Kandice Melonakos is just 18 and is one of the newest and hottest pop stars around. A child prodigy, Kandice began writing songs at age 6 and sang her first song in front of an audience at a university when she was 9. With a natural talent to be an entertainer, she began performing as a ventriloquist and became the youngest known auctioneer in the US that same year for her act.



At 14, she was discovered by the well-known dance music producer and media executive Tolga Katas, who recognized Kandice as a uniquely talented artist and songwriting prodigy. However, what makes Kandice different from others is that she is a tech-savvy girl, who has launched her own branded VoIP client KanTalk!



Kandice and her music are featured on the ‘Kandictionary’, KanTalk VoIP software, the KanTalk podcast on i-Tunes and more.



Kandice now works not only with producers and musicians, but also with software developers and executives who are helping to launch her music in a revolutionary way. Her album is currently in development and has openings for a few innovative producers.



Kandice graciously agreed to give me an interview for VoIP Central. Here is the gorgeous and phenomenally talented Miss Kandice Melonakos for you.





Hello Kandice, it is a pleasure to have you here. We know that you were always inclined to music, how did it all happen? Anyone from the family into entertainment?



Thank you, Jonty. I’ve often tried to figure out where my love for music stems from and I’ve never been able to. Nobody in my immediate family was musically inclined, aside from the occasional piano lesson, so I mostly had to discover music for myself. I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t singing, nor do I remember singing without being completely convinced that it was what I was meant to do. Everything about music-particularly writing-moved me. I just remember listening to the radio and watching singers on TV and thinking, “This is what I’m going to do. That’s going to be me.“



How did your meeting with Tolga [Katas] happen? I know your rapid-fire of original songs actually floored him. Tell us about the story.



At the time, my mom had a children’s television show on a local channel and somebody referred her to Tolga, raving about his television production skills. She discovered he was also a music producer and introduced me to him not long after. I was actually reluctant to sing for him at first, as this was during (and marked the end of) a discouraging period for me. After I finally decided to do it, he was blown away. There was, however, a general understanding that I would need time to develop my talents and confidence and find my own style. I’ve come a long way since then. Through Tolga, my mother, and oftentimes just fate, I’ve come across more amazing people and amazing opportunities, and, after all these years, it’s finally time to show the world what I can do.



Your music genre is described as rock, alternative, pop. No specific genre? Your music influences are mostly female pop stars barring maybe Damien Rice. So do you want to experiment with various genres or do you think it will develop your own unique style?



Although my musical influences actually range much wider than those mentioned, my own genre is, first and foremost, pop. The goal, however, is to create a whole new breed of pop-something original, honest, catchy, sort of a genre-concoction, yet blended well-enough to be classified as pop. To give me a specific subgenre would be, I believe, more limiting than anything. I think the songs that are in the works right now will better represent my writing and who I am. My unique style is developing; it’s just a matter of getting it translated it to its fullest potential.



Tell us something about your music and your album ‘And Heartbreak Killed Them All‘.



I’m working with several different producers on quite a few songs at the moment. Right now I’m just building a body of work and, since I write so many different styles of music, the songs that will actually be on the album will later be selected based on which ones best represent who I am. I chose the name “...And Heartbreak Killed Them All” (although, mind you, it is subject to change) because I think the title (also a title of one of my songs) sort of embodies the type of emotiveness that appears in my writing. It’s all very personal; I write all of my own songs.



You have so many things happening in your life and you are just 18. Do you miss out being a normal teenager?



I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever. I tried the normal teenager thing, working two jobs and going to school and just hanging out with friends, and the whole thing was just so sad to me. I always felt like something was missing. Fortunately, music was my way out of that situation and I am eternally grateful for it. I just don’t think I have it in me to settle for normality. I’ve always wanted to be something extraordinary. To go through life without doing what I am most passionate about, without sharing my gifts, would be so heartbreaking. I love people, but my dreams are far more important to me than a social life... there’ll be time for that later.



Before Tolga happened, did you think that you could use the Internet in some way to further your career in music?



Prior to Tolga, who is my producer, the president of a technology company, and the mastermind behind launching me as a “technology artist”, it never even occurred to me how much the internet and software could do for music. This was before MySpace and PureVolume and all of that was popular, so the only thing music-related that anyone my age really did online was download songs or watch music videos. Even then, you could only find artists that were already famous. It wasn’t long, however, before I realized how much the internet could potentially further my career. I introduced Tolga to MySpace and he says learns ideas for developing software and marketing music by watching my internet habits. He calls me his guinea pig.



How did the big idea - KanTalk! happen? I tried to discuss the reason and rationale behind this in VoIP Central Blog. Was I right? What was the main argument actually?



Tolga, in addition to doing video production and music production, happens to be a technology genius. He was working with John Draper on the WhitePhone technology, and ‘Kandice branding’ just sort of naturally followed, considering he had already created the Kandice media player and calculator. As we worked together on customizing it (and we are still perfecting it), it became the foundation for the concept of combining music and technology, with me as the showcase artist. Considering how many music-loving people are online today, it just made sense as a community-building tool for artists. So yes, you were right.



What do your fans have to say regarding KanTalk!? Are they using it to talk to their other friends/relatives or just to listen to your music and talk to you?



They love it! I get great feedback about it. Everyone loves the idea of unlimited talking for free and saving minutes on their cell phones, while easily being able to continue doing whatever it is they were doing. Although I get plenty of calls, I think most people use it for personal talking - which is great.



Do you really spend hours talking to your fans over KanTalk!? You must be very busy with your music and I suppose studies too!



I do talk to people on KanTalk, but how often I use KanTalk varies, of course, depending on my schedule. Right now I’m unbelievably busy with music! Even so, I have been using KanTalk a lot lately, not just to respond to fans, but also because I help John Draper with his Mac-to-PC testing, and I coordinate with my team over KanTalk!. It helps me make the most of my time.



You told me that you were very excited about the future of VoIP with music and with KanTalk! Can you please elaborate?



KanTalk! already has video-messaging capability, but shortly, we will be adding video in a whole new way that will enhance YouTube, MySpace, Tagworld, etc. We are adding a new user-interface, plus music-oriented search features and functions. We will also be adding a KanTalk button on the other Kandice software, like the Kandictionary and so on. Soon, you will be able to call someone by clicking a button from your desktop dictionary -which also happens to be loaded with Kandice music. We are figuring this creative stuff out as we go, based on user feedback, so it’s still a work in progress.



So what can we expect to see from Kandice in the near future? What are your immediate plans with your music? How would you like to see yourself in the future?



I want to break new ground and be that “technology artist” who conquers all areas of the entertainment industry -including the desktop! You can expect to see much more music, software, and media, and we even have an interactive TV show in development that will involve viewers through KanTalk!. My goal is to be that girl who does it all-and succeeds.



Finally, tell us what do you think of VoIP Central Blog?



I certainly have visited VoIP Central-it’s a great technology information source. I particularly like yours, as you explain things in a way everyone can understand and you stay on top of the most important VoIP news (which saves people time searching on their own). I’m honored to be involved with you and VoIP Central!



Thank you very much from VoIP Central and Instablogs Network Kandice. We wish you best of luck for your bright future in music and all the technological endeavors you undertake. We are looking forward to hear your enthralling music for many, many years to come.





To know more about Kandice Melonakos, her music and whatever latest is happening, please visit the following links:



Kandice Music



Kandice’s MySpace Profile



Kandice’s TagWorld Profile



Also upcoming KanTalk! website