Candice Hoyes

ABOUT

Candice Hoyes is a vocalist, composer, and producer creating her own lane. A first-generation Jamaican American born in Harlem, her family moved to South Florida, and she grew up immersed in reggae, soul, classical music, and the sound-system culture that shapes her imagination. With a supple five-octave soprano, Hoyes takes hold of rare cut songs in need of revival, embodies and connects forgotten stories to contemporary sound all her own. “The resulting album explores Black joy, divine femininity, and Afro-futuristic jazz and soul. But for Hoyes, Expecting is also part of a larger philosophy — that history can inspire people to become more engaged with their communities, while music can create connections that endure beyond a moment of protest.” (Britt Gottschalk, Radio Milwaukee)

Hoyes first gained acclaim through her interpretations of overlooked Duke Ellington compositions and her work honoring artists such as Minnie Riperton and Charles Stepney. She made her Carnegie Hall debut in her twenties and has collaborated with leading musicians including Wynton Marsalis, Brandee Younger, Sullivan Fortner, Moor Mother, Makaya McCraven, and the late Casey Benjamin. Her debut album 'Expecting' — out August 28, 2026 via La Reserve Records — is the fullest expression of her artistic vision: an immersive blend of jazz, soul, classic and experimental Black music traditions. She was inspired to compose by figures including Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, and notably, four generations of her Jamaican-American roots. Playing through ‘Expecting’ as a whole, Hoyes  interlaces each track to the next in ways universal yet deeply personal, at once etching in midair both her heritage and her visionary world. 

Hoyes graduated Harvard University with honors, Columbia Law School, and is 2026-28 Researcher-in-Residence at Georgetown’s Gender+ Justice Institute.