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Kandia

  • Awards and Nominations
    • SAMMIES 2020 Winner★ World Music ★1st Place
    • SAMMIES 2020 Nominee★ World Music ★
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Q & A

All-time favorite song?

01.27.20

"When I'm Sixty Four" by The Beatles

Can you describe a moment in your musical career, where you felt like you truly reached somebody or made a difference?

01.27.20

When I did my first solo on a Broadway show as part of the first Colombian musical on Broadway The Greatest Story Ever Song.

Do you have regular gigs around town?

01.27.20

Yes, I play every Wednesday at Chando's Cantina in El Dorado Hills and Fridays at Santo Cielo in Modesto, Calif.

Favorite colors?

01.27.20

Blue sky.

How do you describe your music to people?

01.27.20

Full of life and joy.

How do you feel about musical award competitions?

01.27.20

I think it's a good motivation for the artists.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what animal would you be?

01.27.20

A very unlucky one.

If your band was a movie, what movie would it be?

01.27.20

In The Heights (It is not a movie but [it's a play]. )

Is there a central theme to your band's music?

01.27.20

Happiness.

Name a pet peeve.

01.27.20

Olaf from Frozen.

Tell us about how the band formed.

01.27.20

I was looking for a chance to sing in different bands in the whole area, but nobody gave me the chance so I decide to create my own show based on the music that the people like. Not just one kind of music.

Tell us about how you first started gigging.

01.27.20

I was doing musicals in Colombia and one of my friends calls me to work in a project of singer waiters. That was something I never seen before in my country and then I fell in love with it. That’s how I started gigging.

Tell us about this creative project. What is it?

01.27.20

This is a one-man-band show created by Carlos Mario Kandia. I'm a person who doesn’t want to be just a salsa singer or a pop singer or reggaeton singer. I want to be a performer.

Tell us about your best gig in Sac.

01.27.20

Singing the National Anthem at Raley Field.

Tell us about your worst gig.

01.27.20

I think I’ve been very lucky.

Tell us about yourself.

01.27.20

I am a Colombian artist with a lot of love and hope in the real music.

What are your musical goals?

01.27.20

Getting a SAMMIE Award and in general I want to be a successful artist that way I can help other young people in Colombia make their dreams come true.

What did you want to be when you were 7?

01.27.20

Singer.

What do you sing in the shower? (Be honest.)

01.27.20

Frozen LOL!

What drives you to keep interviewing even though the music industry can be so harsh?

01.27.20

The people.

What message do you hope to give with your music?

01.27.20

That life with music tastes better and Latin music has a lot of flavor.

What was the first song you learned to play?

01.27.20

"La Tierra" by Juanes.

What's a big media inspiration that would most surprise your fans?

01.27.20

The Kardashians. They know this business better than anyone.

What's a big musical inspiration that would most surprise your fans?

01.27.20

Bad Bunny. Thanks to him, I learned that to be the best singer you don’t have to have the best voice. This is an industry, whatever sounds good is good.

What's next for you?

01.27.20

Recording and touring.

What's something most of your friends don't know about you?

01.27.20

I hate waiting.

What's the best part of this experience?

01.27.20

Being beside all the artists I admire in this city.

What's the story behind the band name?

01.27.20

Kandia is my last name and I think it's very unique.

What's the story behind your stage name?

01.27.20

I really love my last name and then when I started to get a name as a singer I asked to my friends and followers to help me to pick out an artist name. The options were: Kandia, Carlos Mario, Carlos Kandia or Mario Kandia. The people choose KANDIA.

What's your favorite local artist/group?

01.27.20

They are from the Bay, but I love Foreverland.

What’s your favorite song to perform live right now?

01.27.20

"Con Calma" By Daddy Yankee.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

01.27.20

Producing the greatest Latin shows in United States.

Who are your biggest influences?

01.27.20

Marc Anthony and my brothers and mother.

Who first inspired you to play music?

01.27.20

My mom.

Who is your secret star crush?

01.27.20

Kate Beckinsale.

Words to live by?

01.27.20

I love you.

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