L.A. Native Cassandra Violet’s haunting folk pop blends infectious hooks, loops, and layered vocals into an unearthly blend of harmony á la Nancy Sinatra meets First Aid Kit. Her unique sounds have been featured at School Night at Bardot, the Moroccan Lounge, the Echo, the Bootleg, and the Regent Theater, and her songs have been featured on Ozark (Netflix), Undercover (Netflix), The Fosters (ABC Family), and films including Girl on the Edge (Showtime). Cassandra is also a whistler, and often features this unique skill during live shows and for the company Native Instruments. Cassandra writes with an impassioned, feminist lilt about strength, solitude, love, and and disappointment, sung with a wink.
What is the song you’re listening to most these days?
I have a couple: “forever” by Charli XCX, and “Buckets of Rain” by Bob Dylan.
Why does these songs speak to you? What feelings do you get from them?
With Charli, I’m blown away by her worth ethic and inspiration while staying home. I really admire her, and when I listen I get hyped and more inspired to write myself.
With Bob Dylan, it’s one of those songs that I revisit every few years and notice how my impressions of it have changed. When I was 20, I thought one thing about it, and now that I’m (much older) than 20, I notice something different. When I think about my younger self, I feel tender and protective! That’s how you know that art is good: you feel something different and equally valuable about it the older you get. I used to know how to play this song on the guitar but I forgot.
What about the artist interests you? What about the song’s production stands out to you/hooks you?
“Forever” is surprising and crunchy sounding, danceable and emotive, and motivates me to do some squats/go on a run.
Bob Dylan is a constant inspiration, and Blood on the Tracks is my favorite Dylan album. I love the plaintive guitar in “Buckets of Rain”, and the sing-song turnaround melody is one of my favorites. I love that there is something cheerful about it, but it’s also sad. Those are my favorite kinds of songs.
What are you working on that you’d like us to plug?
I’m releasing a new song about how social media is melting my mind called “Superbloom” on June 5th! It’s inspired by Harry Nilsson, Joshua Tree, and Instagram.
Photo by Morgan Demeter
