Grammy-nominated musician took the stage performing her own twist on soul and blues music at Coastal Carolina University.
Last year Candice Ivory received a Grammy nomination for her featured performance on Antonio Vergara’s album, “The Fury,” for Best Contemporary Blues Album. On Friday she traveled to Prince Lawn for the end of her “New Southern Vintage” tour, celebrating the release of her new album.
Ivory said she wanted to keep this tour local by staying in the U.S., turning down offers to tour in Brazil and Spain.
Ivory performed her original songs “Me and the Chauffer,” “Hole in the Wall” and covered two of her biggest inspirations: Memphis Minnie and her uncle Will Roy Sanders, who played in the Fieldstones as a singer and guitarist.
Between songs, Ivory talked about her favorite artists and the influence they’ve had on her music. She noted David Bowie and Big York’s influence in creating her own brand.
“They’re visionary in the sense of how they think about an image, how they think about themselves and what they’re not afraid to do is change it and just like keep reinventing,” Ivory said.
Community member Angela Hatcher said from the audience that she appreciated Ivory’s explanation of her influences and genre onstage.
“I appreciate that she’s given a little context in a historical sort of background for this, just in case they [listeners] haven’t heard other artists in this genre. I appreciate that, because sometimes they [Ivory’s influences] are less shouted out than they deserve. She has great energy,” Hatcher said.
Music on the lawn has been a tradition at Coastal for several years. It is a free way for students, faculty and locals to gather and immerse themselves in different genres and artists.
Junior biology major Grace Wendel said she has enjoyed the unique artists Coastal brings in.
“It’s so good to see good, unique music and people are actually having fun making the music and not making it for money,” Wendel said.
In addition to performing and making music, Ivory is also a professor at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. There she teaches applied music, voice, jazz and contemporary music.
Growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, Ivory’s parents had a strict rule that after the age of 10, she couldn’t listen to music with lyrics. She said this rule limited her sense of music, but it gave her the ability to expand her music taste into jazz and classical music, where she began to appreciate different styles.
After years of creating music, Ivory decided to categorize her music as “avant soul,” which is known to be experimental, unconventional and innovative. As she continued to perform, she maintained this authenticity to her brand.
