Theo Kandel Blames His "STARSIGN" (Out Today, March 17)
Above: “STARSIGN” single artwork
ALTERNATIVE SINGER-SONGWRITER
THEO KANDEL
RELEASES NEW SINGLE
“STARSIGN”
TOUR KICKS OFF THIS WEEKEND
WITH DATES OPENING FOR LEGENDARY JOHN OATES
AND WYATT PIKE
SIX-SONG INDIE ROCK EP
WHAT IF IT ALL WORKS OUT IN THE END?
EXPECTED JUNE 2022
LOS ANGELES, CA (March 17, 2022) — Astrological signs seem to always prevail. Los Angeles-based alternative singer-songwriter Theo Kandel attributes his zodiac sign for being the way he is on his latest pop-punk single “STARSIGN.” Out today, the original “STARSIGN” demo went viral on TikTok with over 230k+ views. The final track was produced by Ben “Beep” Pleasant, Theo Kandel, and Justin Johnson (Priscilla Block).
Stream “STARSIGN” here.
“Listen – I'm such a Scorpio. I'm determined, brave, loyal, honest, and ambitious, but I'm also jealous, secretive, resentful, controlling, and stubborn. I can't help it,” explains Theo. “It seems like the stars aligned to craft me into exactly the person I am today, no matter what I do. I'm sorry! Sometimes I just wanna party, and there's nothing anyone can do to stop me. If you really wanna get to know me, just take a look at the daily horoscope – that's probably what I'm feeling on any given day.”
Theo began the writing process of “STARSIGN” in February of 2021 with his friend Gabi Gotts from female trio NOT THE MAIN CHARACTERS, and completed it with Brooke Alexx, Lackhoney, and Ben “Beep” Pleasant in October of 2021.
Hot on the heels of his most recent single, “Half as Cool,” Theo will also be releasing his six-song indie rock EP What If It All Works Out In The End? this June (exact date TBA).
Starting at the end of this month throughout the summer, Theo has several tour dates lined up across the U.S. — with select dates opening for John Oates (of Hall & Oates), Wyatt Pike andadditional dates to be announced.
Last year, alternative singer-songwriter Theo Kandel set his sights on the West Coast in what he calls the “final frontier” on a journey of music influence and inspiration that settled in Los Angeles. The journey began in New York City where he grew up learning classical and jazz violin before picking up the guitar. “Growing up in New York, I got super into folk music – that was what drove me to write initially – but I always found that my music was too pop to be completely folk, and too folk to be completely pop,” Kandel says.
It wasn't until he moved to Nashville, TN that he began honing his craft into something a bit more mainstream, despite an initial aversion to the word. “It definitely sounds cheesy, but in Nashville, the song itself is king. Writing better songs is literally the goal there. For a while I hated the idea of my music being labeled as ‘pop,’ but ‘pop’ actually just means accessible – relatable – whatever. So hopefully, the better my songs are, the more people can find a little bit of their own stories in there.”
His 2021 EP, Spin Cycle, found the exceptional artist arriving at the peak of those New York and Nashville influences that molded his creativity. What comes across in the six-song collection is equally vulnerable as it is highly unique. The songs are musically complex, layered, and blend a variety of instrumentation that creates a special alchemy; a musical fingerprint that directly identifies Kandel.
Above: Theo Kandel; credit: Moriah Ziman
Recent praise for Theo Kandel:
“Candid, accessible and uninhibited lyricism outline alternative pop singer-songwriter Theo Kandel,” detailed FLAUNT.
Under The Radar said, “The EP [Spin Cycle] sees Kandel embracing his pop side and storytelling roots, marrying them for an emotive concept record.”
Ones To Watch raved,“Theo Kandel is as honest and uninhibited as ever…the hooky chorus [on ‘i don’t wanna think about that’] oozes with hurt and self-reflection…the record [Spin Cycle] is musically intricate, layered, and blends a variety of instrumentation that creates a solid sonic identity that directly distinguishes Kandel as an artist.”
THEO KANDEL ONLINE