Candi’s performance inspired a 1950’s themed music video, which will debut in December of 2018.
“I grew up backstage at The Grand Ole Opry, but I was every bit as influenced by Judy Garland and Elvis Presley as I was by Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and Merle Haggard,” says Candi Carpenter, who spent her teen years touring with country music legend, Jack Greene. “The first cut I ever had as a songwriter was a holiday song I co-wrote for Jack called ‘Red, White, and Blue Christmas.’ I was seventeen years old when Jack performed it on The Opry stage for the first time.”
“When my producer, Ron Fair, first approached me about recording a Christmas standard, I wanted to choose something unique and true to my roots. I suggested Merle Haggard’s classic “If We Make It Through December,” and Ron loved the idea. He wrote a stunning new arrangement, with all of the grandeur of a vintage holiday record.” Ron Fair is a veteran A&R executive, record producer, arranger, recording engineer, and songwriter with a career that has spanned over 30 years at major record labels. He is best known as a “guru/mentor”, guiding the careers of unknown artists and turning them into superstars. Among the artists he has produced are Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, Mary J. Blige, Vanessa Carlton, Keyshia Cole, The Black Eyed Peas, Fergie, the Pussycat Dolls, and now, Candi Carpenter.
“Ron is a swiss army knife in the studio. He scored the strings himself, and produced, and conducted an 18 piece orchestra, while engineering the session. Everything on the record is organic. The horns, the choir, the strings, and all of the instruments were tracked live.”
Fair is also producing Candi’s heavily anticipated new EP, which is slated to come out in 2019. “He says it sounds like a country Lady Gaga, but I think it sounds like Freddie Mercury, if Queen had been a country band,” says Carpenter. Fans can expect compelling storytelling, soaring vocals, lush strings, and a more authentic Candi Carpenter than they’ve ever heard before. “It’s going to be a very dramatic EP, which is appropriate, because I’m a very dramatic person. I can’t wait to tour next year, and finally share my heart with the world.”