Biography

Candythief was started by Diana, and the live Candythief line up at full strength consists of Jem Doulton on drums and beatific backing vocals, Jason Simpson on bass, and Jason Dickinson on fiddle.

When it was just Diana and a guitar, it did sound quite folk, but now it sounds a lot more rocking. Although the Candythief style is unique, comparisons have been made in the press to such strong-willed female performers as Polly Harvey, Cat Power and Joanna Newsom. And quite rightly, too. Although despite their name, Candythief have never knowingly stolen anything, not even from the stationery cupboard.

Diana has also recorded a collaboration with Domino’s finest, Adem, co-written and guested on a selection of albums from lush ambient electronica (Neotropic), grinding post punk (Huw Stephens-tipped band Paul Hawkins & Thee Awkward Silences) to post primal scream Scottish indie (Viva Stereo) and has been invited to play live with everyone from Malcolm Middleton, Richard James, James Yorkston, Adrian Crowley, Pete Molinari and King Creosote to The Mystery Jets, Razorlight and The Subways.

Candythief was voted 2nd (after Bjork and before PJ Harvey and Amy Winehouse) in the Is This Music? End of year poll 07 in the category of best female fronted act, & was the only unsigned act to be shortlisted.

Random jobs band members have done to survive & pursue their musical leanings...

Dressing up in boiler suit, explaining the concept of 'practical semiotics' in a bite-size phrase to marketing execs.

Dredging ponds & getting leeches on our legs.

Serving a lot of pints in a few pubs.

Legal secretarial. We can explain the difference between tenants in common and joint tenants home ownership. Yes.

Teaching Wild Thing. A lot of times.

Cold calling. Really.

Teaching Scottish country dance.

Landscape gardening.

Booking the bands in rubbish wannabe sawdust venues

Soooo many functions bands. Dressing up functions, dressing down functions, dancing, 'light cocktail jazz', functions on islands, functions in fields, marquees and mountains.