They’ve only just emerged on the local music scene, but this summer Candy Says will formally introduce themselves to Oxfordshire audiences at two of the county’s biggest music festivals.

As well being chosen by BBC Introducing as the opening act at Cornbury Music Festival this Friday, the band will be kicking things off at Truck Festival on the Market Stage on July 19th. Frontwoman Julia ‘Juju’ Heslop is thrilled to be a part of the festival cheer.

“It’s very exciting to be playing at the start of the day. We want to put people in a good mood and make them feel happy!” she grins.

Good vibes are what this band is all about: Juju and her partner in crime Ben Walker (keyboards and percussion) have swapped the rasping rock sound of their old moniker, Little Fish, for delightful guitar pop that’s filled to the brim with harmonies and rich instrumentation. The singer is delighted to explain how her new project came into being.

“We knew we wanted it to be very different to what we’d done in the past,” she confirms.

“I had a vision of what I wanted our songs to sound like, and the people who should be involved. Eliza (Zoot, vocals and percussion) from the band Black Casino and the Ghost is an amazing singer and a talented musician, as well as a really good friend of mine. Mike (Monaghan, drums) is also a really diverse musician and plays in Ralfe Band, another Oxford-based act. Both of them are really perfect for what we do.

“There were very clear outlines for what I wanted this band to be. I wanted it to be quirky, poppy. I didn’t want loud guitar chords; I wanted for four people to be able to sing together. I wanted to explore new instruments – my old band was quite limiting in that respect. Everything in Candy Says is the antithesis of Little Fish, which is ideal for me.”

It’s always inspirational to see a band doing things on their own terms, and without the looming presence of expectant record labels to worry about, Candy Says have become the definition of DIY music, a feat that the singer takes great pride in.

“The good thing about this project is that I’ve been able to work with my best friends and all the people I want to work with. Narco (the band’s producer) is mixing everything that we record in our garage, and my best friend is directing all the music videos. I think it’s important when you’re a band to be able to articulate everything that you do visually and sonically. It’s even better to be able to do it all yourself.”

Such vision has given Candy Says a recognisable identity that goes beyond their music – as well as being the band’s Farfisa player and tambourine shaker, Ben has personally coded and created a free smartphone app to showcase the artistry injected into every song. From the garage where they record their music to the studio where it’s polished and perfected, fans can sneak a peek at Candy Says’ songwriting process by listening to early demos and reading band member diaries.
“The idea behind it was that we really miss the liner notes from old records,” Juju explains.

“We wanted to write and tell people about the process of how the song comes together, and give people an opportunity to hear those first garage recordings that will never be released officially.
“This is the future, really: apps are an opportunity for bands to promote themselves and for fans to download music and read about their favourite artists. In our case, it also allows us to portray ourselves in the way we want to be seen, and maximise the image of who we are as a band.”

This means that those who have never heard Candy Says can easily check them out before their big performances at Cornbury and Truck. The fans will be ready for the show, then, but what about the band? Juju for one is all geared up for it.

“I’ve played Cornbury before with Little Fish. It was a lot of fun – the organisers are really nice people, everybody who goes is very friendly and happily enjoying a fun weekend. Everyone’s welcome, children especially. It’s just a nice atmosphere.

“I really like Truck Festival, too – there are a lot of current, hip bands there. I think the original idea was to give local musicians an opportunity to play with bigger, national and international bands, and it works well. We’re definitely super chuffed to be a part of it, especially as a new band that’s only got one single out.”

Search for CANDY SAYS: LINER NOTES on the Apple and Android App stores, or visit the band’s website at candysays.it.

Tickets for Cornbury Music Festival and Truck Festival are available at cornburyfestival.com and truckfestival.com.