Better To... Podcast with D. M. Needom
The Better To Podcast is a place where we'll discuss what was the inspiration for their perspective projects and how it all came about. Sometimes, we’ll take a deeper dive into that moment that placed them on the creative path. On the podcast, we honor achievements, discuss new projects, and reflect on life lessons and the beginnings of the creative journey.
Better To... Podcast with D. M. Needom
MOONLIGHT - Candy Whips
Wendy Stonehenge stops by the show to discuss the Candy Whip's new EP, inspiration, Ai and more.
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Oakland, CA-based CANDY WHIPS released their new covers EP MOONLIGHT via Josie Cotton's Kitten Robot Records On August 26th! The EP features classic tracks “Duke of Earl” (originally recorded by Gene Chandler), “Earth Angel” (The Penguins), and “Bad Boy” (Jive Bombers), among others, the EP Moonlight was inspired by both the post-punk and new wave bands of the late ‘70s/early ‘80s who in turn were inspired by the music of the ‘50s and early ‘60s. Another catalyst for Wendy’s creative influence was also being inspired by Silicon Teens, which is an experimental project by producer and founder of Mute Records Daniel Miller from 1980, which infamously redid Chuck Berry songs into a synthesizer construct, Wendy Stonehenge set out to put his own angular spin on classic and iconic 1950s tracks, keeping the inherent structure of each song intact to keep them recognizable while giving them a fresh, modern edge.
"I’ve always been a big oldies fan," says WENDY STONEHENGE of CANDY WHIPS about his new EP MOONLIGHT, which features reinterpretations of radio hits of the 1950s, including “Duke of Earl” (Gene Chandler), “Earth Angel” (The Penguins), and “Bad Boy” (Marty Wilde), among others. "When I was a kid, it was always on the radio. These days, oldies radio doesn’t really exist so you have to actively seek it out." Due out August 26th, 2025, via Kitten Robot, the EP dusts off the radio hits of yore and polishes them with synths, vocal effects, and drum machines, buffing them with shiny, modern production. "My choice of tracks is more of an intentional thing. I’ve noticed that I’m particularly drawn to doo wop and old vocal groups."
Already an established member of the well-known Northern California glam rock band Glitter Wizard, Wendy Stonehenge formed Candy Whips as a side project to dabble in music that didn't fit his other band. When live shows ground to a halt during the pandemic, he re-ignited the project in his home studio and transported Kraftwerk’s roborock to Oakland, fusing the genres punk, electronic, and synthpop. Previously known for creating the critically-hailed gonzo cyberpunk of his 2021’s debut LP Automaton, 2023's hypnotic A.L.T.C.H.B.S., and 2024's angular synth-pop album Artificial Melodies, which was released last year, MOONLIGHT is a refreshing and modernized take on classic tracks that are captivating yet intriguing to the ear.
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