( ENSPIRE Music ) Casii Stephan Will Release EP “Relationship Status” This Summer
ENSPIRE Contributor: Gabrielle Maya
Casii Stephan is known for her soulful, drenched sound, along with splashes of pop and rock, making her music an enjoyable listen. MN-born and Tulsa-based artist she has released a new single called “Average Man.” Produced by Ben Tanner (Alabama Shakes, St. Paul, and the Broken Bones), Casii says the song was “inspired by Shania Twain’s documentary where her ex-husband cheated on her while she was going through Lyme disease; an Oncology Nurse told me it’s so common for some men to leave their partners when they get cancer that nurses will counsel women about it. When I heard this, I knew I needed to express my anger. These men seem to think they have the right to “better” partners when women lose their “resources,” and I just wanted to cut their ego with a song. A woman’s value is more than her health; please stay single if you can’t see that.”
Stephan’s music career began when she moved to Tulsa in 2014. She intended to give up her music pursuits. However, encouragement from a friend motivated her back into the music gig, and she continued songwriting. What makes her songwriting special is the depth of her emotions in each lyrical sentence. With open honesty, Stephan’s lyrics push back on negative societal norms such as sexism, ageism, and ‘playing nice’ as a woman. Deconstructing her values and beliefs with hope for change is why listeners return to her for more. Honing her songwriting craft has led her to release music in 2016.
“Average Man” is the third single of her upcoming EP Relationship Status. The concept EP takes the listener on an emotional journey from one relationship status to another, finally realizing that these statuses do not define you. Stephan’s voice is fierce and fearless, but this is not always true. She grew up shy and afraid of her voice until she started writing songs on the family piano when she was 16.
Ever since she began releasing music in 2016, Stephan has received national songwriting awards, toured regionally, and performed in Folk Alliance showcases. Stephan signed with TRO Essex Music Publishing in October, joining talented folk writers such as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seger and iconic rock bands like The Who, Black Sabbath, and Pink Floyd. She has received acclaim from “Billboard,” “NPR,” “SPIN,” and “American Songwriter,” among others, and has performed at SXSW and the Sundance Film Festival. According to “NPR”, Casii Stephan has a “gorgeously emotive voice that inspires comparisons to alt-pop artists like Florence Welch and Fiona Apple with a writing style reminiscent of Carole King.”
Listen to “Average Man” and stream it on Spotify and other music platforms. Follow her on Instagram for more updates on her EP release and future projects. Visit www.casiistephan.com for details on other music and tour dates. EP “Relationship Status” will be released later this summer.
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