Words by: Amanda Marano

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, Cassadee Pope, has proved she can rise to any occasion with her latest project, Rise and Shine. As the former frontwoman of the rock band, Hey Monday, Cassadee has been known for her powerful vocals on popular pop-punk tracks. Now, The Voice winner [and fan favorite!] has released an acoustic country album – and somehow it all seems to fall into place.  The transition from pop-punk to country might be rare, but her rock roots and her smooth voice flow perfectly into the genre.

The vulnerable 8-track album shows a whole new side of Cassadee. She calls the album’s style something reminiscent of a “country Dashboard Confessional.”  Both intimate yet relatable, Cassadee co-produced and co-wrote the tracks with guitarist and producer, Todd Lombardo.

Following her 2019 sophomore album, Stages, the project acts as a much-needed return to creating for the artist. The acoustic sound of the album flows perfectly into everyone’s daily routines being stuck home and offers a place of comfort and familiarity. Yet, the title brings peace and hope for all the good that can come from a new day.

Cassadee starts the album off strong with the somber “Let Me Go”,  where she pours her heart out to another about a relationship that can’t continue the way it has been. The melancholy track is followed by a wave upbeat and catchy tunes, where the record takes a turn for the brighter. With tracks like “Hoodie”,  Cassadee takes you back a simpler time in life, where all the firsts and angst of your teenage years seem like the world. The little things like an article of clothing take you back to those moments and those memories.

On “California Dreaming”,  she sings, “I’ve been Texas talking to myself at night / I’ve been Florida Fallin since I met you in 09 / I’ve been Arizona angry over every word we said / And Tennessee whiskey wishing I could take it back… Keep trying to lose you in the Hollywood hills / But I’m California dreaming still and I always will.”  She teams up with her boyfriend, Sam Palladio to deliver some amazing harmonies.

Jumping ahead to the empowering title track “Rise and Shine”,  Cassadee brings the vocals as she sings “When times get tough / Yeah no matter what /We gotta rise and shine / When you try your best and it just ain’t enough/ You wanna spread your wings but you feel stuck / You could give it all up or just believe / And shake yourself awake from this bad dream.”  The track inspires listeners to keep fighting and pushing through any obstacle we may face.

Closing the album with the soulful and emotional track, “Built This House”, Cassadee sings, “I built this house / From the foundation to the roof / It’s all me baby, blood, sweat, and the truth / Solid ground and weatherproof / I had to tear the old one down / Was living in somebody else’s plans for me / Locked in and I couldn’t find the key / Now it’s wall to wall, all me.”  The track is the perfect closer as she talks about where she’s come from and where she’s going, singing about all the things she wants in life.

Since being the first female winner of The Voice back in 2012, Cassadee has been gaining traction within the music industry. With guidance and influence from Blake Shelton, anyone can see the refinement and skill she puts into her craft and into this album. To see such a talented and versatile artist, one who was formerly the frontwoman of the pop-rock band Hey Monday, who was so influential in the pop-punk scene, to continue to grow, learn, and expand her discography in such a unique way is exciting and inspiring in so many ways. With such an incredible third album, we look forward to seeing where her talent and craft takes her left.

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE