CD review: ‘Behind the Mic’ by Candice Chantrell

Behind the Mic

In a recent interview, Canadian artist Candice Chantrell shared the story behind “Behind the Mic,” her debut opus: “This album was born in a coffee shop with a good friend of mine who simply said: ‘You should just record an album.’ It was at a time when I was at an all time low and was trying to climb out. After that day, I started this journey of making the album and gradually getting back to who I truly am. The title is a representation of that. Returning to music and returning to who I am. Music is what I know and my heart lives there.”

At first sight, “Behind the Mic” looks like one of those CDs with cute song titles – like “Beautiful Music” and “Life Is Beautiful” – and a pretty girl on the cover. The problem with human beings is that they like to pass quick judgments. In the case of Chantrell, they would be very wrong to draw conclusions from her pictures. She has talent, energy and a bright future ahead of her.

From start to finish, “Behind the Mic” will surprise you. Chantrell has a mature and multi-layered voice that will delight your ears. While most mainstream music serves the same melody line with different lyrics, this album is an example of versatility and creativity with a blend of many genres that goes to prove that independent artists deserve attention. From R&B, Pop, to Hip Hop, Rock and Funk, there is something for everyone. And the lyrics are clean.

“Behind the Mic” is one of those albums that can be enjoyed at any moment of the day. You will find yourself wanting to dance and sing for no reason. I recommend it.

“Behind the Mic” was released in 2008 and is available for purchase at CD Baby, ITunes, HMV and Amazon.com.

Written by

Cendrine Marrouat is a French-born journalist, blogger, content curator, author, and workshop facilitator living in Winnipeg, Canada. She is the founder of two social media blogs: Creative Ramblings and Social Media Slant. Her latest release, The Little Big eBook on Blogging: 40 Traffic Generation Tips, is a comprehensive resource that provides bloggers of all levels with essential information and precise guidance to attract quality traffic to their blogs.