The last time I spoke with singer-songwriter Cassidy Louis, she was preparing to drop her EP, Technicolor. In the three short months since we last spoke so much has happened for the New Orleans artist. I had the opportunity to chat with Cassidy this week and discuss her most recent release, her current virtual tour and her plans for the new year!
NOLA Concerts: So Cassidy, so much has happened since the last time we spoke. First off I want to say congratulations on the release of your EP – Technicolor.
CASSIDY LOUIS: Thank you!
NOLA Concerts: And I know you just released a Christmas song. What about the holiday season inspired you to release “White Christmas”?
Cassidy: It actually really wasn’t in my brain. It was one of my teammate’s ideas. She said, “You know you should do a little video to accompany it. You can do a bandcamp release and if it does well, you can do the full release” so it really all came to be within 48 hours.
Right now I’m at the point in my career where I’m releasing as often as possible. Plus I love Christmas time and it’s my favorite holiday so it just made a lot of sense for me to do it. I hopped off our meeting and I spent the whole day producing and recording it. I did some touch ups the next day. It all happened really fast. The song dropped at the beginning of December then I made a video to go with it.
The video commemorates Christmas’ past to go with the message of the song, “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas just like the ones I used to know” — and also in general, wishing well during this season. I was able to include videos and pictures from when I was a kid of Christmases from my past along with clips of my family and friends through the years. That was really special to me. I chose this specific song because a. I love it and b. I also sang it when I was back home for a small show a couple years ago so it already had meaning to me.
NOLA Concerts: Speaking of family and friends, you mentioned Christmas is one of your favorite holidays. Do you have any fun family traditions that you did growing up?
Cassidy: I was a lot younger than the rest of my family. My sisters and cousins are eight to twelve years older than me so I was always the baby. We would all get together on Christmas Eve and they would pretend that Santa Claus was coming. Someone would lay down with me in the other room. My cousin, who is this big and burly guy, would go outside, jingle the bells on our door, and say “Ho Ho Ho.” I remember running out and there would be presents everywhere. It was really cute. So the present exchange would be on Christmas Eve at my house. The next day we’d go to my aunt’s house for Christmas lunch and eat so much food.
NOLA Concerts: How has music played a part during the Christmas season growing up and even now?
Cassidy: I force everyone to listen to Christmas music with me. My favorite memory is the day after Thanksgiving, like Black Friday weekend, we would always go get our Christmas tree. I would put Christmas music on as we decorated the tree together. I still try to do that in my own home. Christmas music just makes me so happy, calm, and warm inside. The music itself transports me to the holiday mode.
I used to participate in these Christmas concerts, especially in high school. We would have our big, end of the semester winter concert. I would spend a lot of time preparing these songs with my fellow choir members. So holiday music was always just a big part of my personal life and for me as a singer. There’s just lots of fun and good memories wrapped together in this one little month.
NOLA Concerts: I know it’s hard to pick favorites but what are your favorite Christmas songs — top three?
Cassidy: Obviously, “White Christmas” is up there. I’m so bad at picking favorite songs. I would have to also say “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Merry Christmas Darlin’”. That’s one of the ones I sang back in the day. But I also love songs like “Holy Night” so let me just lock in those three before I think of other ones.
NOLA Concerts: So the last time we spoke, you mentioned that a virtual tour was in the works. Can you tell me more about that and how that’s going?
Cassidy: We’re actually approaching our last stop of the tour. We have had two very successful shows. We’re going to have three in total and the last one is this upcoming Saturday, December 12th. So we had a stop in New York then Nashville and our last stop is San Diego. I do it from a studio and it’s just been really awesome to connect with the people from the different cities virtually. Obviously, it’d be really cool to actually go out and tour and meet them but this has been a nice compromise with the situation that we’re currently in.
It’s been awesome to network with these new musicians and meet new fans as well. It helps us to feel a little bit normal. It’s been fun to play with my band and although I can’t see my audience, it’s cool to know that people are watching. Interacting with them virtually has been really cool.
We’re raising money. People can donate and proceeds will be sent to an organization called NIVA. NIVA helps artists, venues and everyone behind the scenes in the music industry who have been impacted by COVID-19. We’re also going to send some money to the artists and venues that we’ve been working with directly as well. So we are always accepting donations for that. We are also having a giveaway this week. You can donate money for more entries into the giveaway.
We’re just trying to do what we love and give back a little bit.
NOLA Concerts: This is definitely the season of giving so no better time. 2021 is right around the corner. This has been a crazy year but you’ve accomplished so much despite the circumstance we’re in. What are your goals for the new year as an artist?
Cassidy: It’s up in the air, just given everything that’s happened this year. Definitely trying to release more, write more and produce more. I’d love to go on tour. I’ve been talking with friends and acquaintances from across the country and we’re all just so anxious to perform live again. I’m hoping 2021 is the year we get to go back to enjoying live shows and live music. Definitely some exciting releases coming up and hopefully a tour in there, so we’ll see!
NOLA Concerts: Hopefully 2021 brings all that and more! Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Cassidy: Stream my new song, White Christmas. It’s on all the platforms.
NOLA Concerts: I do love the song! I listened to it the other day and added it to my Christmas playlist. And I can’t wait to see the giveaway and hear your future projects.
Follow Cassidy Louis: Website • Instagram • Facebook • Spotify • Apple Music
Don’t forget to watch Cassidy’s last stop of her virtual tour this Saturday, December 12th. All shows are free and will be live-streamed via Facebook. You can send your donations via Venmo: venmo.com/cassidylouis. Proceeds will go towards the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) for artists, musicians, and all those affected by COVID-19 within the music industry.
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