BIO:
(combining form. prefix: bio- relating to life.)
Hmmmm.
My life.
Let’s see.
Well, I’m Cassandra. My parents picked an epic Greek goddess name for their firstborn daughter while playing cards and drinking wine, likely explaining my enjoyment of a bold Barolo or svelte Sauvignon.
WHAT’S UP NOW
Very excited that my current EP DREAMS https://ONErpm.lnk.to/Dreams-EP is out! Listen wherever you get music. DREAMS is my first fully collaborative project, with producer, writer, and voiceover giant Tony Daniels. It includes 5 whimsical, fun, warm, acoustically poppin’ originals, and 3 covers of favorites like “This Magic Moment”, “Matter of Trust”, and “Our House.” My current favorites from DREAMS are “Welcome to the World,” a song I wrote for my niece when she was born, and “Dreams”, a wistful take on where dreams go when we leave them behind.
Tony and I have been performing these songs from NYC to San Francisco and LA to Saratoga, at clubs, hotels, house concerts and more. I love hearing what people think, so check it out and leave a review where you get your tunes.
THE PAST
I grew up in Enfield CT, surrounded by suburbia, fields, 2 amazing sisters, and friends. We occasionally took vacations to Florida, Tennessee, or the Poconos, and I distinctly remember Billy Joel’s “That’s Not Her Style” blasting from the speakers long before I’d ever sipped a margarita (much less on the White House lawn). My parents’ love for 70s singer songwriters like Billy, Carole King, Jackson Browne, and Joni Mitchell, coupled with more theatrical stuff like Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand, Pippin, Guys and Dolls – it all got inside my ears, feet, and heart and planted the seeds for the musical storyteller I’ve become. I picked up voice lessons around 10, and sang in my first community theatre musical, “Annie” shortly after. Thusly emboldened by my bit part as orphan Kate, I decided I’d like to play the lead, which I got the chance to do in Goodspeed Musicals’ 20th anniversary production of the show. Imagine: an Equity card and a paycheck at age 12! Plus 8 shows a week, and a crash course in “the industry.” I went on to play small parts in Spin City with Michael J. Fox, Finding Forrester with Sean Connery, and other regional and summer stock shows before heading to Florida State University to study theatre. It was there that I turned onto the sounds of a new singer/songwriter era, with artists like John Mayer, Alicia Keys, Norah Jones, Gavin Degraw, and Vanessa Carlton inspiring my way. Since moving to NYC at age 20, the adventures have been many… singing alongside countless artists in village clubs, on tour through the US, Europe, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia…recording with Chris Botti, the Goo Goo Dolls, Mary Ramsey of 10,000 Maniacs…composing and bandleading for Emmy-winning new media TV show “Never Settle Show”…
THE PRESENT
I write songs. I sing. I practice yoga (noticing, watching, observing…maybe the breath, maybe the way a melody wants to move…) I eat chocolate (dark and organic preferably. Jacques Torres, call me.) I go for long hikes and beach strolls and hear melodies in my head…or sometimes, I try to hear them and they’re not ready yet, but they show up unexpectedly on the subway, or plane, or hotel bed. I love sounding, especially in harmony with other humans, a piano, a drum, or the wind… Sometimes the sounds have words, which are often about the joyful challenge of being alive, or the wavy highs and lows of love, or the fact that we’re much bigger than we usually allow ourselves to be (note to self). I also like to create music that inspires people to make a difference for communities, and have used my songs to raise tens of thousands of dollars for the Autism community, Relay for Life, pet rescue, and more. But then again, sometimes the song is just for shaking a leg or nodding a head, cuz it’s fun. Both are good.
I’m also a voice actress and jingle singer on lots of commercials, educational projects and TV shows. Some of the ads I’ve done recently for Apple, Midas, WellNow, Snickers and others are on this Voiceover page.
My live shows are also a lot of fun, and you’re invited. Check out upcoming dates, RSVP, get tickets here.
And even though we’re all connected in this great big circle of life, connecting in CyberSpace is so de rigeur. Exert your influencer status and Connect/ Like/ Follow at Spotify, Youtube, Pandora, Itunes, FB, Insta, Twitter.
THE FUTURE:
I’d like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony…
Actually nevermind, I’m not much of a teacher (although I’ve gotten to offer some cool music and music biz workshops and panels through Women in Music, Guitar Center, the Autism community, and colleges).
I would like to continue writing songs that brings a smile, a tear, “the feels.” And I’d like to keep using my voice and body to sing these songs. I’d like to learn djembe. And Romanian (I need to be able to say more to my mother in law than “Good morning”, “Thank you”, and “Delicious!”)
I’ve been in the studio with Chris Sclafani (Ed Sheeran, Gwen Stefani, Selena Gomez etc) producing some new songs, and working with HaHaHa Productions in Bucharest, Romania too. I’m really looking forward to those songs lighting up some hearts and airwaves soon. My band and I have plenty of shows coming up too. And, I’ve finished my first remix of a soon-to-be-released song “Stardust” with renowned yoga DJ Taz Rashid, and very excited to launch that.
Other than that, you might find me nursing a decaf latte in a kitschy café, or messing with crystals on the yoga mat, or chilling with my family and friends in Saratoga, NYC, Hawaii, or checking member in at a Women in Music event, where I serve as Global Co-Chair of Membership…
And hopefully seeing you and sharing some music, laughs and life together.