Biography

Introduction

Candie Payne (born 1983) is an English singer-songwriter from Liverpool. She released her debut album, I Wish I Could Have Loved You More, on Deltasonic in May 2007. She is the sister of singer/songwriter Howie Payne, former frontman of band The Stands and Sean Payne, the drummer of The Zutons.

Biography

Payne was born in Liverpool in 1983. Aged four, her family she relocated to New York City before moving back when Payne was 10. Initially shunning music, Payne pursued a career in visual art, attending art college and working in a vintage clothing shop in Liverpool town centre. However, Payne became disenchanted with her studies and, after performing with a friend's band, exchanged her interest for music. She was then introduced to Simon Dine of Noonday Underground with whom she began composing songs.

In 2006, Payne release two singles, "By Tomorrow" and "Take Me". These preceded her debut album, I Wish I Could Have Loved You More, which was released in May 2007. The single "One More Chance", produced by Mark Ronson, followed in September of that year.

In November 2007, The Times Magazine looked ahead to Liverpool's year as the European City of Culture in 2008 by featuring Payne on its cover alongside Liverpuddlian singer Cilla Black and Abi Harding of the Zutons, who was engaged to Payne's brother Sean - "How Liverpoool got its mojo back"..

In December 2007, she sang a version of "Oh My God" with Mark Ronson and Ricky Wilson on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. Soon after this appearance, Ronson asked Payne to appear on his 'Version' tour in 2008. The tour covered the UK, Europe and the US and major festivals including the Glastonbury festival, Global Gathering and the Montreux Jazz Festival. Payne, however, found the tour intense for personal reasons. Payne says it "was an incredible opportunity and I gained so much experience from it, but it was also an escape because I was going through a devastating breakup at the time. I slept and drank my way through a lot of it, and I lost a hell of a lot of weight too".

Style

Payne sings 60s-inspired pop. Soul singers Minnie Riperton and Roberta Flack are among her influences. Her pet hate is 'over-singing'."

Some fashion writers reflected on Payne's and Harding's influence on Liverpool's "underground band scene", drawing a contrast with the "brassier" style of local WAGs such as Alex Curran and Coleen McLoughlin (partners of footballers Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney). Sunday Times Style remarked early in 2008 that the fashionable Korova bar in the city's Fleet Street "is so cool, you can sense Liverpool evolving from a city full of in-your-face show-offs into something far more knowing":

The girls here are different from their brassier neighbours. Yet, if they're indie, they're still a glossy version. Peroxide bobs, red lipstick, polka-dot shirts, good heels ... They are inspired by local success storie such as Abby [sic] from the Zutons and Candie Payne - and united in their dislike of Curran and co ... "Lots of girls think she [Curran] is it, but it's a pretty sad life to be 25 and only go shopping" .

Discography

Singles

"All I Need to Hear" - July 2006, limited 7"
"Take Me" - September 2006, limited 7"
"By Tomorrow" - November 2006, download only
"I Wish I Could Have Loved You More" - May 2007, CD / 7" / download. This single reached #84 in the UK Official Singles Chart.
"One More Chance" (produced by Mark Ronson) - September 2007, CD / 7" / download. This single reached #122 in the UK Official Singles Chart.

Albums

I Wish I Could Have Loved You More - May 2007, CD / LP / download. This album reached number 56 on the UK Official Album Chart in its first week of release in Britain