Candice Pillay
South African singer-songwriter

Candice Pillay

The basics
Quick facts
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South African singer-songwriter
Gender:
Female
Work field:
Birth:
10 June 1981(Pietermaritzburg, Msunduzi Local Municipality, Umgungundlovu District Municipality, South Africa)
Star sign:
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The details
Biography

Introduction

Candice Pillay (born June 10, 1981) is a South African singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. She is best known for writing songs for artists including Christina Aguilera, Rihanna, Why Don't We, Rita Ora, Sevyn Streeter and Tinie Tempah.

Career

Pillay was born and raised in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Shereleased her first mixtape in December 2014. The mixtape, titled The Mood Kill, is a 15-song compilation written by Pillay and collaborators such as Alex da Kid and Dem Jointz. In August 2015, Pillay's vocals were featured on two songs from Dr. Dre'salbum "Compton"; "Medicine Man" (ft. Eminem and "White Lightening." In an interview with MTV, Pillay spoke about working with Dr. Dre stating, "He really made an impression on me from the moment I met him. Of course, he's a legendary guy. We all look up to him. You never know what to expect when you meet someone of his caliber. But, from the first meeting, he was one of the most humble guys I've met."

In 2015, Candice co-wrote Rihanna's American Oxygen in a collaborative effort with Alex Da Kid and her KIDinaKORNER label-mates X Ambassadors. Pillay told reporters the song hit close to home for herself, Alex Da Kid and Rihanna who all moved to America to further their careers in the music industry.

Influences

In an interview with Toronto Paradise, Candice spoke about her musical influences. "I'm Indian, so mixing the African and Indian rhythms and drums together is very close to RnB and hip hop," she said. "A lot of my melodies are very Indian and you wouldn't think that because they're under a heavy 808, but I try to access all those cultures that I grew up on."

Discography

Studio albums

Title Year
The Mood Kill 2015

Singles

As a featured artist

Title Year Artist Album Notes
"Bang Ya Head Harder" (ft. Lloyd Banks, Dr. Dre & Candice Pillay) 2010 50 Cent The Reconstruction Mixtape
"Don't Sell Out" (ft. Candice Pillay) 2013 Tinie Tempah Demonstration
"Witch Doctor" (ft. Candice Pillay) 2013 Tinie Tempah Demonstration
"We Receive You" (ft. Carnage & Candice Pillay) 2014 Morgan Page DC To Light
"Genocide" (ft. Kendrick Lamar, Marsha Ambrosius & Candice Pillay) 2015 Dr. Dre Compton
"Medicine Man" (ft. Eminem, Candice Pillay & Anderson .Paak) 2015 Dr. Dre Compton #40 US R&B
"WHateva U Want" (ft. Candice Pillay) 2016 Schoolboy Q Blank Face LP
"F-VR" (ft. Candice Pillay & No Riddim) 2016 Far East Movement Identity

As lead artist

Title Year Artist Album
"Bombz Away" 2009 Candice Pillay -
"Loveless" 2010 Candice Pillay -
"Hold On" 2015 Candice Pillay The Mood Kill

As a songwriter

Song Artist Writer (s) Album Year
"Lotus" Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera, Candice Pillay, Alexander Grant, Dem Jointz Anthony Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Justin Meldal-Johnsen Lotus 2012
"Make The World Move" (ft. Cee Lo Green) Christina Aguilera Alexander Grant, Mike Del Rio, Candice Pillay, Jayson DeZuzio, Dwayne Abernathy, Armando Trovajoli, Thomas DeCarlo Callaway Lotus 2012
"Cease Fire" Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera, Candice Pillay, Alexander Grant Lotus 2012
"Circles" Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera, Candice Pillay, Alexander Grant, Dwayne Abernathy Lotus 2012
"Best of Me" Christina Aguilera Candice Pillay, Alexander Grant, Dwayne Abernathy, Mike del Rio, Nate Campany Lotus 2012
"Shut Up" Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera, Candice Pillay, Alexander Grant, Dwayne Abernathy, Jayson DeZuzio Lotus 2012
"Light Up the Sky" Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera, Candice Pillay, Alexander Grant Lotus 2012
"Cockiness (Love It)" Rihanna Candice Pillay, Robyn Fenty, D. Abernathy, Shondrae Crawford Talk That Talk 2011
"Don't Sell Out" (ft. Candice Pillay) Tinie Tempah Okogwu, Ryan Nile Sutherland, Andrew Stewart-Jones, Candice Pillay, Dwayne Abernathy, Vaali, S. S. Thaman Demonstration 2013
"Witch Doctor" (ft. Candice Pillay) Tinie Tempah Okogwu, Candice Pillay, Alexander Grant, Abernathy Demonstration 2013
"Consistent" Sevyn Streeter Sevyn Streeter, Candice Pillay, Dem Jointz, Justin Robinson, Askia Fountain Shoulda Been There Part 1 2015
"American Oxygen" Rihanna Alexander Grant, Sam Harris, Candice Pillay, Robyn Fenty - 2015
"Genocide" (ft. Kendrick Lamar, Marsha Ambrosius & Candice Pillay) Dr. Dre Candice Pillay, Young, Kendrick Duckworth, Ricks II, Marsha Ambrosius, Sly Jordan, Dwayne "Dem Jointz" Abernathy, Jr. Compton 2015
"One Shot One Kill" (performed by Jon Connor ft. Snoop Dogg) Dr. Dre Young, Jon Freeman Jr, Candice Pillay, Edwards Jr, Lawrence Jr. Compton 2015
"Medicine Man" (ft. Eminem, Candice Pillay & Anderson .Paak) Dr. Dre Candice Pillay, Young, Marshall Mathers, Mohrle, Anderson, Ricks II, Abernathy Jr, Edwards Jr, C. Chambers Compton 2015
"White Lightening", Candice Pillay & Anderson .Paak) Dr. Dre Candice Pillay, Young, Marshall Mathers, Mohrle, Anderson, Ricks II, Abernathy Jr, Edwards Jr, C. Chambers Compton 2015
"Medicine Man" (ft. Eminem, Candice Pillay & Anderson .Paak) Dr. Dre Candice Pillay, Young, Marshall Mathers, Mohrle, Anderson, Ricks II, Abernathy Jr, Edwards Jr, C. Chambers Compton 2015