Theo Kandel, 18, is a singer/songwriter hailing from New York City. A recent high school graduate, Kandel has been a hot new addition to the NYC musical scene in recent months.
Kandel regards his playing style as an intersection of classic folk artistry by the likes of Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger and more contemporary songwriters like Passenger and Ed Sheeran. He cites Shakey Graves, Shovels and Rope, the Lumineers etc. as his major influences. In fact, Kandel built his own Shakey Graves-inspired percussion rig using a suitcase, a tambourine and two kick pedals which he uses regularly in his live performance.
Kandel has performed in a wide variety of settings ranging from school coffeehouses to renowned NYC venues including Rockwood Music Hall, the Living Room and the Bitter End. Primarily he performs alone, but throughout his hour-long set he is aided by his sister Greta Kandel (16) and vocalist Elliott Dawes (18). Their vocal blend, backed by Kandel’s guitar and percussion rig yields the resonant, harmonious sound of a full string outfit.
His self published, self titled debut project was released in the spring of 2015. The four-track EP features his usual blend of fingerpicking and sparse but deliberate percussion infused with occasional ornamentation in the form of fiddle or mandolin lines and remains true to his stated influences.
