INTERVIEW: Cassidy Paris

It’s all happening for Cassidy Paris at the moment, with a tour of the UK imminent and a new album for Frontiers on the way, things have all started falling into place. If you’ve heard Cassidy’s songs or seen her live you’ll know why good things are happening – not only is she an incredibly hard worker, she has managed to meld her own unique brand of Hard Rock with a taste of the 80’s and it’s going down a storm all over the world… We caught up on the eve of the November U.K. Tour with Wicked Smile.

Mark: Great to talk to you Cassidy, you’ve got so many great things going on at the minute we had to catch up again.

Cassidy: We did

Mark: Congratulations on the Frontiers deal.

Cassidy: Thank you, thank you. I’m really excited and stoked to be part of such a cool label. They’ve been really great and agreed with all the things I envisioned for the album. It’s exciting times for me and the band, really cool.

Mark: It is great to see an Australian artist getting signed to a label like that with a global audience, it might not help with touring costs but it will put you in front of a lot more people. And you thoroughly deserve it too, I’ve seen you play live and we’ve kept in touch with everything you’ve done to date. It’s the best of both worlds for Rock fans a young Australian artist playing music that some of us older fans and a whole hep of younger fans can relate too.

Cassidy: Yeah it’s great to get the opportunity. With Frontiers it’s been really cool because they have this idea for me to pitch my music to the younger generation, but I’m also that kind of bridging artist for them now – I can bring my music to the younger generation but also connect with people who have been listening to music since the 80’s. I love to be part of that.

Mark: I was thinking just a minute ago it’s 5 years now since you put out that first single. So for someone so young you’ve already had a heck of a career and I know i started a lot earlier. I know you first met Paul Laine when you were 11, which is incredible. But where did it all really start for you? Was it Dad? (Cassidy’s dad Steve is currently guitarist with Wicked Smile and has been part of the Melbourne Rock scene for years).

Cassidy: It was definitely Dad. I think I was drawn to music at such a young age as I saw Dad was so passionate about it and I wanted to get my foot in the door too. But I think I really got serious about it when Paul Laine came over to tour in Australia and my Dad’s band The Radio Sun were his backing band. He stayed over at our house and he was kind enough to show me his material and he told me if ever I got into music and wanted to take it seriously he’d be willing to help me out. And that was really cool for someone my age because I had been listening to Danger Danger since I was really young and at the time he had just put out his solo band album The Dark Horse album and I really loved that. So it was so cool to have such a heavyweight in the industry take notice and support me. Every single time I talk about Paul it makes me emotional because he has heled me so much in so many different ways, and helped me grow as an artist. So I’m really grateful to Paul for his help and his friendship as well.

Mark: I actually met Paul for the first time that tour and watched your dad and the guys play with him at The Elephant and Wheelbarrow for the Melodic Rock Fest. Paul was very gracious with his time and we spend time talking music and did an interview. When you look at what he has done over the years it’s amazing, I love his music. So to have that mentorship and guidance must be wonderful for you, not only from a creative point of view but also a business point of view. Paul to me at least is one of the great songwriters.

Cassidy: Paul should be a Bon Jovi! I know he’s very, very well respected in the scene but he really should be absolutely massive. He’s one of the, if not the best songwriters I know and he’s also so incredibly down to earth and so gracious. To be around an artist like that from such a young age made me realise what I want to be as an artist, with his connection to fans, he has time for everyone. I donlt even like the term fans, they’re like my family and my friends. Therse people shape you and make you what you are so I can never understand bands who don’t want to talk to fans and take the time and talk to people about music or their lives and how they connect to it. That’s something I’ve always really loved, when I went to teh UK last year one of the things I loved was getting off stage and talking to people. It just blows my mind when people don’t want to take time to be like that.

Mark: There should be more like you, though over the years attending festivals and getting behind the scenes there are surprisingly few who are out and out rude, though there are some! But it really stands out when people go the extra mile like you do. It really does make such a difference.

Cassidy: That’s just what comes naturally to me.

Mark: You are a bit brave though heading over to the UK to tour in November and December!

Cassidy: (laughs) Certainly! I think that’s just how it’s panned out for us, I’ve had some great opportunities come up and I’ve got a great network of people in the UK. I’m playing a Festival called Winter Storm for the second time this year, but this time I get to play on the main stage and I’m so in awe of the artists that I get to share the stage with!

Mark: Yes it doesn’t get much better than playing with our old mates Graham Bonnet who headlines your day and Danny Vaughn our good friend who is there with Tyketto, I love Trucker Diablo too and that other band from Australia Wicked Smile aren’t too bad either!

Cassidy: (laughs)

Mark: But there’s more isn’t there?

Cassidy: Yes I’m playing Planet Rockstock for the first time which is absolutely insane! As you know Planet Rock is one of the biggest Rock Radio stations ever and its great to be part of that and wonderful that they are investing n a young artist who is very passionate about keeping that scene alive.

Mark: It’s fantastic, I think you headline the second stage and on the main there’s just a few big names like the Michael Schenker Group, please say hi to Robin if he’s there! Plus the wonderful Gun and a couple of bands I love DeWolff and These Wicked Rivers.

Mark: And then there’s just the small matter of the debut album! There are some songs we will have heard before on there as well as the new stuff?

Cassidy: Yes there are some songs from the EPs but everything’s been re-recorded and remixed and remastered. So it is a combination of new songs and tracks I’ve previously released like “Like I Never Loved You’ which I think is a really strong track and needed to be on there. I feel Like I’d be doing Paul and myself and the fans a little bit of a disservice if a song like that wasn’t on the album especially as my EPs have well and truly sold out now. I think the UK took care of that last year which I was really chuffed about! That tour made me realise how much we needed an album out there and we were just waiting for the right time and the right opportunity, and that right time is now and I’m really excited to do that as part of the Frontiers family. They have a lot of plans for my career which is exciting.

Mark: So the UK Tour precedes the release of the album?

Cassidy: Yes. I will be in Europe when they release the album but it’s right after the UK Tour. Three or four days after the last show in London. There will be singles out while I’m there in the UK and ‘Danger’ has just been released so there’s lots happening.

Mark: There is! So lets talk about your process – how do you write? A melody? A riff? What comes first? Where does it start?

Cassidy: I think every writing experience for me varies. It depends o your mood, it depends what you’re writing about, it depends if you’re sitting down for a session of if an idea just pops into your head. With ‘Danger’ it all started with playing around with a riff and I talked about this the other day in another interview. I started off with this ‘darker’ riff, and I hadn’t really done anything dark with my music, but when I started playing that riff I knew it was something special. So after I was happy with the riff I went to the chorus and I had the idea of ‘Danger’. I was seeing a guy at the time that a lot of people around me were saying ‘red flags’ but I just couldn’t see them. It was the kind of situation where my brain was trying to see them but I couldn’t so the lyrics came quite easily! I wish they all came that easily! Then I sent t over to my friend Paul Laine and he added some little things an some touches here and there and worked his magic on it and the rest is really history with danger!

Mark: It’s a great song and from what I’ve heard so far I can’t wait to get my hands on the album. You’ve also played with some great musicians too, my good mate John Corabi you were out with him, you played with H.E.A.T. one of my favourite bands of the moment. Seeing you play with them it’s clear that you’re a natural on stage but what was it like getting up on stage for the first time?

Cassidy: Well you are right I have been on stage fora while but I haven’t been performing in that scene for very long but I feel like I’ve been on stage for my entire life. I remember the first time I got on stage – my Dad had taught me Michal Jackson’s ‘Beat It’ for my school talent show and I played it in front of the whole school and I won the talent show. I remember looking out and seeing my Dad and how proud he was of me and I knew from that point that I had a connection with the stage, and that this was going to be my safe place. It really was an eye-opening experience for me that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. And after that I started to take guitar lessons seriously, my Dad taught me guitar. I started to get singing lessons as well, so it all kind of progressed from that point.

Mark:

Cassidy: Getting on stage in front of the crowds that I have is an amazing experience, Touring with bands like H.E.A.T. is a dream – H.E.A.T. is literally my all time favourite band along with people like Skid Row and stuff. I’m a huge fan of anything H.E.A.T. and Kenny is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever come across in my life and we’ll still chat today, Crash was fantastic as well, the entire band was so kind and sweet to me and I can’t thank the enough. It’s so inspiring to be able to play with people like that who I admired even before I started out in the scene.

Mark: They were all lovely guys, I can’t say enough good things about them. As were you as well it was lovely to meet you in Adelaide.

Cassidy: And the same with John Corabi as well John has been absolutely fantastic to me too, when I played tat show he was kind enough to sit down and have a conversation, and last year in the UK he was playing Winter Storm and I was playing Winter Storm so it was great to catch up. It’s amazing to be able to talk to people that I grew up adoring, I’ve always been a huge John Corabi fan and am a huge Crue fan too.

Mark: John is one of the great guys, I’ve known John for many years and interviewed and met him I think more than anyone, we’ve shared Patron, we’ve shared fish and chips, you really couldn’t meet and be around nicer people. With so many positives and so much support how is that Rock and Roll journey going for you so far? Is it all going the way you envisioned?

Cassidy: I just feel so blessed at the moment. I have so much support and so much positivity. ‘Danger’ has almost hit 50,000 views and as an artist who is 20 year sold and who has been in this scene a very short amount of time it’s crazy that people want to watch my music video – it only came out last Thursday in Europe and its already had that many views. It just blows my mind every day that people are supporting me and are so kind and they relate to the music. That’s teh best thing for me that people can relate to the music and can come up and share their stories with you. I’m so flattered that people want to do that and have to thank the whole Rock community for taking me under their wing and taking me on board. I realise I’m a younger person entering the scene so I do have some people to convince, but on the whole it’s all overwhelmingly positive.

Mark: Do you feel under any additional pressure because of that? Not only are you a female in a male dominated scene, but you’re also a young person championing a style of music that I guess had it’s roots in the 80’s – 30 years ago?

Cassidy: Pressure is probably not the right word the way I look at it. I try not to fret about things and there’s a very, very small amount of negativity. So if someone makes a rude comment or donlt really get what I’m doing I really don’t mind as I have such an overwhelming sense of support from so many people. And I feel like a lot of people have my back and have guided me in that way as well, but it is at times difficult when people, even those that have played in your bands don’t support you, or there’s a jealousy thing which is always difficult when people are your friends. But you’re always going to get keyboard warriors and I’m well aware of that and that will increase as you take more strides. But generally speaking it’s been very positive and I can’t thank people enough.

Mark: It’s a process and you’re doing very well so far and absolutely have the right attitude.

Cassidy: I think another thing is the fact that I’m still very young and always learning and I’m well aware that I might get things wrong along the way. I’m always trying to learn as much as I can and all I want to do is to keep this type of music alive. So I really do appreciate everyone who has jumped on board and given a young female artist a chance. It’s all very encouraging.

Mark: As long as you don’t get too big too quickly and leave us and go and live overseas in Los Angels or somewhere!

Cassidy: (laughs)

Mark: It’s been great to catch up today just a couple of weeks out from your U.K. Tour. I always ask everyone the first time we talk the same to questions to close, so I have asked your Dad these too many years ago!

Cassidy: (laughs)

Mark: I can’t wait to hear your answer to the first question – I had a few guesses, but let’s see how close I got. If you could have been a ‘fly on the wall’ to witness the creation of any album from the history of Rock and Roll just to see how the magic happened. What would you like to have seen being made?

Cassidy: I would have loved to have been there for the Def Leppard Hysteria album. That is just one of my favourite albums of all time. I’m actually seeing Def Leppard for the first time just before I get off to the UK, it’s kind of like my 21st birthday present to myself! (laughs) I’m so excited about that! But that would have been absolutely unreal to see how they recorded that album because it’s literally a masterpiece. Those songs on that album are just insane.

Mark: Great choice but not my pick of their albums. I can’t of course tell you the first time I saw Def Leppard because then you’d be able to carbon date me or something, but let’s just say it was a while before then! (laugh)

Cassidy: (laughs) That’s so funny! I was actually supposed to see them a few years ago in the States but I couldn’t get tickets and I said to Dad don’t tell me on the night you’re going with someone else or I’ll be really annoyed. And then on the night he said “this person has a spare ticket” and I always hang that on him! He’s the best Dad ever but I always hang that on him! He’ll give me a good talking to for telling you that today!

Mark: (laughs) I’ll remind him every time I see him!

Cassidy: (laughs)

Mark: And we always end with the easy one! What is the meaning of life?

Cassidy: What is the meaning of life? You’re closing with the big fat questions here! (laughs) For me life should be happiness and love and support and so I believe that is the meaning of life and earning lessons as you go.

Mark: That’s a huge part of it, that and music of course. Great to talk and enjoy the U.K. let’s hope the Winter holds off a little for you!

Cassidy: Thanks Mark so nice to talk to you, I really appreciate it. Let’s have a chat when the album comes out! Have a great night!

Mark: You too.