I Can See the Finish Line in Sight

Carly Emerick of Candy Apple Blue 

It's no secret that we've been working tirelessly, endlessly, and meticulously on our forthcoming DOA ☠️ cover of Then There Was You. 

Over these past few months, this song has completely consumed me. But having said that, it's also been artistically rewarding. Working with Project K on this collab feels like jumping into a safety net. James has been remarkably kind and patient with my process. Sometimes I feel like a turtle 🐢 in a rabbit 🐰 race. As an audio engineer, I work slowly, but I assure you it's for the greater good of the final output.

I am happy to report that I can finally see the finish line in sight. I have a few more hurdles to jump before I forward my work over to James in the UK for final mixing. 

Thank you for cheering us on! We are doing everything within our human powers to deliver another TOP NOTCH Dead Or Alive cover that will exceed your expectations. 

Candy Kisses 💋, Carly 

Candy Apple Blue Delays Dead or Alive ☠ Cover to Perfect the Sound!

 

Candy Apple Blue Delays Dead or Alive ☠ Cover to Perfect the Sound!

The wait continues, but the payoff is coming! 

Originally planned for Valentine's Day, the release of Then There Was You was postponed. Why? Because Nick Bramlett and the band refuse to compromise on quality. They've already captured foundational vocals and are now layering additional elements to craft something truly special.

This deliberate approach to deliver excellence reveals what separates artists who care: the willingness to delay rather than deliver mediocre work. The band is meticulously building atmosphere in the studio, ensuring every note serves their vision (because this level of perfection and dedication can't be rushed or scheduled). The sonic details matter, and Candy Apple Blue is investing the time to nail them.

This isn't just any cover—it's a full collaboration with Project K, and the team is committed to getting every detail right. They're committed to quality over deadlines. Candy Apple Blue's message to fans is clear: your support means everything, and the final track will deliver and deeply resonate! 

This postponement isn't a setback—it's a commitment to delivering something worth waiting for. In a world obsessed with content calendars and hitting deadlines, this feels rare. Candy Apple Blue is investing more time in the studio, creating the right atmosphere, and building something they know their fans will genuinely enjoy for years to come.

Key Takeaways:

• **Quality over timeliness** – Candy Apple Blue deliberately postponed their Dead or Alive cover past the Valentine's Day deadline to avoid rushing, prioritizing the final product over meeting an arbitrary release date.

• **Collaborative layering process** – The band is building the track in multiple stages, starting with foundational, vocals, then progressively adding layers, rather than completing it all at once.

• **Studio atmosphere matters** – Carly emphasized creating a special studio environment to capture the perfect sound, suggesting that metaphysics and emotional space will influence the quality of their musical output.

Dance Again by Candy Apple Blue

Candy Apple Blue 

"We've got to keep movin' on, going forward with our lives. There's such a sense of urgency. Yeah, shift it into overdrive!" - Dance Again 

Candy Apple Blue (2011)

Candy Apple Blue (2011)

 

David (2011 Single)

Until now, our song David was only available to purchase on Bandcamp or stream on YouTube. It was originally released in the fall of 2011.

David didn't make a big splash, but it was a sweet little synth-pop song that quietly drew comparisons from critics to The Human League.

Recently, a friend asked if we could make this song available on Spotify, so we kindly obliged. 14 years after its initial release, it's now available on all digital music platforms.

🙏🏻 - 🍬🍎🟦

Candy Apple Blue - David (Official Cover Art)

Give Me Time (ft. Josianna)

Our song 'Give Me Time' was the first single we released under our new band name, Candy Apple Blue. It features powerhouse vocals by the wonderful Josianna.

We watched Josianna perform at a piano bar in NYC shortly after our first band, The Inertia Case, disbanded. During this time in 2001, Hoyt and I were trying to give professional songwriting a go and shop our songs to major label artists. So we teamed up with her to perform lead vocals on this endeavour.

This song, 'Give Me Time', was one of four tracks on our songwriter's demo tape, which we sent to various publishers and recording artists. Recently, we decided to clean it up a little and remaster it. It's now available on all digital music platforms.

Recently, we decided to clean it up a little and remaster it. It's now available on all digital music platforms.


🙏🏻 - 🍬🍎🟦

Candy Apple Blue - Give Me Time (ft. Josianna) 
Official Cover Art

The Best Is Yet to Come

Candy Apple Blue - Prone To Panic (debut album)

Back in late 2010, I was 39 years old, and Hoyt was 37. We've just returned to music-making after a 7-year hiatus from our craft. We collectively decided it was high time to get back on the horse and pursue our passion again! The dream was still alive in both of us. The clock was ticking, and we both knew that we weren't getting any younger.

Initially, we thought we would record demos of our original compositions and seek out major label-supported recording artists to shop our songs to. As the phone sat silent, I turned to Hoyt one day and said let's start another band and release these songs ourselves. He reluctantly agreed, knowing that neither one of us could sing our way out of a wet brown paper bag.

Admittedly, at the beginning, I was full of doubt. I was certain we would never be able to achieve the same artistic heights that we achieved with our first band, The Inertia Case. Especially without our trusted lead singer, Elton Lin, by our side.

We painstakingly learned how to use Pro Tools and got back to work composing. The musical landscape had changed so much since the late 90s. I knew that the internet had created a whole slew of new opportunities. New digital music distribution companies were launching, allowing indie artists like us to get our music on iTunes. At that time, YouTube was taking off! I loved the idea of shooting our own DIY music videos and uploading them to that platform.

The first fruits of our labor ultimately became our band's debut offering, Prone To Panic. It was raw. It was punky. It was unpolished. It was glorious. It was exciting to be making music again. Our local newspaper, The Pittsburgh Press, called our first offering "Avant-garde."

15 years later, I'm proud to look back and think of all that we've achieved on our own. Our music continues to be heard and embraced all around the world. We have a small but loyal fan base who genuinely care about us and the music we make.

And to think that it all started with an album that we appropriately titled "Prone To Panic!" because we were panicking that the best was behind us. Now I believe that the best is yet to come.

Sincerely, Carly Emerick