Candice Alley (album)

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Candice Alley

Studio album by Candice Alley

Released

December 13, 2007

Recorded

2004 — 2007

Genre

Pop, pop rock

Label

International Quarterback

Producer

Michael Szumowski

Candice Alley chronology

Colorblind
(2003)

Candice Alley
(2007)

Singles from Candice Alley

"Before You Go"
Released: January 13, 2007
"I Belong"
Released: July 21, 2007

Candice Alley is the second studio album by Australian singer Candice Alley, released in Australia on December 13, 2007 (see 2007 in music) by International Quarterback^[1]. Alley wrote all of the album, excluding one track co-written with Grant Hackett, her husband and an Australian Olympic swimmer. Produced by Michael Szumowski, Alley found it more comfortable to record this album than her first and she feels she has created something that she has always wanted^[2]. The albums lead single "Before You Go", released at the start of 2007, was the albums most successful single so far, giving Alley her second top twenty single in Australia^[3]. The album was only released to Australian iTunes.

[edit] Content and production

Alley's first album Colorblind released in 2003 was made under the management of the label Universal, Alley found it frustrating with the lack of creative control she had^[4]. She states "The last album was much more ambient and there were much more co-writes – being with a major label you kinda have to compromise a bit – and being an independent artist now my new album’s very ‘me’ and I think I enjoyed this album a lot more than my last one. Though I’m sure everyone songwriter goes through that"^[4]. Because Alley was an independent singer, she wrote all of the tracks herself, only with the help from her partner Grant Hackett^[5]. Alley states that Hackett will tell her if he does not like a song and he likes all of the tracks on the album^[5] and several songs were inspired by their relationship^[6]. She also states "This record is much more personal than Colorblind, and reflects where I am in my life at the moment"^[7]. She states that she self-titled the album because it is an "extension of Alley" and the songs are so personal that it’s like she's reading her diary^[8].

Michael Szumowski was the lead producer for the album and Alley was happy to work with him. She states "Michael was great to work with because he listened and we both talked about each track before we went ahead. I think he knew it was at times a stressful experience for me because initially when you write songs and do demos you’re so used to the rawness of each song, it’s hard to go through the production stage and get used to hearing your songs with a massive sound behind them. Once that’s done it’s so rewarding hearing the final product come together"^[2]. Szumowski states "This is an album of strong songs with strong melodies. There are no production tricks, just an old school way of doing the songs service. Candice writes melodies which become imbedded in your mind after three listens"^[8].