Interview With Alt-Metal Band, Kissing Candice

I had the privilege of talking to Vocalist Joey, Guitarist/Vocalist Dreamer, and Bassist Grip, members of the alt-metal band, Kissing Candace. Known for their theatrical, horror-themed live shows, Kissing Candice blends the genre with important topics such as anxiety and depression. Keep reading to find out what they had to say.

PopHorror: Thanks for taking the time to do this, I really appreciate it!

Grip: Thanks, I appreciate it!

PopHorror: How did the name Kissing Candice come to be?

Joey: Long story short… I went to school with a girl named Candice who I kissed! (laughs)

PopHorror: That’s a pretty good reason! What was the inspiration to take the masked, theatrical direction?

Joey: We have always been geared toward the horror image. We would cover ourselves in blood in the beginning, but during the show, we would sweat it all off! Next thing you know, we got a hold of those clear impersonator masks, and well… the rest in history.

Dreamer: It came from our love for horror and for us to look more professional and menacing. This allowed our vision to actually come to fruition of how the band is aesthetically.

PopHorror: Who are your individual music influences?

Grip: As a band, we are influenced by a huge range of artists. My personal influences begin with Nine Inch Nails. Then it goes down the line to artists I got into as I grew up, like Powerman 5000, Static-X, and many more. I’ve always loved industrial and metal that has an inspiration behind it.

Joey: Just to name some: Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, Mudvayne, Rob Zombie.

Dreamer: Frank Zappa, Dream Theater, Faith No More, King’s -X, Earth, Wind and Fire, Misery Signals, Fear Factory… how much time you got?

PopHorror: Do you each come up with and make your own masks?

Grip: We each have our own individual mask makers we work with. They range anywhere from independent mask makers just starting out that we like, to top notch designers. I personally had Dark Fear Studios made my most recent mask.

Joey: Yes, we all have our own ideas and our own people we work with to have our masks made. A big, big part of the band is getting the mask right.

Dreamer: We each have our own mask makers that help our vision become a reality. I, myself, use Jeff Koncor, who is also a big fan and friend of the band. He’s helped us make our fan masks as well.

PopHorror: With the song, “Shop Smart,” being influenced by The Evil Dead franchise, are any other songs directly influenced by movies?

Grip: Yep! There’s “Hunt For The Engineer” from Hellraiser, “Nilbog” from Troll II, and “Roach Motel” from The People Under The Stairs. We did a thing leading up to Halloween this year where we posted each song and described the influence.

PopHorror: If you each had to pick a favorite horror movie, what would it be?

Dreamer: Phantasm the original. As far as modern horror goes: It Follows.

Joey: Honestly, I just don’t have a favorite.

Grip: Definitely! The Evil Dead for me. It was the first one that really grabbed me.

PopHorror: Great choices! If you were living a horror movie, which roles would you fill, and would you survive?

Joey: For sure, I’d be the killer. Hell, yes! No one or nothing can stop me!

Dreamer: I’d definitely be a leader, and I’m pretty sure I’d survive. Either that, or I’d die from making a dumb move because I felt overconfident about it. (laughs)

Grip: I would probably be the guy pulling his hair out who dies pretty early on. I’d try to act composed a little bit though.

PopHorror: You guys will be joining Mushroomhead and ICP this year for the Fury Fest Tour. For anyone who hasn’t seen you at a live show, what can they expect?

Dreamer: Energy. Non-stop energy. Also, a lot of imagery that makes you feel weird, but you can’t look away. Couple that with some heavy groove, and that’s us.

Joey: You can expect everything and anything. We are known for our live shows.

Grip: Chaos! We strive to put on the most intense live shows possible. Each member has their own persona, but they all work together in the big picture.

PopHorror: Do you each have a favorite song to perform live?

Dreamer: Yea, I think we all definitely have different songs we love live. For me, I like playing “Crash and Burn” the most, because it’s got such a deep meaning to me and a powerful message.

Joey: “Taken” and “Mirrors.”

Grip: For me lately, it has been “Hit the Roof”!

PopHorror: Do any of you have a dream lineup to tour with?

Grip: So many! Big dreams are artists like Marilyn Manson or Rob Zombie, though.

Joey: Marilyn Manson, Post Malone and Coal Chamber.

Dreamer: I can’t tell my dream lineup because it would never work because of so many reasons, but something I think would be amazing would be us, Slipknot, Mushroomhead, GWAR and a reunited Mudvayne.

PopHorror: You recently released the new single, “Crash and Burn.” Will this lead up to an EP or full album release, and will any other new material making its way on stage this year?

Joey: We are always working on new stuff. (laughs)

Dreamer: Always writing, always creating. It’s never a question of “if,” it’s “when.”

Grip: Can’t say much about that right now! But we’re always working on creating and progressing.