The Candle Light Children, under the creative helm of Adan Brightside, Ridh and Pierre Ibrahim, emerges as a musical force poised to make waves in 2024 with their latest single, "Try Again". Drawing inspiration from an eclectic mix of artists including The Weeknd, Dayglow, Japanese Breakfast, The Strokes, and Clairo, The Candle Light Children have carved out a distinct space in the music landscape, seamlessly blending elements of bedroom pop, dream pop, synthpop, and pop punk. We got to chat with them around their latest release.
- Can you please start by telling us how The Candle Light Children started?
"TCLC started off as a project of mine I did right after high-school. I was in an alternative rock band with some friends but I felt the need to explore sounds and ideas that didn't really suit it. Coincidently, we were in a pandemic and I ended up learning how to produce music myself on my laptop from my lil brother, Ridh. With the help of my long-time songwriting buddy Pierre Ibrahim and our producer friend Myst Deisanto, The Candle Light Children became a reality. I mainly wrote a lot of the songs that came out with Ridh and Pierre. Then we'd send the tracks to Myst so he can put his magic on it as well as mix and master."
- How would you describe your musical style and the creative influences that shape your sound?
"My approach to songwriting has always been like me writing in my diary but make it cinematic! I feel that everyone should be the main character of their own stories and that's kinda what I wanted to evoke with the music I've written so far. We're definitely an indie rock / indie pop band. Bands and artists such as the cure, the pixies, David Bowie and indonesian pop singer Fariz FM have definitely been major influences on the sound we craft. More modern artists and bands such as The 1975, The Weeknd, Mitski, the Drums and MGMT have always been big big influences too. Basically whatever I'm listening to at the moment plays a big role on how the music sounds."
- "Try Again" is your latest single and it explores themes of love and loss. What inspired the creation of this particular song?
"I think at this point I've been around a bunch of friends who wanted to get back with an Ex. I feel like this is a very obvious theme within the song. I too at this point was coming to terms with my loneliness and lack of romance and I guess that's what took hold and pushed the track."
- The song features Ridh taking the lead vocals for the first time. How did this decision come about and how did it impact the storytelling within the track?
"I remember writing the keys to Try Again and showing them to Ridh. He loved it in an instant. At this point we've written so many songs together but we didn't find a song that quite fit both of our styles, untill we wrote Try Again. Ridh finished up the production before we passed it to Myst to do his parts and we did it all in a night. Ridh definitely added a lot of dreamyness to the track and took it in a very different direction. I originally wanted the song to be another piano ballad but I'm more than glad with how it turned out, once we worked on it together."
- Your music draws inspiration from a diverse array of artists, including The Weeknd, Dayglow, Japanese Breakfast, The Strokes, and Clairo. How do you balance and incorporate these influences into your own unique musical identity?
"When it comes to influences, I feel that they just kinda leave a bit of ground work for inspiration. I tend to just let the song write itself, especially when collaborating. Usually the first idea that pops in to our heads is what's best for the song and what's truthful. I never really try to write with the intention to sound like someone I'm inspired by, but I definitely know that subconsciously these inspirations have a big impact on the songs we write as a whole."
- Adan, you mentioned that with The Candle Light Children, you aim to create songs that sound like the soundtrack to movies. Can you elaborate on this approach and how it translates into your songwriting and production?
"Growing up, I've always wanted to tell stories. My first love was actually movies! I wanted to write and direct movies myself untill I discovered I fell in love with music. But I feel this whole story telling sensibility never really left even though I switched my craft at a very young age. I wanted to write stories that connected to people's souls and I feel that's just how I approach writing music. Everybody's just searching for connection right?"
- Ridh, as a member of the band, how has your personal connection to music evolved through your involvement in The Candle Light Children?
"I always saw it as helping my brother out and creating music that I liked but I couldn't envision myself making. I think it's always been this way but with this song it was different. We wanted to find a song where both our individual voices could be felt in the sound and style of the music. Luckily for us, this was the one."
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