Casii Stephan - Music for the Heart
From channeling the spirit of Aretha Franklin to articulating the diverse experiences of womanhood, indie-pop meets soul-rock singer-songwriter Casii Stephan has continuously utilized her musical talents to extend support to those in need. Outside the realm of music, Stephan has risen as a guiding light for marginalized communities by orchestrating female-led festivals and engaging in street demonstrations supporting causes like Black Lives Matter and Women’s Marches. For Casii Stephan, advocacy knows no bounds. To discover more about Casii Stephan's journey, read further.
Where are you based?
I'm based in what people call the Paris of the Midwest - Tulsa, Oklahoma.
What motivated you to embark on a journey in the music industry?
I grew up with music and when I figured out I could write my own songs that's when I wanted to know if it was possible for me to actually do it full-time.
How do you go about writing songs? Are there certain musicians who influenced your music style?
My friend Crys Matthews described it best for me. I'm a therapy writer. I feel strongly and need to write out some thoughts and emotions and that's where songs come out. I don't really have one musician that inspires me. I've been inspired by a range of artists from pop to country to folk to soul. I just love a well-written song. Don't we all?
We love your new song “Can’t Handle Me.” It is super fun and hilarious. Does this come from a particular experience or a collection? What inspired you to turn it into a song?
Thank you!!! I'm so glad you find it hilarious. It was inspired when my friend/roommate/manager went out and had a truly craptacular experience at a bar with a drunk guy and I was just so done with that being the story over and over again. So "Can't Handle Me" came out of that. It was a song that came out quickly.
I feel like every woman everywhere can relate to your song. What do you hope your listeners get from your song?
I hope anyone listening to any of my songs feels a little less alone. And I hope women feel empowered to know it's them, not you.
“Can’t Handle Me” is a bit more peppy than some of your other songs, why the change?
It's just what I felt when I wrote it. Really inspired by the "I told you so" feeling that Aretha Franklin always brings.
Your songs often resonate deeply with listeners. How do you approach connecting with your audience on an emotional level through your music?
I just try and be honest about where I'm at and hope it connects. Some songs connect better than others. Some places vibe better with different songs. So I just keep trying to be me and see where life takes me.
We've learned that you volunteer with Black Wall St at Legacy Fest. Could you elaborate on your involvement and contributions to their cause?
Well, it was during the pandemic. 100-year commemoration of the Tulsa Race Massacre. I wanted to serve the Black community during that time and that was the best way I knew how.
Over the last three years, you've been involved with MisFEST. Can you tell us more about your collaboration with MisFEST?
I helped found the festival in 2017. Amira and I wanted to start highlighting the incredible female-led acts in Tulsa. We were a little tired of seeing the same line-up on repeat and women were usually at the bottom. So we wanted to do a showcase and ended up with a festival. It was a great experience working with other women in Tulsa to create a space that was safe, colorful, and super well-organized. Women get stuff done.
You've mentioned your active involvement in marches, ranging from BLM marches to Women’s Marches. What significance do you believe these marches hold, and why do you advocate for people's involvement in them?
I feel bittersweet about marches. I love them and the solidarity I feel when I'm among people who are on the same page as me. At the same time, I question how they change things. Just being honest. I know the marches for Palestine have been huge and yet here we are with no ceasefire. It's a tough one. At the same time, the marches for BLM in 2020 changed things. I just hope it continues as we keep moving forward in time.
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations and goals as a songwriter and artist? Are there any specific projects or collaborations you're excited about pursuing in the future?
I'm excited about collaborating with more artists as I continue to make new friends in this industry. I also just want to keep growing and challenging myself as an artist and just hopefully never plateau. I'm working on my next project and I don't want to share too much, but I'm excited about it.
Are there any upcoming projects you would like to share?
I'm releasing my Relationship Status EP this year. Sometime in June/July. "Can't Handle Me" is the first single from it. I also have some other songs I'll be releasing this year and I'm excited to see what people think.
It's been a crazy past few years. How have you been staying positive?
Just putting one foot in front of the other. I try to stay connected with my local community. That's the area where I can have more of an impact.
What is your motto in life? Any final words of wisdom?
Motto in life.... Gosh... My favorite quote is "Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it is not the end." I try and tell myself that when I'm down. Just make it one more day. Or see what happens next week. Today is not the final say.
To learn more about Casii Stephan, follow the links below:
www.casiistephan.com
IG: www.instagram.com/casiistephan
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@casiistephan
Images by Alexxus B.
