Australian rock singer Cassidy Paris is rapidly emerging as one of the most exciting new names in melodic rock. Ahead of one of the shows on her ongoing Finish What We Started Tour, supporting her critically acclaimed album “Bittersweet”, she spoke to us about her Slavic roots, the emotions behind the record, the artists who shaped her sound, and what the future holds.
Interview by Matt Sakson
„‘Bittersweet’ Has Been a Massive Journey”
MATT: Hi Cassidy, it’s great to finally have a chance to speak with you! How has life treated you since the release of your second album, “Bittersweet”, which came out last autumn?
CASSIDY: Thank you for having me. “Bittersweet” has honestly been a massive journey for me. Even while we were recording the album, it almost felt as though, by the time it was released, it had become a bit of a prophecy of what was happening in my life. But the response to “Bittersweet” has really been the sweetest part of it all. Getting to meet so many wonderful people through this album – both the people I worked with and the fans – has been incredible. I honestly couldn’t be more grateful.
MATT: You’re not yet widely known in Poland, so how would you describe your music to readers who may be discovering Cassidy Paris as an artist for the very first time through this interview?
CASSIDY: Well, that’s a tricky question! (laughs) I think I’d simply say: rock 'n’ roll!
MATT: That probably sums it up perfectly, right?
CASSIDY: Exactly! (laughs)
Proud of Her European Heritage
MATT: Your last name clearly has Slavic roots – which would definitely catch the attention of our readers. Could you tell us a bit more about your family background?
CASSIDY: Of course. My parents are both first-generation Australians, meaning they were born in Australia, but my grandparents weren’t. My last name, Janevski, is Macedonian – my dad’s Macedonian, so I’m half Macedonian – and my mum is Hungarian. I grew up in a household where we obviously spoke English, but my grandparents’ first language wasn’t English. My dad speaks Macedonian and my mum speaks Hungarian, so it’s a really beautiful mix of cultures. I’m incredibly proud of that European heritage.
MATT: In that case, you definitely need to visit Central Europe – including Poland – very soon. Have you ever been there yet?
CASSIDY: I’ve never been to Poland, but I’d absolutely love to! Hopefully I’ll get a chance to play a show there sometime soon!
MATT: That would be fantastic! You’ve already mentioned your father, Steven, who is an experienced musician himself. How did growing up around him, in such an creative environment, influence your very own artistic journey?
CASSIDY: My dad and I have always had a really close relationship, and music naturally became part of it. But one thing I always make clear is that I was never pushed into it. My brother does something completely different, and my parents support him just as much. It’s been really beautiful to see our relationship continue to grow through touring and working together.
MATT: It’s actually quite rare to see such a close father-daughter relationship in the music world. It’s genuinely refreshing!
CASSIDY: I’m incredibly grateful for it, because I know not everyone grows up with that kind of support. I feel very lucky to have the parents I do.
Mentors and Inspirations
MATT: Besides your father, you also have another musical mentor you started working with as a teenager – Paul Laine, the former vocalist of the legendary band Danger Danger. How did your cooperation with Paul begin? How influential has he been in shaping you as an artist?
CASSIDY: Paul Laine has had an enormous influence on me as both a vocalist and a songwriter. Every time I’m around him, I feel like a sponge, taking in as much knowledge and experience as I possibly can. I always joke that he’s the “Rock 'n’ Roll Mozart” because his musical ability is just incredible. Our relationship goes back a long way. When I was around 12 years old, Paul was staying with my family while he was touring Australia, as my dad was playing in his backing band at the time. We were sitting in our living room with a couple of guitars, just playing around with ideas, and together we wrote the song “Talk About It”. Before that, I had already shown him one of my original songs, and from day one he was incredibly supportive and encouraging of me as a young songwriter. Having someone of Paul’s calibre believe in me at such a young age gave me a lot of confidence to keep writing and developing my own style. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to grow up surrounded by amazing musicians, and that’s something I never take for granted. Even today, whenever I work with other artists, I always try to learn something from them. Every collaboration is an opportunity to grow, and Paul has definitely played a huge part in shaping who I am as an artist.
MATT: You come from Australia, and the country has given the world so many iconic female artists – from Olivia Newton-John, Kylie Minogue and Delta Goodrem to Orianthi. Were any of them role models for you?
CASSIDY: Orianthi was a huge influence on me. “According to You” is still one of my favourite songs of all time. It’s just an incredible track. My dad always says that a good song is a good song regardless of genre, and Orianthi absolutely proved that with that song. She continues to make fantastic music and fly the flag for women in rock. I literally grew up with posters of her on my wall. Artists like Lzzy Hale, Pat Benatar and Joan Jett were also massive inspirations for me.
A Bridging Artist
MATT: A lot of young artists today lean heavily into modern production trends, while you openly embrace melodic hard rock and AOR influences. Do you feel like you’re helping bring this style back to a younger audience?
CASSIDY: I think so, definitely! I’ve always seen myself as a bit of a bridging artist – someone who can connect different generations of music fans. I think artists like that are really important right now if we want this style of music to return to where it deserves to be. I grew up listening to all sorts of music. Even Hayley Williams from Paramore had a huge influence on my stage persona. For me, a good song is a good song, and a great performer is a great performer. I don’t really like boxing myself into one specific style.
MATT: Your music clearly carries the spirit of ’80s rock 'n’ roll, but at the same time it feels fresh and modern. How do you balance nostalgia with contemporary songwriting?
CASSIDY: For me, it’s not only about bringing this style of music back, but also about continuing the amazing sense of family that exists within the rock scene. One thing I really love about the rock community is how inclusive it is. People genuinely support one another, and I’ve really experienced that myself while coming up in the industry. That support has enabled me to grow every single time I’ve come over to the UK or Europe.
Turning Pain into Music
MATT: In one of your previous interviews, you described “Bittersweet” as your most honest and personal album so far. Why was that?
CASSIDY: All my music is personal, but with “Bittersweet” I was really writing directly about my own life. Even the songs that were co-written with other people were still deeply connected to what I was going through at the time. The album became a response to an incredibly difficult period in my life – probably the hardest year I’ve ever experienced. So seeing people connect with it so strongly has been really special.
MATT: Songs like “Stronger” and “Gettin’ Better” deal with resilience and overcoming difficult experiences. Was it emotionally difficult to turn those experiences into music?
CASSIDY: Definitely! “Stronger” was probably the most emotional one for me. I was going through a lot personally at the time, and originally that song wasn’t even supposed to make the album. But eventually it felt like a message I needed to share with people – with the family we’ve created around Cassidy Paris. I always try to be as honest and vulnerable as possible with my fans, and “Stronger” really became a reflection of that.
MATT: There’s a real emotional honesty in your new songs. Do you think that openness has become one of your greatest strengths as an artist?
CASSIDY: I think so. “Stronger” really showed me how important honesty and vulnerability are when it comes to connecting with your audience. Even now, performing that song live and seeing people react emotionally to it is a really beautiful experience.
MATT: I have to say, it’s already my favourite song in your catalogue! One thing that really stands out is how much heavier and more mature “Bittersweet” feels – not only lyrically, which we have already discussed, but also musically – than your earlier work. Was that evolution natural, or did you deliberately push yourself in that direction?
CASSIDY: Absolutely, it felt like a completely natural progression. I also felt like my voice needed to move in that direction. I grew up listening to artists like Lzzy Hale, and as I’ve become older and more confident vocally, it’s been amazing to see what naturally comes out of that. Bittersweet felt like the next step for me, and I think the next album will continue that progression.
MATT: Speaking of that – are you already working on new material?
CASSIDY: Absolutely! I can promise there’s definitely new Cassidy Paris music coming very soon!
The Frontiers Family
MATT: You’re signed to Frontiers Music, which has become home to many respected melodic rock artists. What has working with the label taught you?
CASSIDY: One thing I really value about Frontiers is loyalty and that sense of family. Serafino, who runs the label, involves his family in the business, and that immediately stood out to me because my own family is deeply involved in what I do as well. My dad works closely with me, and my mum helps behind the scenes during shows and tours. That family atmosphere was something that really drew me towards Frontiers from the beginning. They’ve given me incredible support and opportunities.
MATT: Frontiers Music is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and as part of the celebrations you were asked to record a cover of one of the songs released under the label for a special compilation album. As a result, you recorded your own version of W.E.T.’s “Watch the Fire”. What was the song selection process like? Were you free to choose any song yourself, or was the track assigned to you by the label? Did you get any feedback afterwards from Jeff Scott Soto and Erik Mårtensson, the leaders of W.E.T.?
CASSIDY: I absolutely loved being part of Frontiers Music’s 30th anniversary celebrations. It was a real honour to be asked to record “Watch the Fire”, and I genuinely felt an instant connection to the song. At the time I was recording it, a lot of the lyrics reflected what I was experiencing in my own personal life, so I was able to put a lot of genuine emotion into the performance. The song was selected by Frontiers, and I honestly think they made the perfect choice for me. As soon as I heard it, it just felt right, and I wanted to do justice to the original while still making it my own. One of the highlights afterwards was hearing from Jeff Scott Soto. He reached out personally and was complimentary about my version, which meant a great deal to me. Jeff has had such an amazing career, so receiving that kind of feedback from someone I respect so much was really special. He’s genuinely one of the nicest people in the industry.
“Influence Me”
MATT: On your YouTube channel, you showcase some of your favourite songs in the “Influence Me” series – and some of them, including your wonderful version of “I Still Think About You” (one of my favourite rock ballads ever!), also make it into your live sets. What other songs can we expect to hear in this series in the near future? I highly recommend giving Richie Sambora’s “The Answer” a shot – it’s a beautiful and totally underrated ballad, and I think it would suit you perfectly!
CASSIDY: Thank you! I’m really glad you’ve been enjoying the series. “Influence Me” is my way of paying tribute to the artists and songs that have inspired me throughout my musical journey. It’s a chance for me to revisit the music that made me fall in love with rock in the first place while hopefully introducing those songs to a new audience. There are definitely plenty more to come. I’d absolutely love to record a Def Leppard song at some point – they’ve been a huge influence on me both vocally and musically. I also enjoy surprising people with songs they might not expect me to cover, especially those hidden gems that deserve a little more attention. And thanks for the Richie Sambora recommendation! I’ll definitely give “The Answer” a listen. I always love discovering songs that have a strong emotional connection, and if it speaks to me, you never know – it could end up becoming part of the series!
“Not Everyone Is Going to Like You”
MATT: As a young artist, you are obviously very active on social media – which is only natural, as it can help artists grow very quickly nowadays. The drawback, however, is that it also brings pressure and criticism. How do you deal with that side of things?
CASSIDY: I learned pretty early on that the more successful you become, the more criticism you’ll face. Not everyone is going to like you, and you have to come to terms with that. I was bullied quite badly at school, so I think I developed a thick skin pretty young. Even in adulthood, you realise those kinds of people still exist. But ultimately you just have to rise above it – and that’s exactly what I intend to keep doing.
MATT: You’re also heavily involved with the organisation Metalheads Against Bullying. Could you tell us a bit more about this initiative and the way you support it?
CASSIDY: Metalheads Against Bullying is a fantastic organisation dedicated to raising awareness about bullying and creating a supportive community through music. It’s something that’s very close to my heart because I know how important it is for people – especially young people – to feel accepted and supported. As a young woman coming into the rock industry, I experienced firsthand how welcoming and encouraging the Metalheads Against Bullying community was. That support meant a lot to me, and it’s one of the reasons I’m so passionate about giving back. I’m proud to help raise awareness for the organisation whenever I can. Music has an incredible way of bringing people together, and I think it’s important that we continue creating a community where everyone feels safe, respected and accepted for who they are.
“Rise Above and Be Stronger”
MATT: You’ve already toured Japan, Australia, Europe and the UK, and recently had the chance to perform in the United States for the first time during the Monsters of Rock Cruise. How different are audiences around the world?
CASSIDY: Every audience is different in its own way. Choosing a favourite would honestly be like choosing a favourite child. The UK will always be very special to me because it was one of the first places to really get behind me. Touring there – and in Japan – when I was still very young gave me amazing opportunities. I was around fifteen or sixteen when I first started performing in Japan. The UK really helped take things to the next level for me and eventually led to me getting signed. But Europe has been amazing too – I recently played Frontiers Fest and it was incredible!
MATT: What do you hope the next chapter of your journey will look like?
CASSIDY: We definitely have a very clear plan for the next few years, and I’m incredibly excited about it. There’s a lot of new music coming, and there are so many exciting opportunities ahead of us – some things we haven’t even announced to the fans yet. I think the future is going to involve meeting lots of new people and reaching entirely new audiences.
MATT: Finally, what would you like to say to your Polish fans, from the bottom of your heart?
CASSIDY: The invitation to our shows is absolutely open to everyone. I think once people come to a Cassidy Paris show, they quickly realise it really does feel like one big family. “Rise above and be stronger” is very much the motto for me right now, and that’s the message I want people to take away.