After spending the majority of her career behind the booth, internationally renowned DJ Cassy is stepping into the spotlight with her debut LP, Donna.
Cassy (Catherine Britton) is a celebrated DJ that has delighted audiences around the globe with her taste-making techno for over 20 years. Born in England and raised in Austria, she was drawn to music at an early age. Spurred on by her mentor Electric Indigo, Cassy started DJing in her late 20s and quickly made a name for herself in underground electronic music circles. The rest, they say, is history. Since getting her start in the business, she's held residencies in some of the hottest clubs and cities, including Panorama Bar in Belgium, Rex Club in Paris, Trouw in Amsterdam and Circo Loco in Ibiza.
But with Donna, Cassy invites fans and listeners directly into her intimate world. The album, produced by King Britt, is the result of "six years of stop start," amid a number of personal challenges and triumphs. Throughout the LP, she effortlessly oscillates between different genres, throwing in techno, soul, dance, R&B and downtempo. (Her worldly inclinations can be traced back to her parents, whose father is from Barbados and mother is from Vienna). Donna is eclectic, moving, emotive and true to Cassy's roots. Her vocals, which dominate the album, recall the same soulful edge of singer-songwriter Sade.
The real triumph here, though, is the sense of creative freedom that pervades the album. As her press release notes, Donna "proves Cassy has much more than just effective club music up her sleeve." She isn't afraid to be vulnerable, to experiment or fail or — most importantly — dig deep. Perhaps what resonates most are the artist's own thoughts articulated during the prelude to "Back": "You should know by now, there's no point in looking back."
Donna clearly showcases that Cassy isn't in the business of looking back — only forward.
