We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Candice Anderson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Candice thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I took a risk on “Me”. To make decisions in my best interest even if it meant losing the support of family and friends.
For example, as the oldest child and first grandchild….there was a lot of pressure and expectations from my family.
When I graduated High School I truly believed that I wanted to study to become an OB/GYN because I did and still do think that the woman’s body and the miracle birth is one of the most amazing things. As I began my college career, I realized that the Pre-Med path was not a true fit for me and I decided to change my major. Changing my major was a BIG deal, and it took much courage to “break the news”, however it was the best decision for me., and that’s only the half.

I have always been a lover of the Arts. I’ve been singing ALL my life and in High School I also gained a love for musical theater.
In my sophomore year of college I gave birth to my eldest son. That same year, I joined the cast as “Bess” in a Hip-Hopera production of “Porgy and Bess”. During these rehearsals, one of the other directors noticed me and invited me to audition for a artist that was looking for singers for her upcoming tour for her first solo album. I went to the audition with my 6/7 month old son in tow. I sang a solo song. There was also another singer auditioning. After we both sang solo, we all sat in a circle and the artist asked us to sing a long and harmonize with her and another singer to a few snippets of her new music. She would go between both of us to sing a long and then at one point she kept asking me to continue. Although I had been singing and harmonizing for years, I still felt a bit nervous. She thanked us for coming and asked me to remain. That day, I was offered the position to join the band and be a background vocalist for this upcoming tour. I left that audition with both joy and angst.

Ohhhhh man….I thought that changing my major was a BIG deal, but THIS??!!! I was terrified of the outcome of THIS news.
It was then that I made a call to one of my closest friends, at the time. He helped to put it all in perspective. Basically he said, those school buildings aren’t going anywhere but this may be a once in a lifetime opportunity that may never present itself again. So…I did it! I made the choice that was best for “ME”
Even when I kept being asked “When are you going to get a REAL JOB?” I did it!
Through the ridicule and challenging of my duties as a mother, I did it!
It’s been just about 28 years since I made that decision and I do not regret it. It was absolutely worth it.

Candice , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Candice Anderson. I am a professional singer, music director and teaching artist.
I have been singing as long as I can remember. I got the majority of my practice and preparation singing in my Grandfather’s church from a very young age. That’s where it all started; the singing and directing. I’d say that’s where I got my confidence because the congregation was always very encouraging. In school, I would always participate in the choirs and musical theater performances. I can’t remember a time without music in my life. I started doing studio recordings around the age of 10. I sang in an all female gospel group called “New Creation” and we performed at the Apollo Theater and the small theater at Madison Square Garden for the McDonald’s Gospelfest. I played the character ‘Lorrell’ in a production of “Dreamgirls”. All of this was before the age of 18. Around the age of 20, I auditioned and became one of original background vocalist for Lauryn Hill’s Miseducation Tour in 1998. From then on I’ve had the opportunity to work and share the stage with various artists like Erykah Badu, Bilal, Musiq Soulchild, John Legend, Michelle Williams, Stephanie Mills, Faith Evans, Nas, Patti LaBelle, Robert Randolph, Herbie Hancock, and The Dave Matthews Band, to name a few. I have also been blessed to have sung on the albums of many of these artists like Lauryn Hill, John Legend, Robert Randolph, and more.
In 2010, while I was off the road, after having my youngest son, I began to instruct a music workshop at a Performing Arts Academy in Newark. I started as the Asst Director and then became the Director of a phenomenal youth singing group named “Special Ensemble”. The name speaks for itself of the talent and gifts of the youth, of which my eldest son was also a member. They performed, received many awards/recognition and won competitions all over the Tri-State area. This is the time when the vocal coaching and vocal arranging gift took a more prominent position in my creative journey.
In 2019, I released my first single titled “Let It Be Me” and I also wrote/performed a song titled “Forever” on the New Life Now Worship album.

From student to teacher.
From singer to vocal coach and arranger.
From backing vocalist to artist
I can say that I am very grateful for my gift and the growth over the span of my career and opportunity to pass it on or as others say “Pay it forward”.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

One of the most rewarding aspects of my career is getting paid to do what I absolutely LOVE and have passion for. There is just no replacement for the joy that I get when I am on stage, no matter the size of the audience. I have been blessed to perform on stages all over the world, on 6 out of the 7 continents (not Antarctica yet) . In stadiums of tens of thousands and in rooms of less than 100. Every time I have a good time and I believe that the audience feels that and responds in kind.
Another rewarding aspect, as a teaching artist, is sharing my skills and lessons I’ve learned with the next generation of artists. Exposing and equipping them with the knowledge, tools and work ethic necessary to be successful in this creative space. Seeing my former students succeed and accomplish their career goals is one of the MOST rewarding aspects of being a performer/teaching artist.

Have you ever had to pivot?

So…being a mother of three, every time I had a child there was a pivot. Many times I was blessed to sing with artists that didn’t mind having a pregnant singer on stage or bringing my young children to rehearsals and shows. However, from delivery up to about 3 years of their lives ,I would do minimal traveling which also meant that my income decreased. In order to supplement that income, I would do vocal coaching, math tutoring, work at after school programs, modeling, and music workshops as a private contractor, and I would also go back to school to work towards my degree.
During COVID I was able to complete my studies and graduate in 2022 with my Bachelor’s and also train to become a birth doula.
As I shared earlier, when I was younger, I desired to become an OB/GYN, however, when I got to college, and saw all those courses…I changed my mind Lol.
Having carried, delivered, breastfed, and gone as natural with my own children, as much as I possibly could have with the knowledge I had back then, I was very inspired to become an advocate and support for other women.
Initially I was looking into how to become a Lactation consultant but when I read about the duties of a birth doula…..I knew that was for me! I came across a forum on Facebook, sponsored by First Lady of NJ, Tammy Murphy on Doulas and Birthing Centers in NJ and I began to do my research.
I took the trainings and I have since supported 4 families (5 births) through their pregnancy and births.
I absolutely LOVE IT!!! A very fulfilling pivot in my career. All my previous clients have been private and we got connected by word of mouth but I am currently working on building my business and completing the state documents to work with HMO’s/insurance companies.
Even with the name of my doula business, “Middleceecares”, there is still a reference of to music, which is my first love.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: SongbirdCee
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/songbird.cee
• Linkedin: Candice Anderson

Image Credits

Stephen Reid