Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Cass.
Hi Alyssa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a recording artist whose music can be categorized as mainly pop and R&B. When I sing, I like to tap into a soulful place and darken my tone. Vocally, I really admire Adele and Mariah Carey. Among my other influences, I take a lot of inspiration from Chris Brown. I love to dance so any way I can incorporate that into my music I will! From a production standpoint, I like to play around with the dichotomy of combining hard and soft elements such as a punchy kick and snare with a soothing flute or marimba. Because I have my hands deep in so many aspects of the process singing, writing, and producing, it makes the end result feel the most authentic to my self-expression.
I recently released my debut single “Masquerade” which was featured in Fresh: Hip Hop & R&B and the Leading Women in Audio Conference. I wrote this reflecting on college hook-up culture, online dating, and my struggle to create lasting relationships. I sang, wrote, and produced the song in my home studio in LA and also directed and edited the music video.
My love for music and performing dates back as long as I can remember growing up in a small town in Massachusetts. There has always been a bit of a “do-it-yourself” spirit in me; I remember putting on shows with my friends in our basement in a make-shift stage in front of shower curtains. As a sensitive person, I turned to music as a way of processing my emotions and expressing what I couldn’t in real life. I graduated from Elon University with a B.S. in Music Production & Recording Arts and after working for vocal coach Nick Cooper, this solidified for me pursuing an artist career and moving to LA. Now fast forward, and for the past year or so I’ve been recording in my home studio in Los Angeles, singing, writing, and producing my music.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It can be hard to break through as an independent artist and fund projects out of pocket so I’m really grateful for my team who made my debut music video possible for “Masquerade.” I was lucky enough to have some film friends step up to help; shout-out to my producers Danielle Toback and Cody R. Miller and my DP Manny Ramos, and the cast and crew who made it possible. Though the music video appears to be very elegant and glamorous- the irony is it was shot on a very low-budget in my high school prom dress. Fortunately, for the city being a bit of a ghost town, we were able to shoot around places in LA that under normal circumstances might not have been possible, including Rodeo Drive and Hollywood Blvd. Making a living during the pandemic, I’ve learned to be adaptable. Before everything shut down, I was working in a restaurant and in retail, so I began freelance teaching voice, music production, and songwriting/composition, as well as audio engineering for podcasts and laying down vocals for other people’s tracks.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
When it comes to my art, I am not afraid to push the envelope in how I express myself. I had to laugh when I first tried promoting my music video as it was blocked marked as “adult content,” even though I was fully clothed the entire time. (Apparently the video was too sexy for YouTube.) I have always admired Rihanna for being a pioneer in this sense. Playing it safe is boring. I would rather take risks than water myself down to fit in with societal expectations.
On paper, winning 1st Place in Elon University’s Songwriting Competition or the Ernest L. Wakefield Prize for Excellence in Music look good, but nothing will ever compare to the inner fulfillment I feel every day working on music. I take pride in the quality of my work and ability to rise to the occasion when I have a vision. Whether it’s pushing what I think is possible for me as an artist, stepping into a new role like directing and editing a music video, or simply the daily grind that goes into my craft, I choose to celebrate the little wins.
What’s next?
I’m really excited to release new music in the future! I can’t wait to share what I’ve been working on, shoot the music videos, and see the vision to fruition. In the meantime, it’s most important to me to get the quality right, so I’m taking my time with each song to make sure everything is on point. Right now, I’m working diligently recording music singing, writing, and producing in my home studio in LA. Each song is different; I have some upbeat dancehall tracks, sad ballads, and steamy R&B songs in the works. I like to think of each song as a different aspect of my personality. My process is slow and steady. Rome wasn’t built in a day, you know. But if I can promise one thing, it will be worth the wait. Outside of recording, I look forward to the day when I can perform live again and connect with people. Music is meant to be shared. I love to sing, dance, and entertain for an audience so I really treasure these moments.
I am always seeking to take what I do to the next level and I find a lot of that has to do with working with other people. Living in LA, I’m constantly blown away by the talent in this city. I love meeting like-minded people with similar aspirations whose roles can complement each other and elevate a project. As far as my career goes, I stay married to the music, married to the mission. I will always aim for the top of the mountain; strive to be the best version of myself. Something I love about the hikes in California is that you’re able to see the view as you go. I like to remind myself to appreciate the climb. I don’t want to get so caught up with reaching my goals that I forget the beauty of what’s in front of me. I’m so grateful to do what I love every day, to be able to work on music and the fact that people are listening. Thank you for following me on this journey and I can’t wait to share with you what’s next.
Contact Info:
- Email: alyssacassmusic@gmail.com
- Website: http://www.alyssacass.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssa_cass/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alyssacassofficial/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJLbsW-2IVVijqmYpJMke_A?view_as=subscriber
- Other: https://lnk.to/Masquerade
Image Credits:
“Masquerade” Cover Art: Cody R. Miller
