Today we’d like to introduce you to Cassia Dawn.
Hi Cassia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
Hello, my name is Cassia. I have always been wild, free, and singing at the top of my lungs. I remember when I was preschool age we had a swing set in the yard. I would frequently be found there in my birthday suit, swinging and singing for the lizards, deer, and whatever other wildlife happened to be around. In my early years, we lived in a tiny house on 5 acres in the middle of rural Oregon. I say we, which means my mom, dad, and brother. I was a spunky, opinionated little CEO, always trying to make sure everything was running the way it should. My brother, who is naturally more laid back, was surprised by the invasion of this little spitfire. He came to appreciate me in later years, however. See, my brother is a little different, and kids used to pick on him. More than once my voice was raised for more than just singing. Still to this day, I have a very strong passion for defending people who are not treated as valuable because of their differences.
The first major purchase I ever made was a pink stereo with cassette and CD player. At 6 years old, saving up an allowance for 2 months was a lot! Every time we would go to the store, I would stare at that CD player. When I was finally able to take it home, the CD I listened to the most was “Maze of Grace” by a Christian Pop band called Avalon.
Finally, the opportunity came to see Avalon LIVE. It was the first concert I had ever been to. I was 7 now, but still, I had to sit on my dad’s shoulders just to see. What I didn’t know is it was a Christmas show, so they didn’t play any of their normal songs. I was so bummed, but just when I thought the show was over, they came out for the encore and played my favorite song (Testify to Love is still my favorite song to this day.)
Something sparked inside me in that moment as I was singing every word surrounded by other people doing the same. It was like we were all sharing the same experience of belonging to something that we maybe didn’t even have words for. We weren’t alone. That experience made me understand I wanted to be a part of creating that for other people someday.
A family friend gave us a piano and my mom started giving my brother and I lessons. I loved playing around with the piano but hated having to use certain fingers for certain keys and ended up seeing piano as confining. I didn’t know at the time that I was just a songwriter and was more interested in creating my own music (or I was just stubborn, both statements are accurate.). 🙂
However, sometimes, you have to learn the rules before you can break them. So, when I was 12, I tried again, only with a guitar this time, and whether it was the fact I was older and could appreciate the guidance or whether the guitar was just my instrument, it stuck. My mom, who was homeschooling my brother, and I made that part of our lessons.
Homeschooling, although there were many advantages, had one major challenge – making friends. It seemed the harder I tried with my peers, the more awkward I was and the less they were interested in getting to know me. Music became something of a hiding place for me; somewhere I could go that would shelter me from the feelings of isolation. I would write songs (some of them are pretty cliché, especially in the beginning). It was a way to say things, and in a strange way, it made me feel less alone.
When I was 19, I recorded my first album. It was a stressful time. I was working pretty much full time at Subway (everyone should have to work fast food at least once in their lives… it’s eye-opening.) Many days, I would get off work and head over to the studio for a few hours. I would like to thank my mom, dad, chai, audio engineer, and my ex-boyfriend for getting me through that process. In my mind, I was on my way, and now that I had a CD, things would fall into place. I even wrote to Gotee Records on Myspace (yes, MySpace) and told them I would be on their label someday.
Once, a friend told me that 25 is the average age that people give up on their dreams. At the time, I thought it was crazy, but by the time I hit 23/24, I started to get it. I had played solo for a few years before forming The Uncharted Project music duo with my uncle. I was so excited at the prospects! For the first time since high school, I felt that camaraderie again.
However, as my favorite band, Switchfoot, says, “Where can you run to escape from yourself?” After a couple of years in the new dynamic, those feelings of inadequacy came back with a vengeance, and it seemed like this time, I had some proof. Years of disappointments wove the narrative that I wasn’t good enough to be doing music.
At this point, it felt like my heart wasn’t in my music anymore. I was so scared of hoping that many times I wondered if I should just move on, become a youth leader (which I was doing and enjoyed) or maybe a missionary in another country. Nothing wrong with those options, but they were more from a place of giving up than wanting to. I knew I needed a change, or I was going to abandon something that I really felt called to. So, I applied to Musicians Institute in California, which meant I would have to move. It seemed drastic to some people, but I knew I needed to get around other dreamers.
I grew so much from that time in my life! Moved 3 times, stayed in a car for a few days, walked miles to job interviews, and went to school. It was such a roller coaster, but one I don’t regret at all. I ended up moving back to Oregon (it was a little cheaper back then), but I left with the L.A. dreamers’ mindset and some new knowledge to help me chase it down.
Back in Oregon, I decided to go to community college for Music theory, Musicianship, and Business. One of my teachers mentioned to me that he thought I should check out Nashville. At first, I dismissed the idea, thinking everyone moves to Nashville (musicians have a thing about not wanting to be like “everyone else.”
The first time I visited Nashville, I was amazed by the beauty of the city. The water that runs through it, the lights, and the historical buildings. It’s quite a lot to take in, especially on a Saturday night (I never go there on a Saturday now unless it’s to see a show.) The place was so alive with people it was actually disorienting. There was music everywhere! I would walk down one block and pass by 4 different bars where they had live music. The windows were open, and the lines were long.
Back at our hotel, my mom asked me (my parents had come up from Texas to explore Nashville with me) if I thought that I wanted to move. I answered honestly that I wasn’t sure. I was nervous about moving across the country and not knowing anyone. A few months later, my mom called me and said they were moving to Nashville.
I had run out of excuses.
Fast forward 2 years, I’m in Nashville, wondering what in the world is the next step for me. I had worked through the intimidation(mostly.) I had honed my voice (mostly), and I was trying to figure out what I should do. One thing I was really struggling with was trying to connect with other people I could work with. Randomly one September day I had a conversation with another musician talking about how they had released their album as singles every month. I thought that was so cool, and it occurred to me that not only could I do that, but if I worked with a different person on each song, I could make some connections in Nashville. So, in a mad dash, I found several producers and started working on getting songs recorded before the new year. At one point, I was recording 5 songs at a time, which sounds easy, but when you’re working with different people, schedules, and working full time, it’s a lot. But it’s paying off! I can’t say it’s been without its complications and challenges, but I sort of think that’s the point. As a musician, your task is taking life experiences and making them a little easier to absorb. Sometimes, the more things go wrong, the more material. Someone somewhere needs your perspective, and I think that’s the biggest thing I’m learning. I create music because I love it, but also because sharing our stories creates a little lantern in a pretty dark world.
So yeah, here I am, a resident of Music City! It’s daunting and intimidating sometimes and other times is inspiring.
I’m a barista by day and a musician by night. Making my way as a Singer/Songwriter in a story that is still being written, and the best is yet to come.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh goodness, no! The main struggles I’ve faced have been my doubts. I’ve always struggled with feeling not good enough, so many times that has kept me from really pursuing my dreams. I get bursts of bravery, like when I moved to L.A., tried out for The Voice, or kept going back to school, learning a little more each time. Doubt and disappointment always come back around, but I think that being brave doesn’t mean all your opposition goes away; it just means you keep going despite it. Other struggles:
Sometimes, finances have been a struggle. My parents didn’t have a lot of money when I was growing up, so at times, taking chances with financial implications has been hard. I’ve consistently worked since I was 15 and funded a majority of my music.
When I moved to LA, there was a brief period of time between moves that I was living in my uncle’s truck.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a singer/songwriter (it sounds like Norah Jones meets Jack Johnson). I feel like most of life is lived in the “in-between” The questions, the wondering, the growth, the trial and error. That is where I write most of my music from and who I write it for. I want my audience to feel like I’m right there with them as they’re going through the journey of writing their own story. Life is so complicated, and really, the only way we get through some of the darker parts of it is to hold onto the light we have within us and see in those around us.
What I am known for is genre blending as well as making people feel at home during my shows.
I love writing in different styles and am constantly expanding the knowledge I can pull from. I endeavor to be creative, which sounds like it should be a given, but in many ways, in our industry, it’s not.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I actually think there will be a split in music. On the one hand, I think there will be more AI generated music, more polish and perfection. Then, there will be another side that tries more and more to strip music back to a renaissance state. It will be interesting to see is there will be artists who can span that divide.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.3sistersartists.com/about-cassia-dawn/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassiadawnsingersongwriter/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CassiaDawn
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cassiadawnsingersongwriter
Image Credits
Sherri Johnson Photography
Hannah Grace Portfolio
Shannon Wine
