big in the late 70s and early 80s. It was influenced by songs like Hot Stuff by Donner Summer, I Was Made for Loving You by Kiss, and Call Me by Blondie. We also threw a pinch of 90s Europop in there for good measure. (Think "Be My Lover" by La Bouche.)
The song is about what a lot of us LGBTQ+ Gen Ex'ers did. We moved to big cities to find acceptance and get the chance to live our lives authentically. That's what Hoyt and I did. We packed our bags and moved to New York City! (The Big Apple!) We wanted to write about that experience in a universal way.
Moving Out of Town is a song that I started composing back in 1997. Hoyt and I picked it back up again in 2014 and officially demoed it. However, thank god we had the good sense to not release it. Admittedly, we couldn't quite deliver what the song called for vocally speaking.
This time around we have Nick Bramlett on board to deliver the goods! Not to mention our trusted go-to guitarist, Micah Blakeslee, who gave our dance song some much-needed rock edge.
After 27 years and a few re-writes later; this song will finally see the light of day. The timing feels right!
"We are the dreamers. We are the music makers. When talented artists come together through the power of song, magical things can happen. We don't take our listeners for granted. You guys deserve only the best. When good music comes in through your ears, it never leaves your soul. We aim to make music that is soul-stirring, uplifting, and joyful." ~ Carly 🍬🍎🟦
Candy Apple Blue - I Wanna Party (Matt Pop Radio Edit)
There is a current trend in pop music to keep the duration of a song around the 3-minute mark. Admittedly, we might have been over-ambitious with our 4-minute and 10-second single mix of I Wanna Party. 🥳
After its release, a few people mentioned that while they loved our new song, they felt the track was too long.
Matt Pop initially tried to get the edit down to 3 minutes, even declaring that "cuts had to be made". However, we championed for a longer single version. Our song had so many important elements that we didn't want to see get axed. 🪓 (For instance; we have a dance beat intro, a rap, a guitar solo, a vocal breakdown, and additional ad-libs in the last chorus.)
Ultimately, it's always our end goal to make our listeners happy. At heart, we are people pleasers. So, we have decided to officially release the Matt Pop Radio Edit of I Wanna Party! 🎉
This new radio-ready mix feels more energetic and times in at only 3:22. It moves along quickly while keeping the necessary elements intact.
I Wanna Party (Matt Pop Radio Edit) will be released simultaneously with an official lyric video on April 5th, 2024.
The music video was produced, filmed, and edited by Carly Emerick.
Fading Brunette™ Films Camera Assistants: Bradley Schmidt and Hoyt Emerick
Music video theme: An artistic behind the scenes short focusing on the band in the recording studio. For the first time in our film-making history, we made a conscious effort to not break the "fourth wall". The intro is a bit of a nod to Eddie Murphy's 1985 Party All the Time music video.
Filmed at Just-Records Recording Studio. Big shout-out to Dan for being so tech-savvy.
Press Release: Come party with Candy Apple Blue! 🥳
Honey, everyone's invited to this party! 🎉 Here's a short list of some other great party songs: Get The Party Started by Pink, Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus, Party All the Time by Eddie Murphy, You Gotta Fight for Your Right to Party by The Beastie Boys, Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO, Get Lucky by Daft Punk, and I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas
I Wanna Party is dedicated to the loving memory of Jamie Bixby (1973-2023) who was always ready to party. NYC wouldn't have been the same without you our friend. We feel certain that our astrological paths will meet again.
Here's a Candy Apple Blue photo flashback ⚡ from 2010.
Back in 2009, after taking a seven-year-long hiatus from music-making, Hoyt and I both decided that we better get back to work. At that time, we were both in our late 30s and busy living our adult lives. Admittedly, we put our musical dreams on the back burner. Fortunately, we both heard a strong calling to start composing new music again. Our artistic souls needed to dive back into our art.
14 years later, here we are still at it. Thanks to you guys! You have showered us with so much love, support, and enthusiasm. Your loyalty to us and our music is the fuel that keeps us going!
We want you to know that we feel that our best work is still in front of us. In so many ways, we are just getting started. Thank you for being on this musical journey with us!
Here I am back in 1993 with my friends Janine and Michael. I love Janine's "Raspberry Beret" and overalls! I'm also really digging Mike's alternative rock look here with his hair and goatee. I remember that we were on our way out to go out clubbing.
Music was always a big part of our lives. I remember Janine being a huge Morrissey and Smiths fan. Mike was really into Saint Entiem and Deee-Lite while I was all about Aimee Mann's first solo album. The music artists that we liked back then were a big part of our identities. It's hard to describe but back in those days, the artists that you listened to helped to define you as a person.
Admittedly, my lipstick application is more Robert Smith than Madonna, but hey that was the look I was going for. I'm pretty sure that Janine might have borrowed my lipstick because the fact that we are both wearing the same shade of Chanel red is just too much of a coincidence.
Thank you guys so much for asking about yesterday's video shoot! 🎥 We shot some really cool footage and I think the end result is going to be spectacular.
We didn't use green screen this time so maybe that's why I was a little bit more nervous than usual. It's a lot harder to control and film in a live environment. Nick, Hoyt, and I gave it our very best.
Now I've got to get started on the editing. Honestly, it was more fun than it was work. It's so cool to be in my early '50s still chasing the dream. 🙏❤️
Erasure Signed "The Two Ring Circus" CD to Candy Apple Blue
Having Andy Bell and Vince Clarke of Erasure autograph our Two Ring Circus CD 💿 was an incredible moment for us. This album was a big part of our childhood. We played it all the time. The song "Don't Dance" 🎵 for example has an important message that still resonates strongly with us today.
"You can step on out. You can do without. You don't have to be like every other."
We Are All Souls Just Temporarily Visiting a Human Body
Being androgynous is having possession of both masculine and feminine characteristics. My idols growing up were androgynous rebels like Boy George, Pete Burns, Marilyn, David Bowie, Divine, and even Rocky Horror's Tim Curry. I identified with them. I saw pieces of myself in them.
My life has indeed been one big strange circumstance. Quite often growing up people would misgender me. I caused quite a stir in my small hometown by just being me. Even when I lived in NYC, if I dressed like a boy, I would be called she; if I dressed like a girl, I would be called he. I just couldn't win. I never let pronouns define me and I still don't. I believe that we are so much more than our physical bodies. We are all souls just temporarily visiting a human body. The same could be said for all living creatures on this beautiful planet.
The world has changed a lot since I was young and seeing people embrace this aspect of themselves is so refreshing. It's like the world has finally caught up to my way of thinking. Whether you identify as he, she, transgender, two-spirit, or non-binary just know that you belong here. How you choose to express your soul is up to you. In a sometimes cruel world that seems to be against anyone who is outside the realm of "normal" just remember to be kind, be respectful, be calm, and be you.
Candy Apple Blue - I Wanna Party ft. Nick Bramlett (Matt Pop Mix)
Press Release: Come party with Candy Apple Blue! 🥳 🎉
The official cover art, track listing, and release date reveal for our forthcoming single I Wanna Party.
We energetically composed and carefully crafted what we feel is the perfect pop song. In the great tradition of party anthems, I Wanna Party sits right up there with the best of the best of them. (e.g. Get The Party Started by Pink, Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus, Party All the Time by Eddie Murphy, You Gotta Fight for Your Right to Party by The Beastie Boys, Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO, Get Lucky by Daft Punk, and I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas)
Matt Pop meticulously produced a sound for us that is so sonically fresh, feverishly stylish, and blissfully exciting. The warm bass line pulsates beautifully against the slick rhythm. The synthesizer work is just brilliant. The melodic hook is so deliciously irresistible. If you're not singing and dancing along by the third chorus then you might have to check yourself for a pulse.
The lead vocals on I Wanna Party are handled with great enthusiasm by Nick Bramlett. His golden voice soars along as he belts his heart out. Nick skillfully delivers each line of the song with just the right amount of intensity. It's got to be one of his best vocal performances to date. The glittery background vocals performed by Magenta Soulstar absolutely sparkle. I too had to join in on the fun and record some background vocals. The electric guitar work by Micah Blakeslee is funky, expressive, and played with great precision. And Hoyt's slick rap invites the listener to "Hope on in, enjoy the ride!".
I had a blast designing the cover art for this release. It took me three days in Photoshop with a little help from AI to achieve the cosmic look that I was going for. I wanted to show Hoyt, Nick, and I coming up through a space portal transcending our earthly bounds. The gold-colored helium balloons are there to celebrate our success. It was a remarkable achievement for us to get this particular song to the finish line.
In conclusion, I Wanna Party is cheerful and upbeat. It's undeniably a great dance record. The song's message is universal. It's a real triumph and we are super proud of it. We hope you will love, cherish, and support our combined efforts. It's our greatest wish that this song will elevate and lift your spirits.
Big love, Carly xoxo 🍬🍎🟦
Track Listing:
1) I Wanna Party (Matt Pop Mix)
2) I Wanna Party (Matt Pop Extended Version)
3) I Wanna Party (Matt Pop Instrumental Mix)
Release Date: March 8th, 2024 (New Music Friday)
PS. In case you were wondering, we are shooting a music video for I Wanna Party. We are scheduled to film next week. That should leave me just enough time to edit the video footage before the song's release.
PSS. I Wanna Party t-shirts will be available this coming Friday.
Songwriting is my passion! Music is my lifeblood. When people ask me about my profession, I proudly tell them that I'm a songwriter. The songs that I compose are what I will leave behind when I leave this beautiful planet. ~ Carly xoxo 🍬🍎🟦
Here's a young 18-year-old Hoyt holding his record store find of the day. It's Boy George's album Tense Nervous Headache. Here in the United States, it's more commonly known as High Hat with some track listing variations. We've adored this album since it came out so finding an alternative import version on CD was a special treat. The disc is loaded with some beautiful tracks. To this day, it still surprises me that Don't Cry wasn't a top-10 hit for the Boy. Fortunately, Don't Take My Mind on a Trip was a minor hit for him on the US R&B Billboard Charts.
Record shopping was a huge part of our lives back in the 1980s, 1990s, and even 2000s. Shopping for rare imports and missing pieces in our already huge record collection was an exciting experience for us. It was better than hunting for Easter Eggs. It's hard to describe the feeling that we would get when finding a rare piece that we didn't even know existed. Those of you who know, know. It was a thrilling time in music. We'd hunt for rare B-sides, 12" mixes, promotional items, and even alternative cover art sleeves from some of our favorite artists. We sought after artists like Culture Club, The Thompson Twins, Dead or Alive, Duran Duran, Bananarama, SAW, Pet Shop Boys, Sam Fox, Stevie Nicks, Crystal Gayle, Kim Wilde, and Sylvia just to name a few.
It's sometimes strange for me to think of how much time and money we spent doing this activity. We'd even drive to far-away towns, go to record conventions, and use mail-order catalogs to acquire these rare items. In a time before the internet, if you wanted to hear music that wasn't on the radio you had to buy it. Receiving a mix tape from a friend was the best. You got to discover new music that they hand-selected just for you.
The state of the music industry and record business today admittedly puzzles me. Sure, it's amazing to be able to listen to absolutely anything that your heart desires at any given time. You have the world's complete music catalog at your fingertips. Future generations aren't going to believe that we collected music by pressing it to a physical format. Streaming is here to give us the instant gratification that we all crave.
.jpg "Carly Emerick songwriter")
.png "Candy Apple Blue Moving Out of Town Matt Pop")
.png "Candy Apple Blue Moving Out of Town Unicorn Poster")
.png "Carly Emerick of Candy Apple Blue (1992)")
.png "I Wanna Party Matt Pop Radio Edit Candy Apple Blue")
.png "Janine, Hoyt, and Michael (1993)")
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.png "Candy Apple Blue I Wanna Party Matt Pop Nick Bramlett")
