Manchester’s ray of summery indie pop sunshine, Cassia kick off 2021 with their new EP ‘Powerlines’.
The EP is a sun-soaked collection which explores dealing with an uncertain future. Written between sunny Cape Town and Berlin mid-lockdown, the EP is filled with head-bopping grooves, big hooky choruses and introspective lyrical content.
‘Powerlines’ is the antidote we need in these times. It’s all about escaping from your dependencies and how to feel free or freedom. It came at a time when Cassia started struggling with the new situation not being that new anymore.
“It was just after things started to settle in and become ‘normal’, which really messed with our heads,” says frontman Rob Ellis. “Jake brought in the idea for ‘Powerlines’ based on his turbulent and supposedly dependent relationship with cigarettes.
“As we wrote the song, memories of when we all first started driving kept creeping into conversation; just messing about without a plan. It felt like that antidote we all needed.
“A song that you’d crank up in your car and just drive off to. That’s what ‘Powerlines’ is to us. Jake has since binned off the cigs.”
Next on the EP is the jangly pop-rock single ‘Do Right’. A proper sunshine indie-pop sound with infectious vocal hooks, percussive stabs and intricate guitar work.
‘Drifting’ is a personal favourite from the EP and is arguably the most festival-worthy with its powerful singalong chorus and clean guitar work. The warm funk-inspired bassline and versatile percussive stabs and drumming make ‘Drifting’ the perfect driving anthem.
Final single ‘Don’t Make a Scene’ debuted as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record before being highlighted as Jack Saunders’ Midnight Drop on Radio 1. The melodically rich indie-pop tune is a joyous summer bop which represents a stellar leap forward from their debut album.
With the ‘Powerlines’ EP comes a 90s aesthetically themed music video for the lead single. Designed to be a celebration of carefree days, the video shows Cassia in mid-winter pulling down the convertible, pumping up some tunes and driving into the countryside with no destination in mind.
“The video is a nod to those memories we had,” adds Rob. “It shows a bunch of mates without a plan enjoying their first taste of real freedom.
“We set the scene in the late 90s, as we all grew up with homemade VHS tapes, which evoke such nostalgia.”
Cassia’s music transports us to a brighter, warmer environment while their lyrics, inspired in part by some deep self-reflection, show how the band attempted to make sense of an uncertain future. They’re now inspiring their growing community of fans while also earning fresh critical acclaim.
Cassia have already completed another EP which will follow later this year, and have also made significant progress on their eagerly anticipated second studio album.
