LH: Hello Candice,
First of all, Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for this exclusive interview.
Congratulations for the amazing album that you have released. Talking about this album “Secret Voyage”, I think that it has a spirit more similar to the older albums like: “Shadow of the moon” and “Under a violet moon” more than the recent “Village Lanterne”. Do you think about the musical direction of each CD before you begin to compose the songs or the direction is marked during the development of the compositions?  
CANDICE: No, we never think of the musical direction that the cd should go in. The songs take us in a direction, not the other way around. That is why each cd is so true in its form as to where we were at each moment. By reviewing the cds over the past 11 years- it is as if we are going through a scrapbook in time as to where we were at each individual moment.

LH: In this new album there are a lot of influences (I think than more than in others albums) of traditional melodies of several countries. Why do you choose those melodies in particular for getting it into the “Blackmorizing machine”?.
CANDICE: The music is really usually Ritchie’s choice. He has a lot of reasons for choosing songs, some being tempos, some being what he thinks we can make them into through that infamous “machine” , some he just gets drawn to. Then when we have compiled a bunch of songs to record, sometimes we go back over them and thing- are there too many in one key? Too many fast or slow? And we’ll add songs to break it up if it’s a bit one sided.

LH: You have written amazing lyrics for all albums but in the last one there are some of the best lyrics you’ve ever written specially 2: “Gilded cage” (that “fragile porcelain angel” has reached to my heart) and “Sister gypsy”. Which is your inspiration for these songs? Are they related to someone or something in particular or it’s only your imagination?.
CANDICE: Thank you! I think that the words I write are all a part of me, and parts of people I know. For example, Gilded Cage was inspired by a very well known singer who I am completely in awe of. She came to one of our shows and I met her, and learned that, as a performer she is untouchable- 10 feet tall and made of faerie dust and glitter shining in that spotlight , but off stage- she is human, fragile and incredibly alone. It almost breaks my heart to think how loved she is on stage then how lonely off stage in her “real “ life- but then there are so many who follow in those footsteps. Look at Marilyn Monroe as another example. There are many around us like them. And I for some reason, am drawn to the tragic heroine. I suppose a part of me feels that deep sadness as a balance for that overwhelming love you receive. It is a confusing dichotomy... but a balance nonetheless. Perhaps some of my lyrics are just me delving deeply inside to try to figure out myself, and yet finding others relate is comforting.

LH: The first single of the new album “Locked within the crystal ball” is inspired in a traditional melody called “Stella Splendens”. This melody is very well-known in some parts of Spain. How did you know this melody?
CANDICE: We mainly listen to traditional purist medieval and renaissance based bands and many of them do Stella Splendens in its purist form. The Geyers, one of our favourite Renaissance bands, even has a whole cd named after the song. A lot of traditional Spanish music is a great source of inspiration. King Alfonso and the Cantigas – theres a great band named Terra Nova Consort who do a whole cd named Baylado! Which is an amazing source of gypsy Spanish music.

LH: I’ve ever loved the sound of the violin into the complete sound of the band however there have been one and a half year that any violin player have not been at the band. During this period, did you include or exclude some songs of the shows owing to of this fact?  Have you played in a different ways some songs as “Durch den wald zum Bach haus” or “World of stone” owing to this fact?
CANDICE: I always felt that the violin was the cherry on the top of some of these songs, and now with Gypsy Rose she is able to sing and play not only violin but shawm as well. In our band it is very difficult to have a musician who only does one thing; plays one instrument or only sings as we have such a wide range of instrumentation that needs to be covered. So when she appeared it was perfect. We did alter the arrangements a bit when we didn’t have the violin, for example having 2 backup singers with operatic range allowed a full wall of sound in the modulation or build up in world of stone. So, now that we are able to incorporate the violin again we can utilize that in that same part and not feel as if we are missing out on anything. With Bach haus we just gave the keyboardist more time for him to solo and show off a bit. Each phase of the band is a different step that allows us to delve into the songs and show them in different ways. The arrangements aren’t better or worse in my opinion- just different depending on what you have that you can utilize. It just gives the songs different colours or flavours.

LH: Respect to your own album that, I think, you’re going to release this year. Is the musical direction of this album similar to the musical direction of the band?
CANDICE: I think it will be released next year, actually. It’s hard to release 2 items in one year and we wanted to Secret Voyage to get as much attention as possible. I think that in some ways the musical directions are similar. I mean , either way- in either project, I write from a very honest place- I don’t try to “fit in” or be fashionable or trendy or sound like anyone else. So when you are coming from a place that’s true, it will have elements that are very similar because it is you that is shining through. The only real different I guess is that I wrote all the music as well as the words and was very involved in the instrumentation, arrangements and production whereas on the Blackmore’s Night cds I usually stick to the words and just give a bit of input to Ritchie and Pat so its 3 people involved on those. With this its pretty much just me. The hardest thing was to narrow down which songs to put on and which to save for another cd. I have quite a few that have been sitting around that I wanted to try, but figured that I’d just do 10 tracks for the 1st time out.

LH: In this album, is there any special guest in it? maybe Ritchie? Je,je,je.
CANDICE: Believe it or not, no. I mean I really felt as if I had to do this all on my own. Being in a band with a giant like Ritchie for so long is an amazing thing- but for me it just felt  good to sit back and say- I did this myself. No help, no one else involved but the producer- its a great feeling to know you accomplished something completely on your own. The only track Ritchie plays on was one called Once In A Garden that I wrote a few years back and we released under Blackmore’s Night as a Japanese bonus track. I didn’t even play my songs for Ritchie until months after the actual cd was finished. It was a very personal process to create it.

LH: You have been really busy this year. Besides of the release of “Secret Voyage” and your first own album, you have been involved in a film called “Pray for light”. Is this new aspect of your career an specific event or you have more projects in this direction?.
CANDICE: The film is set for release next year and I cant wait to start filming! I have always been involved in acting in a way and this will be my 1st time doing a film. Im excited to get involved in that creative outlet. It would be great if there were more opportunities to come in this field- I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

LH: Do you like any Spanish singer or group in particular? Do you know the Spanish traditional music?.
CANDICE: I love watching good flamenco music! Actually the last time we were in Spain- too long ago- I was in Galicia at a flamenco club and got up and danced with the flamenco dancers! What a great night. I love the intensity and passion of the Spanish artists. Of course my favourite story of all time is Don Quixote, which is why I wrote Windmills. And Ritchie will be the 1st to tell anyone that I was conceived in Spain- much to my embarrassment that he even brings that topic up!

LH: Talking about the Spanish traditional music, one of the more magical song you’ve ever composed is “Fires at midnight” that is taken from a original Alfonso X melody, How did you know this amazing melody? how was the story of the composition of this song?.
CANDICE: Again I can thank the Geyers for introducing us to that great traditional Spanish song. Lyrically the words came very naturally. The song itself, without knowing the original texts, seemed to have an inherent mystical quality while also being so connected with the earth and her wonders. And so it came to be that I was standing outside looking out across the hillsides of the Czech republic around April when they burn the bonfires on the hills across the country and the visuals and the mystery that filled the air from this age old tradition and the stories and superstitions that surrounded it just overwhelmed me.  The seven sisters mentioned in the song is the name of a constellation that was overhead at the time. And how the stars can guide us, even speak to us if you listen to them.

LH: Who is your favourite legendary or historical personage?
CANDICE: Top of the list is Don Quixote. That story speaks to my soul. But there are a few others- ones that I write about in song. The  Lorelei, The Last Unicorn, Faeries,  The ideas of Avalon represented in the Mists of Avalon, Rhiannon, Ben Zai Ten, many legends from different parts of the globe. And as I travel I learn even more. 

LH: One of my favourite BN song (I’m really in love with it) is “Windmills”. The lyric of this song is inspired in the amazing legendary personage “Don Quixote of the Mancha” Why were you attracted by this personage?.
CANDICE: So strange that I was  speaking about exactly that earlier in this interview! We must be on the same wavelength. There are so many reasons that story line touches me so deeply. Its message is so relevant even today. How if someone tries to see the beauty in things, if someone is different, or tries to change the world- somehow people feel the need to destroy that person. It is such a strange phenomenon and yet you see it repeated in these incredible creatures throughout time. Don Quixote is the culmination of all these ideas and stories to me- but another Americanized fable may be the story of Edward Scissor hands. Its the same underlying ideas. I think someone pure of soul as the Man A La Mancha is such a rare gem they should be immortalized and we should all recognize a part of him in ourselves. His ideology, respect, code of honor .... I wish there  were role models like him out there now for people. The fact that he was masked in an aging, senile older man doesn’t make him blind to what he sees- it makes him more sure of it.... not clouded by the insincerity of  todays world- or the outside world of his own time. Its beautiful and shameful that those around him had to break his spirit which is what ultimately killed him. Heartbreaking.  

LH: You love the animals, as I do too. Besides your kittens Hopscotch y Romper, do you have more animals?.
CANDICE: In my garden right now, it is evening and I have seen 3 deer, 5 raccoons, a possum, swans in the water and many different types of birds and ducks. I saw my hummingbird yesterday but shell be heading back to S America soon. The owls will then start to move into the woods here and I’ll hear their calls throughout the night. We have foxes and box turtles in the garden- all sorts of incredible beings!

LH: Are you involved in any association in defence of the animals?
CANDICE: Many! With the band we have donated proceeds of shows or cd releases to ASPCA, WWF, Save the Badgers (in UK), Save The Bats (in Berlin), local animal charities throughout the USA, Best Friends Animal League, STAR animal rehab, North Shore Animal League, Save A Pet, Little Shelter, and on the last run of German dates, PETA was there collecting for the animals. Off the road we do charity shows for local animal charities at holiday time and we have 2 sponsor dogs at a local charity. For humans we have worked with UNICEF, and Red Cross for the flood victims

LH: When you are not on tour, how is a normal day for you and Ritchie? What are your hobbies apart of the music?.
CANDICE: We wake up around 12 with our 2 cats sleeping next to us. Ritchie gets up 1st always- I love to sleep! He and his cat both do stretches 1st thing out of bed. They have a synchronized routine. Then downstairs for breakfast and after breakfast we do music! New ideas, new songs, we record them on little tape recorders. Then he goes for his walk through the woods and I do the business and errands (very glamorous!) After that I’ll make dinner or we invite friends out for a renaissance night which means we all get dressed up and go to a local restaurant and take over the back darkest room where we sing and play music till about 4am. We do that a few times a week. Hobbies include gardening, birdwatching, taking photos of nature, cooking, making jewellery or scrapbooking, and doing séances or looking for ghosts. I’m also really involved with the local community in trying to preserve open space and stop people hunting animals out here. Its barbaric!

LH: The female members of the Spanish Fan Club would like to know if Ritchie is your Prince Charming je,je,je.
CANDICE: I don’t know if he fits neatly into a category like that! Hes a man of mystery and Im much more intrigued by that than I would be by a Prince Charming... I like someone to challenge me and yet also respect me for having my own mind. I like that we go on owl prowls at midnight in long dark cloaks. I don’t know if Prince Charming would do that....I think I’d get bored with the perfect Prince Charming.

LH: When you began with Blackmore´s Night you were really young. What memories do you have of the first release at the Japanese TV with “Spirit of the sea”? Do you remember that release with only Ritchie and you?.
CANDICE: I remember being in total denial that I was even there- that it wasn’t all a dream until we had to step out there. I remember having the worst case of jet lag that I ever had in my life. Japan is the other side of the globe! And I remember being in the ladies room and thinking that this isn’t really happening and that I’d wake up any second. Just generally being terrified. I cant even watch that youtube clip because its worlds away from me now. 

LH: What memories do you have of the Spanish concerts in that tour in 1997?
CANDICE: I remember that the audiences still weren’t sure of what we were doing- on stage I wasn’t even sure of what I was doing- it was really my 1st time out on a tour to sing front and center. I remember that the promoter stuck us in rock clubs with black walls and the smell of beer and smoke mixed was overwhelming. But I remember that there were fans who were won over by what we did by the end of the shows. And I know that Iwant to go back and show them all how far we’re all come....

LH: And, at last, the most important question, When are you going to come back to Spain for any shows?. We´re anxious for it. Give us a good new je,je,je.
CANDICE: I HOPE SO! Ive been asking for YEARS! I’ll keep working on it on this side and now that I know youre there working on your side hopefully we can make it happen. As you know we don’t have the most helpful record company. If youre not metal with a piercing through your nose they just don’t get what youre doing- But I know that there are fans especially in Spain that do get it and that want to see us there again- stronger than before. Lets work together to make it happen!

LH: Thank you so much, really thank you for this interview
CANDICE: Thank you!.