Montreal music industry vet Kandle‘s forthcoming new album (due out later this year) is a crescendo of all her years immersed in music and an intimate knowledge of the many ways this industry, this world, can break your body and heart. Kandle is now sharing “Danger to Dream,” the latest single ahead of her LP’s release, alongside an official music video directed for 18 hours by Lauren Graham while she was breastfeeding her new baby.

1. Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically? 

Danger to Dream is a tale of trying to wake up from the trance of unworthiness. Of the voices in our heads telling us we should be more, have more. A constant comparison of ourselves to the influences we consume and how very bad that can make us feel. The song truly felt like a film score to us. It’s haunting and epic and has hints of a classic old Morricone composition. In the Tarantino inspired music video, I play several characters, 3 different versions of the same girl that are living “dead end” lives, whose dreams never came true. Tragedy, reality, luck, who knows why but for whatever reason, they are stuck. My 4th character is all of their darkest negative inner voices personified, driving into town to make sure each of them meets their untimely demise. The whole video is really meant to show the viewer how hard we are on ourselves and how often we are our own worst enemy. 

2. What was the inspiration behind this video (visuals, storyline, etc.)? 

The video concept was all my brilliant director and close friend Lauren Graham! We are very similar in a spooky arty sort of way. I didn’t know what the treatment was until I got to LA and she was waiting to hear if her dream location (Four Aces Movie Ranch) was secured. I believe all she told me was “I have a concept, and you’re gonna love it”. Once she told me the concept, the ideas of the characters and how they die came pouring out of us like giddy girls at a slasher slumber party. 

3. What was the process of making this video?

There was a whole lot of girl power behind this video. The team LG assembled was incredibly talented and hard working. Lauren herself directed the video for 18 hours while breastfeeding her new baby. I performed my heart out while I unluckily suffered through a violent endometriosis flare up, rendering me incredibly ill between takes. My bandmate/lover/co producer Jeffrey Mitchell was behind the camera nailing the cinematography and supporting me through the pain. We were pushing ourselves as hard as we could, we weren’t willing to slow down or compromise our vision. After that experience, we knew we had to release it for International Women’s Day as it felt like a very beautiful representation of women’s resilience and dedication to their art.
“Danger to Dream” is a tale of trying to wake up from the trance of unworthiness. Of the voices in our heads telling us we should be more, have more. A constant comparison of ourselves to the influences we consume and how inadequate they can make us feel.

In support of International Women’s Day (Friday March 8th), Kandle also wishes to bring attention to National Endometriosis Awareness Month and Women’s History Month this March. Being a self-produced, independent female artist suffering from this incurable extremely painful disease (impacting 1 in 7 women!), Kandle hopes to use her voice and platform to help others feel less alone and like they are safe and understood.