Candace Nicol

Introduced to piano at the age of 7, Candace immediately took to the classical world of Sonatinas and composers like Kuhlau and Beethoven. As the years went on, her playing interests expanded to the more contemporary, neoclassical styles of Dirk Maassen, Ludovico Einaudi, and others. 

College and the start of a professional corporate career left her without consistent access to a piano and little time to spare. Playing time was few and far between and a private passion and source of release. 

Cue 2016-2019, when reconnected to the musician community in Chicago and purchasing an acoustic piano of her own.  Inspired by these musicians, she began to compose her own songs; pulling from her traditional classical training and integrating it with contemporary sound and melody.

She prefers that her songs pull from specific experiences; to tell a story through an instrument and to exude emotion and depth. As a result, many of her compositions have accompanying lyrics or poetry that she wrote and that played a major assist in how each melody was created.  

Her debut 2021 album, Sketches from the Dark, highlights her style of classical contemporary "storytelling."  

She's continued progress forward w/both getting back to playing and performing  favorite composers, arranging rock covers, participating in international artist networking groups, and regularly composing and releasing songs of her own.