14 Apr Artist Profile: Cassandra House
Drawing inspiration from musicians like Neko Case and Laura Marling, Cassandra House is Long Island’s very own modern day female singer/songwriter. We love welcoming Cassie to the stage of the Indigo Ballroom and we’d like to share a little more about her behind the scenes.
Girl with a Guitar: How Cassie House Gets Inspired
The resurgence of popular music with folk & americana qualities is evident with the cult-like followings of bands like Of Monsters & Men, Mumford and Sons, and the Lumineers. Bands and singer/songwriters have drawn inspiration from music of days past with vintage instruments and classic folk melodies. One of these singer/songwriters, Neko Case, won a steadily growing cult audience for her smoky, sophisticated vocals and the downcast beauty of her music. As Long Island’s very own modern day female singer/songwriter, Cassandra House is ushering in a new age of pop music.
Cassandra loves Neko Case because “she is a girl with a guitar but so not in the way people think.” Modern female songwriters transcend the stigmas of being a woman in society and Cassandra is proud to be a part of that. She says Neko Case is “tragic and scary and beautiful and shockingly realistic in her lyrics and her music.” Cassie feels similarly about Laura Marling and the late Lhasa De Sela. She also loves a good Patty Griffin tune.
While staying inspired through the beats and lyrics of popular female artists in her genre, Cassandra House also draws inspiration from musicians like Freddie Mercury. She grew up on classic rock and says that Mercury’s on-stage “gusto” can be seen as influential in her own performance style. When it comes to her creative process, Cassandra says that there is really no set way to go about it. “Sometimes it’s something I think I heard someone say in public that I jot down, others it’s a fit of insomnia that turns into a poem that turns into music. Sometimes it’s a melody. It’s ever changing.”
Long Island Pride
Cassandra House portrays the ultimate carefree, whimsical Long Island lifestyle that is evident both on the stage and off. In addition to being a performer, Cassandra is also an event coordinator and music booker by day. She takes pride in being involved in the burgeoning entertainment business on Long Island. Regarding the arts and music industry on LI, she says “I’ve seen it grow from having a non-existent music and arts scene to having a live, bustling and rich one, and I’m so proud to be a part of it.” Patchogue is Cassandra’s hometown and it’s still her favorite place to perform.
Cassandra enjoys relaxing with a good glass of Long Island wine to get into the best mindset to perform. She says she performs best when there is nothing at all going on in her mind while she is on stage, becoming one with the music. She says “If I feel it, my mind goes completely blank.”
Performing at the Indigo Ballroom
It’s understandable why Cassandra loves performing at the Indigo Ballroom. She says the dynamic crowd is always changing, from “Those doing day trips out east to those hailing from all parts on business, and even those from the island looking to get away.” She says of Hotel Indigo “It’s swanky and delicious” and she feels very at home here. We’re confident that you will too.
Cassandra’s next performance at the Indigo Ballroom is on Thursday April 21st, and you can make reservations here. Be sure to stop by Bistro 72 before the show and try Cassandra’s favorite dish: the Long Island Duck Breast!