Candy Ken

Candy Ken is a project led by Sam Landis, a genderqueer musician who started it in 2012. The name plays on Barbie and plastic surgery, hinting at their interest in gender norms. They're based in Los Angeles, working with various collaborators like drummer Josh Conway and guitarist Kadin Chamberlin.

Their music mixes electro-pop, hip-hop, and punk, with songs like "Fuck Gender" featuring Gigi Tays and "Netflix And Chill." The explicit lyrics and gender-fluid style have drawn attention, sometimes leading to radio bans for tracks like "Fuck Gender." They released albums such as "Electrolit" in 2014 and the EP "Space Candy" in 2023.

Candy Ken's work, including songs like "Can't Relate" and "Daddy" with Smokera, often centers on queerness and identity. It's found an audience particularly among LGBTQ+ listeners, though the approach remains straightforward rather than aiming for broad appeal.