Cassia - 'High Tones
Indie-rock trio Cassia release their blissfully upbeat summer anthem “High Tones” along with the accompanying velvet-cloaked music video, following their 2022 album ‘Why You Lacking Energy?’.
Ahead of supporting Circa Waves and Bastille on their UK tour, Cassia, made up of Rob Ellis (lead vocals, guitar), Lou Cotterill (bass), and Jake Leff (drums) bring back that oh-so summery feeling with their latest tropical track, “High Tones”, releasing Tuesday 13th June 2023, and with Radio 1 First Play confirmed - Clara Amfo, June 13th 7:30pm.
The sun-kissed indie sound we have grown used to hearing from the band over the past six years is slowly maturing into something heavier, with projected vocals, deeper guitar grooves, and bouncy drum beats. A shaker plays its part to keep to Cassia’s tropical roots, giving that sandy feel to the track, and making it the perfect tune to drift along to during hot summer days.
The band says, “The song was written from memories of being drunk at festivals last summer and the anticipation for festival season this year. Nothing beats that blissful chaos that always ensues… We wanted to make a song that encompassed that feeling for us, one you can dance to, that’s carefree and funky with loads of bounce and groove.”
The track opens with ear-catching noises, sounding like the band waking up with gentle whistles, and the day beginning - a concept that follows from the first track of the previous album with “Morning’s Coming”.
The first line, “Do you wanna take this slow?” contrasts the upbeat tempo, which continues to build until the chorus, when Rob sings, “Now you’re in my space girl” with a distortion to his vocals to give a dreamy, spacey feel.
The track consists of two pre-chorus’ which change from the first, “Feels like I’m dreaming in colour” to, “Feels like we’re dreaming in colour”, emphasising the crux of the tune - a summer romance, “with all the sun in the sky, and hearing high tones”.
The repetition of the chorus, and an instrumental finish emphasise the band's inspiration from the waviness of the festival season, and amp us the excitement for the season ahead.
“Why You Lacking Energy?” began to showcase a keen change for a group, and since the album's release, frontman Rob Ellis has spent time writing in LA, Cape Town, London and Berlin with a range of collaborating artists, piecing together the band’s new chapter, whilst maintaining the Cassia roots.
Rob explains, “It’s the first time we’ve really gone out of our insular bubble. Usually, we would write alone in our rooms. Now we’re getting friends and different producers involved.”
The new track comes as the complete package with a video directed by Harry Deadman, shot on Kodak 16mm film. A decadent theatre adorned with chandeliers and filled with finely dressed guests set the stage for the shift into a new era for the band.
The quick cuts, quirky characters, and rumbling stampede of feet makes way for the track as the theatre opens up to a dance floor and the band take their spot on a red-curtained stage, with Rob Ellis dressed in an oversized patterned suit.
The fashion-forward and prop-heavy video then erupts, with varying distorted shots, mixed lighting techniques, and the narrative of the original dining guests initially being outraged at the disruption of their meal, to eventually joining in the party. This video holds that familiar feel-good energy, with the band saying, “When we started chatting to director Harry Deadman and he said he wants to shoot on film we thought he was crazy - but it actually made the whole shoot day such a sick experience. It was mainly single takes and everyone was cheering through the scenes, singing and shouting along. It was epic.”
Although nothing out of the usual for Harry Deadman - a director and photographer with a firm grip on performance, art direction, fashion, and colour, Deadman is no stranger to turning absurd concepts into reality. The video elevates the “bounce and groove” of the track, creating a visual that encapsulates the band's energy, absurdity, and movement.
Cassia have come a long way from their start to life in Macclesfield. 2017 saw the release of their debut single ‘100 Times Over’, a dreamy, addictive rhythm with hints of the band’s Afro-Caribbean influences, stemming from Rob’s dad growing up in Zambia and passing down a full record collection.
In six years, two albums, countless singles, and a handful of EPs have been released, along with a relentless touring calendar around Europe and the UK. With 60 million Spotify streams to their name, ample support from DSPs across editorial playlists, and recent sold-out shows in London, Cassia are stepping out onto the main stage. The new EP promises to be the soundtrack of the summer.
Words by Jemma Levine
