Page 21 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine Issue 113

BV113 pg 18-21 Cassidy Paris Interview.qxp_BV113 pg 21 13/12/2025 20:40 Page 4

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com - 21

unravelled for me, I felt very shocked, but also, inish What We Started' is a song on in the modern day, but also, Joan Jett, Pat Be-
very unbelievably hurt, because the rug really 'F‘Bittersweet’ which her forthcoming natar, Lita Ford… there are so many who I
was pulled from underneath me. I think a lot of rescheduled UK tour in 2026 is also called. In- looked up and listened to going into this industry,
artists have experienced that, but for me, I was cluding the lyric, ‘I don’t care if we fall, as long which is a very daunting experience, even still.
experiencing it in, not only my professional life as we finish what we started out’, we question It is a very much male-dominated industry, but I
with my music, but, I was also experiencing it on Cassidy if this is a good reflection of herself. feel very lucky that there is this surge of female-
a personal level as well. A great thing that can "Absolutely," she tells us. "I mean, the UK fronted bands, and that is really cool to look at
be learnt from this, I think, is you can get better tour is a great example of that. I very much am in the rock scene, and I'm very excited to be a
from a situation and grow as a person and, in a person who, when I start something, I always part of that."
my case, as a musician as well. finish it properly and professionally and, I think, While we’re incredibly impressed by all of
"Having what happened unfold, did bring on this year, I was in a situation where my hands the aforementioned females and bands, there
a whole range of new opportunities I didn't know were very much tied and so, it was very fitting to are some people out there in the world that,
was possible with this new album and again, call the tour 'Finish What We Started', because bizarrely, are not fans of female-fronted bands.
everything does happen for a reason, and that of what happened. Cassidy tells us, “I remember sitting at a
is the advice I would give to someone." "I am someone who doesn't back down and table with my ex-boyfriend and he just said to
I really believe in this more than anything and I me, ‘I don't like female-fronted bands’ and I
hen asked what her hopes and aspi- want to be there for the people to play music and thought to myself, it's actually insane that any-
Wrations are with the new record, Cas- connect with them on a personal level so ‘Finish one would have that perspective now. I know
sidy replies, "I hope to strike a chord with What We Started’ is a great way to describe it everyone is entitled to their opinion, but there
people. It's really hard, a lot of the time, for and definitely a new era and a very exciting time are so many good musicians that to say that is,
artists to put out a follow-up album when the for me, too." I think, a very bold thing in general. There are
debut was so well received. I was really lucky so many females that are killing it and doing so
with 'New Sensation', because a lot of people he song mentions how ‘everyone on so- many amazing things.
understood where I wanted to go with things and Tcials is beautiful’. While social media is "My dad heard that as well and it really did
I've been describing 'Bittersweet' as a natural a great tool and can be both fun and beneficial open my eyes to how people can still be, in this
progression.” to use and be a part of, it also can have negative day and age, and I never thought I would hear
She says that the song 'Nothing Left To effects. anyone say that. So, I'm hoping it is something
Lose' is a great example of that. Cassidy tells Black Velvet, "For me, I had which will change in society in the next couple
"I don't think there was anything as heavy people who were supposed to be supporting me of years, and people will adapt and wake up and
on the first record as 'Nothing Left To Lose'. Like in my life and these were the ones who were see it's 2025, and we are not living in that men-
I said, I feel like I have come into myself as an taking jabs at me and what I was doing, and it tality anymore.”
artist and when I heard that song But, going back to social
and Steve Brown [one of the addi- “There was a person in my life who I trusted more media, Cassidy says, "I really do
tional musicians on the album] than anything and losing him was one of the hardest worry about the social media
played me the song, I just instantly things I have gone through. But the situation made me thing." She explains, "I think peo-
connected with it. I hope people stronger and this song is a real reminder of that, and ple are not respectful enough and
will do so as well. aware enough of the impact things
"For me, it's a female empow- the video is a reflection that you can rise above and behind the screen can have on
erment moment, which was some- become stronger from these events.” - Cassidy Paris people. It's wild. I've experienced
thing I needed to put out there it firsthand for a number of years,
after what I had been through. 'Nothing Left To took me a long time to recognise that. but, when it's coming from people you did know
Lose' was a cool stance from a female perspec- "But it was something I could see on socials and, once upon a time, trusted, it is very hard to
tive for me." pretty consistently. Just being a female in the in- digest. So, I can imagine what it would be like
dustry poses its own difficulties. I read some- on a grander scale and what it would feel like,
n the subject of loss, we ask Cassidy thing about Hayley Williams [lead singer of and I think people need to be more careful with
Oabout the things she would be most Paramore] and she said a lot of her being a fe- what they say and what they do.
upset to lose, a question we are especially in- male in the band, she got blamed for a lot of the "People can hide behind a screen and, most
trigued to ask as these recent experiences may difficulties in the band, and it's not necessarily likely, would never say that to your face, but it
have changed her answer from a few years ago, her, it's just what it is. But there is this ingrained, can have such a negative impact on people's
having discovered some things to lose aren't as misogynistic view that people can still hold off mental health, and that really is something peo-
important as once thought. women in the rock scene. ple need to be less careless about."
Pleasingly, she agrees with our thought "It's really sad, if you think about it, because
process. "It's funny you say that because, yeah, there are so many women doing it and they are ith the single 'Stronger' under her belt,
exactly. At the time, I really felt like it was the flying the flag really well, so I hope people can WCassidy definitely feels that way now.
worst thing. There was a person in my life who I change that perspective eventually. That would "I believe in this album so much,” she says.
trusted more than anything and losing him was be a really great breakthrough for a lot of fe- “It's like my baby, and 'Bittersweet' has already
one of the hardest things I have gone through. males and make things a lot easier. helped me grow, not only as an artist, but also,
But the situation made me stronger and this "It's crazy to me that social media can harm as a human being. And I am so grateful, be-
song is a real reminder of that, and the video is someone so much. But I do feel very lucky be- cause this album is taking me to so many cor-
a reflection that you can rise above and become cause, without it, I wouldn't be able to do what I ners of the world in the next few years, and it's
stronger from these events. do and meet people online, and the community great to see this kind of response online, that
"For me, losing a person I thought I knew that is so lovely. And 99% of people are so good people are loving the music, because I loved
was quite difficult, but what would have been online and were such a beacon of support when creating it.
harder would have been staying with a person I really needed it, and I feel very privileged and "Everything is a journey for me, and I feel
who didn't have my best intentions at heart and grateful to have that." 'Bittersweet' is this next step for me, and I feel
I'm lucky everything that happened did because, Mentioning the growing number of female very lucky to be putting it out with people who
while it was horrible, it has made me a stronger stars in rock music, certainly in Cassidy's life- are backing me."
person. time, we ask her if there are any in particular
"It's an interesting one, but I have a lot of who have inspired her, not only with their talents nd the number of people backing her is
people in my life who I couldn't live without, but but, also, with the way they carry and conduct Aonly set to grow, so make sure, when
I know those people would stand by me and themselves. this butterfly visits your corner of the world, you
stick around until they had no other option. "Absolutely. One of my major ones was Lzzy take the time to take notice. We promise it won't
"I saw something online recently about it Hale [of Halestorm] growing up and I wasn't a be a bittersweet experience.
being scary losing someone like I did, but it's child that long ago. I grew up on Lzzy and Taylor
scarier staying with someone like that. The uni- Momsen from The Pretty Reckless, they were Visit www.cassidyparis.com and get ‘Bitter-
verse forced that to happen for a reason and I such powerful figures for me and, watching sweet’, out on Frontiers Music SRL now.
think it's to bring good and professional people those women on stage, just the way they carried
into my life.” themselves and how they were such a pillar of Words By Michael Coventry
strength in the industry, just really inspired me.
"I feel very lucky that I had people doing that Photos By Ian Ritter
CASSIDY PARIS