Candy Coated Killahz
Candy Coated Killahz |
---|
Candy Coated Killahz are an electro-pop duo from Toronto, Canada, known for their blend of dance, urban, and electronic styles.[1] Hailed by The Globe and Mail as one of the bands responsible for Toronto’s emergence as an “Electronic music capital”[2], group members Tasha Dash and Icon the Anomali released their debut album “It Factor” in 2008[1] after becoming a staple in Toronto's Queen West music scene,[2] and soon came into national visibility in early 2009 with their debut single "Playboy". Following the single’s success at radio [3] and its appearance in Tyler Perry’s blockbuster movie, “I Can Do Bad All By Myself” [4], the group signed with MapleMusic Recordings and is currently working on their second album, to be released in 2011.[5]
Band and history
Band formation
Band members Icon the Anomali and Tasha Schumann (aka Tasha Dash) met in 2006 while working at a downtown Toronto restaurant during university.[6] At the time, both were working on solo projects which were put on hold after the two began writing together. With Tasha as producer, the group’s sound quickly evolved from street hip hop to a sound the group has termed “Ghettotronic” a blend of hip hop, old school dance, and electro-pop.[7][8]
Band members
Tasha "Dash" Schumann
One of the industry’s few female music producers, Tasha Schumann is the band’s beat-maker, co-writer, and front-woman. A classically trained pianist, and multi-instrumentalist, she performs under the stage name "Tasha Dash". Originally from Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, she grew up playing in rock bands and moved to Toronto after high school because of a lack of “opportunities to do hip-hop and electro” in her hometown [9]. The German-Jamaican musician often cites groups such as Outkast, TLC, 2Unlimited, and No Doubt as influences for her production style.[10]
Michael "Icon the Anomali" Akinlabi
Michael Ayodeji Akinlabi is Candy Coated Killahz’ frontman and performs under the stage name Icon the Anomali. Hailing from Nigeria, Icon moved to Canada eight years ago. Also a comic book creator, and video-game designer, Icon has cited Michael Jackson as a major inspiration.[7]
Discography
Studio recordings
- Neon Black (2011), MapleMusic Recordings & Hot Steam Records
- It Factor (2008), Hot Steam Records (Independent)
- Bloodsugar: The Mixtape (2007), Hot Steam Records (Independent)
Singles
- Neon Black - Written by T.Schumann, M. Akinlabi, D. Hartrell, Produced by T. Schumann & D. Hartrell
- Video - Directed by Alon Isocianu/ Reactiv Pictures [To be released Feb 2011]
- Playboy (remastered Radio Edit) - Written by T.Schumann & M. Akinlabi, Produced by T. Schumann
- Playboy Music Video – Directed by Randall “RT” Thorne, released by MapleMusic Recordings & Hot Steam Entertainment
- Rotation: Hot AC and CHR radio (Canada), MuchMusic (Canada), MuchMoreMusic (Canada), MTVu (USA)[11]
- Featured in:
- Tyler Perry's film I Can Do Bad All By Myself (September 2009)
- Defying Gravity, television series (2009)
- Exes and Ohs, television series (2009)
Notable appearances
Event | Other Acts Billed | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|
VirginFest Ontario | Nine Inch Nails, Pitbull, Down With Webster, Sloan, Fritz Helder and the Phantoms | Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto | August 2009 |
Cutting Edge Music Festival | The Roots, Protest the Hero, Moneen, Grand Analog | Bingeman's Park, Waterloo, Ontario | August 2009 |
North by Northeast Finale Show | The Gza (Wu-Tang), The Cool Kids | Yonge-Dundas Square, Toronto | July 2009 |
Canadian East Coast Tour | Karl Wolf | Nova Scotia & New Brunswick | September 2009 |
References
- ^ a b Chart Attack, http://www.chartattack.com/news/53759/candy-coated-killahz-have-got-the-it-factor
- ^ a b The Globe and Mail, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/toronto-is-electric-city/article1327357/
- ^ Billboard - Canada, Chart: Emerging Canadian Artists, April 3, 2009, http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/internationalcharts.jsp
- ^ Internet Movie Database, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1385912/soundtrack
- ^ Toro Magazine, http://www.toromagazine.com/?channel=118&t=126&n=2193
- ^ Montreal Mirror, http://www.montrealmirror.com/2008/080708/music1.html
- ^ a b Sway Magazine, http://swaymag.ca/fall2008/music4.php
- ^ Pound Magazine, July 2008, (article in print only), http://www.poundmag.com
- ^ The Record, http://news.therecord.com/article/463161
- ^ Inside E, (cached page), http://google.com/search?q=cache:3BXsGwjzRnMJ:www.insideeonline.com/index.cfm/ci_id/3792/la_id/1/print/true+candy+coated+killahz+%22inside+e%22&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&client=safari
- ^ MTVu, http://www.mtvu.com/music/the-freshmen/candy-coated-killahz-playboy