The age of blogging coupled with the latest paparazzi craze
has developed a new breed of movie stars and recording artists. It’s safe to
say that Cassie falls into that category. After only one hit single and a
disastrous live performance that attracted a slam of ridicule, Cassie is still
pretty visible – whether at parties, attending concerts, or living it up
with…that’s right…Diddy.
Ironically enough, a couple of minutes before AllHipHop.com
went in for the interview the classic nightmare request for a journalist was
asked: “No personal questions.” The questions were to be kept “to music.”
Later, during the interview, Cassie wasn’t asked to address the request for no
personal questions, but she touched on a reservation one would think a girl as
gorgeous as her shouldn’t have. The request begins to make sense.
Cassie makes it clear that she is not Aretha Franklin. She
hasn’t ever claimed to be a vocal powerhouse, but for some reason her perceived
mediocrity has been focused on and has become a double-edged sword. As she’s
proven, it hasn’t been her complete undoing, but for all intents in purposes
she is everything ordinary, in every
positive sense of the word. For her, there’s nothing wrong with that and that
strong perception of self has always been considered to be the first step to
success.
With an album coming out that found her working with
producers she’s never worked with before (since Ryan Leslie was her exclusive
producer on her debut) it’s enticing to find out what she’s got in store. In
theory, Cassie has been given a second chance to prove herself to be the artist
that is. And in the fickle world of music, a second chance is everything but ordinary.
AllHipHop.com Alternatives: Are you still working on the new project?
Cassie: I’m hoping
to finish up before Thanksgiving. That’s my goal because I’ve been working on
it for a minute now. It’s great. It’s really coming together. I have a lot of
content. Not sure what we’re going to pick yet. But it’s all coming together,
finally…
AHHA: Have you been
focusing entirely on the album? Or have you been working on other side
projects?
Cassie: I’ve just
been 100 percent on this album. Although I wish I could multi-task, I’m hoping
I can do that maybe next year. Throw in a little bit of acting or something on
the side, but I’m really focused on the album at this moment.
AHHA: You began
working exclusively with Ryan Leslie since the beginning. What was it like
working with new people?
Cassie: It was
definitely fun. I had a great experience with Ryan working on the first album.
I think we developed a great sound together. And we worked together on this
album and we’re going to work together a little bit more before I finish. I
really wanted to get a taste and flavor from some other producers and writers and
give new people the opportunity to work with me and at the same time get the
opportunity to work with new people. I think that nothing can make you any
better than to having other experiences with other people.
AHHA: What were some
of the most notable experiences?
Cassie: I think it’s
just the passion and the drive you learn from every person [that’s] different.
It’s all very strong but it’s different. I got the opportunity to work with
Kanye a while back, so I got to sit with him in the studio while he created and
he would make jokes, “See I don’t have a ghost producer.” He jokes. Everyone
knows that he’s incredible.
I just got out of the studio with Pharrell; we did a crazy
record together. I got the opportunity to work with The-Dream and Tricky who are
high right now. They just keep cranking them out. But I made it a point to work
with writers and producers that people don’t know, although I can’t say who
they are because I’m not sure of what’s going to make the album just yet.
There’s a lot of unknown [and] unseen talent out there. It’s just incredible.
AHHA: Is it true
you’re naming the album Connecticut Fever?
Cassie: You know
what? I heard about that! I was like, “Why would I name it that?” I actually
have been toying with different ideas on calling the album different things. I
haven’t actually said in any interview that I was going to call it anything. I
don’t know where that came from. It’s kind of funny.
AHHA: So, you’re
killing the rumor here? You’re not naming it that?
Cassie: No, I’m not.
I never really considered it.
AHHA: What was it
like acting on the big-screen [Step Up 2: The Streets]?
Cassie: It was nice
to get my feet wet. It was a small part for me. I don’t know…it was the perfect
movie for me at the time, because it was just what I needed to step outside the
music industry box and just see what else there was out there – for a
second. I never expected to be able to shoot a movie that soon, but I don’t
know…it was a crazy experience and it was great.
AHHA: Did it make
your imagination run a little bit as to what kinds of films you would like to
do in the future and think that maybe you can do films you wouldn’t have
thought of before? Who would you want to star in a movie with?
Cassie: There are so
many great actors and actresses. I don’t even know. I mean…can I work with
Denzel? I have no idea. It definitely let my imagination go. I’m a firm
believer in having a starting point and I kind of just jumped in and I was
little worried to do that in the first place with the film. But I feel
eventually I’ll be able to try out my indie films and things like that that I
want to do to get the experience of it all. I think it was great for me to go
in and do that role, but I definitely need to develop my experience as an
actress.
AHHA: I also
remember you wanting to develop your experience as a performer after the 106
& Park
incident where your live performance wasn’t up to manypeople’s standard, and you later expressed that it didn’t meet your own
standard. What did you learn from that?
Cassie: I think more
than anything, people were mean. I couldn’t ask for things to go any other type
of way. I don’t regret how it went, and there was a reason why that happened.
But at the same time I have to take the blow for it. That was my own fault for
not being prepared and not saying anything to anyone when I knew that I wasn’t.
I’ve gone in with my vocal coach.
I’ve made it clear to people that I’m not Aretha Franklin.
They’re going to see me perform and entertain, but they’re not going to see my
blow. I wouldn’t ever take credit for anything like that. It’s just not what I
do. I’ve gone in and have tried to develop it. Either running on the treadmill
and singing and doing whatever I have to do to prove to people because second
chances are rare. I’ve definitely gotten one, so I’m going for it. I’m going
for mine.
AHHA: What are you
looking forward to the most once the album is out and about?
Cassie: Oh, my, God!
I hope that people love it. Like it’s really a reflection of me. [The] sound
has just developed…not only the vocals, but [also] the music. It’s just all
evolved so much. I’m just excited for people to hear it and I want to hear the
feedback. Maybe it’s not what people want to hear from me but it’s something I
definitely enjoyed doing. But once they have it in their hand, it’ll just be a
relief because I’ve been working on it for a really long time.
AHHA: What do you
wish you had more of in your life?
Cassie: I wish I had
more time to spend with my family. I mean, is that valid?! [laughs]
AHHA: No, Cassie,
you’re supposed to say money! [laughs]
Cassie: I was like,
“Am I supposed to be deeper than that?” I really have been thinking about them
a lot. It’s actually my Dad’s birthday tomorrow. I wish I could go see him, but
I have to go…work! And I’ve made so many sacrifices so that this album could be
great.
So that I can have a great career and make money so I can
take care of my family in the future – that whole thing. I definitely
miss my family. I miss hanging out with my brother. They’re only in
Connecticut, which is not far, but when there is so much going on it’s hard to
make it up there.
AHHA: Since you feel
your sound has developed, who do you musically look up to?
Cassie: I think as
an artist I look up to all women doing their thing right now. I think that
every female artist has her own thing going on. My biggest idol is my mother.
She’s not an artist – she works in Connecticut, but she’s such a hero to
me and has taught me so much. It’s hard to even look at any other woman past my
mother and think that they’re any stronger.
Musically, I’ve always been a fan of, of course, Aaliyah and
Janet Jackson, their tone and their style and how they carry themselves as
women. Oh, and my new favorite is Apollonia! We’re taking it back to Purple
Rain!
AHHA: You’ve been in
the modeling industry and you’ve dabbled in the film industry. What has the
music industry taught you? Has it taught you anything?
Cassie: Probably,
believe it or not, I think there are so many artists out there that handle
themselves in so many different types of ways. I have been humbled by those
situations. From going and having my 106 & Park experience
from going and having people hate on me left and right, when they don’t even
know me and they don’t have any idea who I am. It definitely humbles me and
made me more calm and to myself. I’m less…I’ll be around a lot of people and
I’m quiet, because I rather people not have anything to say about me at all!
AHHA: Do you think
the public perception of a woman having the two qualities of being sexy and intelligent
rather than just having one or the other is more of a reality today than it
ever was? Especially in business.
Cassie: I can say
that now more than ever, because I was young before. I think that the
opportunity to be a businesswoman, smart, and about herself is a great thing.
Now more than ever women have the power.
I feel that for myself, I grew up watching my mother work my
whole childhood, and I’m not knocking stay at home moms at all! But seeing
that, it’s always been my mentality. I applaud women now for being business
savvy and intelligent and well-informed. We all know what’s going in the
election, we all have a say, and we’re part of it, and we’re stronger now for
it.
