Sazrah interviews the wonderful Cassie Rowan

Beautiful :-)

Cassie is a singer, songwriter and pianist who I was grateful to have as my friend at university. With over 25,000 youtube hits, her talent and skills are admired by people all around the world. Cassie and I both took music technology at uni and it was very male dominated! So today, we discuss how it feels to be a female in this industry and better still, her music and what music means to her.



Cassie! Tell us a bit about your musical style?
I write music as a form of expression, as I was growing up I played the piano when I was upset because it was one of the only places where I could sit and not think about anything, I would just improvise for hours until I realised I had taught myself piano by ear. All the music I write is written to convey my feelings at the time so is usually sad, slow, relaxing, almost film like. After learning music technology at university and college I now also combine production techniques into my piano/vocal songs to give a unique style to the music. 


Do you feel it is beneficial being a woman in the music industry, or would you see it as a negative?
This is a tricky question! It can always be both depending on the person and how they convey themselves. As a female if you want to be taken seriously in any industry I would say think about how you dress/put yourself across, I've been around boys in class for the past 5 years and I have learnt a lot! If you want to be taken seriously for your talent/what you do in music don't try and impress with anything else but your musical talent otherwise you will be seen in a way you don't want.  

In college I must have been about 18 and my college teacher actually said to me: "You know you can slut yourself off in this industry!" I couldn't believe those words were just said to me! And from that moment on I realised that a lot of men who had experience in the industry saw women in that way and it made me want to get somewhere without doing any of that! 

I have felt that men have sometimes looked down on me just because of my gender and they assume you can't do certain things or they assumed that I studied music instead of music technology because im female. 
The worst is when you get asked to 'sing on my track' as a chat up line, you wouldn't know it at first, you would think 'great let's do some music'! But boys sometimes have other things on their minds! It's a shame really...


I hear you! I've had a male teacher tell me something similar...'sleep with them if you have to!' were his words of so-called 'advice'! Anyway- What is your best moment of your music career so far?

The best moment... I don't have a specific moment but the best times are when you get really great feedback from people about your songs. There's a video on Youtube actually and when I uploaded it, it was the first piano cover of 'What You Know' by Two Door Cinema Club' and now it has over 10,000 views and i've had so many nice comments about it! It's just nice to know that your really getting through to people! I spent so much time before I made music thinking 'wow how has this song made me feel like this'?! And to know you have done it to other people.. 
To see video- click on the underlined title or click HERE


Who are your inspirations?

People who can perform well and make their own music are a massive plus for me! Singers like Eva Cassidy, I don't know how she had lungs like those but she was incredible! Amy winehouse was an amazing songwriter, Judy Garland, Adele, Aretha Franklin, Hayley Williams, Joni Mitchell. Recent producers who I take a lot of inspiration from are people like 'Baths'. He is a classically trained pianist who produces amazing music tieing in vocals with piano and production techniques to create his own lovely unique style  - Go listen!
...And a massive shout out to my nan! She loves hearing me play piano at home and has kept me with it over the years!

What advice do u give other ladies who want to make it in the industry?

Hmm! Be careful! Have fun and keep going! Don't let other people put you down or stop you and your music! Be a professional!

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View more of Cassie on her: YouTube Page

Cassie on FB: Cassie Rowan Music
Hear more of Cassie: Cassie Rowan Soundcloud
Cassie is NOW on Twitter : @Cassiiiieeeee