Candacraig

For folk-prog duo Sharon Cannings and Martin Nicholls, music has always been a thread running throughout their lives. Prior to entering the music industry however, both had careers as actors and first met while performing in a local Shakespeare production.

“It was one or the other really for me,” Cannings begins, “Music has always followed us around. It was something we enjoyed but never thought we’d end up doing as a career.”

Having fallen out of love with acting, the pair turned to the world of music, becoming a professional duo in 2015. In 2019, they decided to give Candacraig shot, having had much of the music for almost two decades. “We never intended to do progressive rock,” Nicholls admits. “We just ended up writing the music that we liked.”

It was through performing at festivals that they discovered a thriving prog scene. “We’ve always been prog fans but when we started out, we thought we were folk,” Cannings recalls. “It became apparent in our later writings that we weren’t. Prog is a broad genre and that’s what we love about it.”

The duo first bonded over a mutual love of Pink Floyd. Their shared music tastes also include the Laurel Canyon music of the late ‘60s, Jodi Mitchell, Crosby, Stills and Nash. “These were the sounds we were trying to emulate,” Nicholls states.

As the youngest in their families, Nicholls and Cannings were introduced to a variety of music from a young age. Both also learnt to play instruments: Nicholls the cello and Cannings the piano before becoming self-taught.

Candacraig’s music is a rich amalgamation of the sounds that have shaped the duo’s lives. Their debut album, //Thunder With Whispers// and latest release //Lit By Lightning//, blend folk, classic and prog rock, drawing listeners into dark, compelling worlds.

For Nicholls and Cannings, the completion of //Lit By Lightning// is a great achievement after much hard work behind the scenes. They admit however that the music lacks some finesse. “We struggled to get everyone together due to Covid,” Nicholls explains. “We didn’t want tracks recorded remotely. We wanted a live band sound.”

The duo reflect upon their evolving processes, laughing at how they are only just learning to work properly together. “It used to be that Martin would pick up acoustic guitar and I’d sing along some lyrics,” says Cannings. “On piano, I’d lock myself away and wouldn’t show Martin until it was formed. Now we’re learning to collaborate.”

A new body of work is already on the horizon, this time a concept album based on a piece of theatre written by Cannings titled //Jack Frost’s Wedding Day//. The duo plan on taking their time with this one, polishing it properly before its realise.

For both musicians, their passion for music is the driving force in this exciting journey.

“If music moves you and it’s done with passion, that is the most important thing,” says Nicholls.

“The song has to be strong,” Cannings agrees. “It has to move you, make you feel alive. I hope our music does that for people.” FT

PROG FILE:

LINE-UP: Sharon Cannings (vocals, piano, mandolin), Martin Nicholls (guitar, cello)

SOUNDS LIKE: An experimental blend of folk, classic and prog rock with darkly atmospheric melodies and captivating lyrics.

CURRENT RELEASE: //Lit By Lightning// is out now.

WEBSITE: www.candacraig.net

— Francesca Tyer