Diandra Interviews Cassie Dasilva: Finding Authenticity In Pop Trends

Pop is a “trend-centric” genre, of which finding who you are, as a person, could get muddled with who you “have” to be as an image. We see it all the time; pop-stars like, Justin Bieber and Rihanna, repeatedly reiterating they are not role models: just people. Cassie Dasilva’s freshness as a rising pop queen comes from her command and claim of her humanity. She is only writing pop music that is a testament to her consistent growth as a person, which makes you want to put on replay her newest, anthem “Welcome To My Castle”.

Diandra: What inspired Welcome To My Castle? What is the song’s core message?

Cassie: “Welcome to My Castle” was a bit of a fluke in its origin. We had gone into the session just aiming to write something fun and exciting, and it ended up morphing into a really meaningful, special song. What started out a playful song about a castle turned into a very personal metaphor. As we described this castle, so full of imperfections, I found myself relating to it. I’m messy, imperfect, and I don’t have everything together… and there’s nothing wrong with that! The song is about unapologetically embracing yourself— flaws and all.

Diandra: What is your first memory of music, and how did it define you?

Cassie: My first memories of music lead back to my parents. I was raised in a house full of music. My childhood home had a built-in stereo system throughout the house, and my mom always jokes that it was the first thing she turned on when we got home, even before the lights. I think that love for music was passed down to me. Listening to and enjoying music is a place of comfort and familiarity now. (So thanks mom and dad!) Cassie Dasilva – Welcome To My Castle

Diandra: As a female songwriter/ producer, have you noticed any shifts towards empowering or opening up the music industry to female voices/ “jackie of all trades” like yourself? What more do you feel can be done?

Cassie: There has been an inspiring amount of progress for females in every industry as of late; especially entertainment and media. That being said, there’s still an enormous imbalance. I went to a recording school, where at the time, I was one of only five females enrolled in the audio program. I’ve also been to multiple writing camps where I was the sole female included.

A lot of jobs require mentorship in this industry, and by nature, a lot of positions and skills have been passed down from men to men. I don’t think it’s because females are incapable, but because they have been systematically overlooked.  For me, it’s taken a lot of sheer force, and relentlessness to push past some barriers. I was tired of feeling patronized, with a “do you need a hand with that guitar” here, and a “let me plug that in for you sweetie” there, so I went to audio school. I learned, and also demanded respect from my male peers. To be fair, in my experience, I don’t think that it’s been anybody’s intention at heart to overlook females, but maybe it hasn’t been made apparent to them when they’ve done it.

I recently saw that Lights did a call-out on Twitter looking for female producers. It was amazing to read the responses, and see all of the names pushed forward. I think change is coming, and I think that all it takes is an extended hand, or an invitation to the women in this industry to put their talents to use.

Diandra: You have said if you are going to use your voice, you have to use it to resonate something valuable. What is one song that you feel most resonates with your life today, and speaks to a lesson/ experience you are, currently learning?

Cassie: I’ve been listening to a lot of female pop, which has been really empowering for me both as an artist and a listener. I am currently obsessed with the song “Pink Lipstick” by Sophie Rose. I love sassy, empowering break-up songs, and this is a great one! Any song with lyrics that scream “I do what I want, and I don’t care what you think” are at the top of my list.

Diandra: You seem to write music according to your feelings? How do you know the balance between too much sentiment and just right? How do you match catharsis with creativity?

Cassie: When I’m going through something and I’m staring into the eye of the storm, what I write, at that time, tends to be more therapeutic than anything else. Once I can step away from that, and broaden my perspective, I find I’m in the right headspace to bring that story to others.

I try to pull from those original emotions, and to find circumstances in my life that I can relate to in everything that I write, even if it’s not for or about me. If you can present a situation and find parallels within your own life, then the listener will likely be able to do that too. Everyone just wants to feel heard and validated at the end of the day, so I think it’s amazing to write songs that do that for people.

Diandra: You have said “I want to add realness to the pop world.” Define “realness”, and why you think the pop world has lost that essence?

Cassie: I just always want to be genuinely me, and I want my art to reflect that authenticity. There is so much pressure to look/ speak/ act a certain way in today’s society. In the pop world, where everything is trend-centric, it’s easy to lose yourself trying to keep up. I’m not a good enough actress to pretend to be anything but myself, but the pressures still exist. I think it’s important to acknowledge those pressures, and to find ways to push beyond them. I hope that I can pull the curtain back a bit, and show that you don’t have to succumb to those pressures to get where you want to go.

Diandra: You were “discovered” in an impromptu performance. Tell me about that experience. The reaction? And, in looking back, what you feel that moment taught you about yourself and even fate?

Cassie: During Canadian Music Week a couple years back, I happened to tag along with a songwriter friend to a Universal party/ jam night. I naively walked in there, knowing only my friend, and was eventually encouraged to step up to the microphone. I sang a couple of my favorite covers– Valerie, and Sea of Love. The reaction was pretty unexpected, and I was approached with some really nice conversation afterwards that basically consisted of “Who are you, where did you come from, and when can you send me your music?”

My friend informed me that I’d unknowingly been speaking with Universal Music Canada president, Jeffrey Remedios. DUH.

It ended up being a really amazing night; a room full of music lovers, musicians and “suits” alike, just playing music and having a good time. There’s a lot to say about fate and being in the right place, but more importantly at the right time. That night was pretty serendipitous, but I think the opportunity only presented itself to me because I was ready for it. I’d been making the connections and putting in the work for a long time leading up to that, and was finally been creating some music that I was really proud of when the time came.

Diandra: Being “lyric-oriented”; what is the wisest verse you are most proud to have written?

Cassie: One of my favorite lines is in the second verse of “Welcome to My Castle”.

My portrait looks so pretty, the way she looks down on me
The lady that I should be is faded and paper thin.

This line speaks to the unrealistic expectations we set for ourselves, and how we compare ourselves to this idea of “perfection”. Our expectations can taunt us, in a way, when in reality they’re unachievable. The portrait, or the “expectation” is just a two-dimensional idea. It’s not real, and there is no substance to it beyond that. We are so much more than what we constantly compare ourselves to.

Diandra: What do you hope to discover about yourself as an artist in the oncoming year?

Cassie: This is all new for me, and I’m trying to soak it all up and learn as quickly as I can. I come from a folk background, so I’ve always performed with a guitar in front of me. I’m transitioning to performing without that security blanket. I want to focus on the song, and conveying it to my audience, and I’m excited to discover how powerful that interaction can be when there’s nothing getting in the way.

What a sparkling personality, and an artist ready to shine. For More Information On Cassie Dasilva Click Here.