by Candace Young<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Music has always been more than just sound to me, it\u2019s a story, a history, and a reflection of who I am. Some of my\u00a0earliest memories include waking up to gospel music pouring from the radio on the weekends, then immediately being followed by R&B music as soon as 2 p.m. hit. Music has shaped the way that I see the world, with the extent of its storytelling, the raw emotion behind the vocals and melodies, and the weight it holds carrying generations of joy, struggle, and resilience. It taught me how to feel and served as an outlet and a way to properly express the things I was going through without me necessarily knowing myself. I was able to see the world through lyrics and melody, before I was able to describe them through my own experiences. The gospel influences that blended with the instrumentations of blues music created something deeply personal for me. It created Rythm and Blues, which had a great impact in raising me to see the world in the way that I do today.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Music has always been more than just sound to me, it\u2019s a story, a history, and a reflection of who I am. Some of my\u00a0earliest memories include waking up to gospel music pouring from the radio on the weekends, then immediately being followed by R&B music as soon as 2 p.m. hit. Music has shaped the way that I see the world, with the extent of its storytelling, the raw emotion behind the vocals and melodies, and the weight it holds carrying generations of joy, struggle, and resilience. It taught me how to feel and served as an outlet and a way to properly express the things I was going through without me necessarily knowing myself. I was able to see the world through lyrics and melody, before I was able to describe them through my own experiences. The gospel influences that blended with the instrumentations of blues music created something deeply personal for me. It created Rhythm and Blues, which had a great impact in raising me to see the world in the way that I do today.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like most people, I grew up thinking Motown was the blueprint. Then I learned about Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff<\/a>, the creators of Philly Soul and co-founders of Philadelphia International Records<\/a>. Their sound? Lush strings, layered harmonies, and lyrics that spoke to both love and protest. When I got to Philly, I started seeing music everywhere, not just in concerts, but in murals, museums, and open mics. I went to my first solo show here. I met local artists, joined cyphers, and even started a Black artist collective. The moment it all clicked for me was seeing Jazmine Sullivan<\/a> perform right here in her hometown. Her voice, her presence, the energy of the crowd was out of control. It was like the spirit of Philly itself took the mic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tracks like \u201cWake Up Everybody\u201d<\/em> and \u201cFor the Love of Money\u201d<\/em> weren\u2019t just hits, they were calls to action. The balance of smooth instrumentation and urgent messaging became a recognizing feature of Philly\u2019s musical DNA.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPhilly Gave the Music Context<\/h2>\n\n\n\n