I had the chance to catch up with The Voice winner Cassadee Pope while she’s on Dean Brody’s Crop Circles & Tractor Beams tour across Canada. Not only is Cassadee incredibly talented but she was ridiculously easy to talk to and has a great energy. Read the interview below to hear her talk about Dean Brody, Canada, Tim McGraw and her plans for 2014.
Dallas: Welcome to Canada, how’re you enjoying it?
Cassadee: Thanks! I love it. It’s cold.
D: Were you prepared for just how cold it would be?
C: I really wasn’t but thankfully Dean Brody got me a parka, so I’m now prepared.
D: A nice Canada Goose jacket, those are very in demand. If you walk around, people are always in them.
C: I was going to say, I noticed all the patches and I feel like maybe I fit in a little bit.
D: I think you do. Tell me about your experiences in Canada so far – I know you probably don’t have too much time in each city, but how are you feeling about our country?
C: Yeah, I haven’t had a lot of time and when I do have time, it’s a little difficult to find your way around when it’s so cold – but I’ve had two days off in Toronto and I was able to explore a little bit. I went to the Eaton Centre, did some shopping and went to the store The Bay, which I love; it reminds me of Nordstrom in the US. Overall Canada seems like a very laid-back place. Walking around I didn’t feel unsafe at all, everyone is really nice and friendly. I feel very welcomed.
D: It’s really great, because you’re getting to experience Canada from coast to coast. Did you get some good seafood in the East?
C: We did, we got some great seafood in Fredericton, it was delicious. The shows and crowds have been amazing too. It’s been fun for me because a lot of people don’t know who I am or haven’t heard my music yet, so I love getting in front of these big crowds and opening for Dean Brody, it’s been great.
D: What do you think of Dean Brody so far?
C: He’s amazing! He’s really good and demands the crowd when he’s on stage. His songs are great and he has a great aura about him, he’s laid back and kind. He’s been very generous with us. I’m so happy that I’m opening for him in Canada because that gives me a great amount of exposure here.
D: If I can be bias, Dean is probably my favourite male artist in Canada, I think you’re in good hands with him. Let’s talk about the album Frame by Frame, the first single; “Wasting All These Tears” went Top 10. I’m curious what will be the next single? I have some picks…
C: …what are your picks?
D: I’m going to say, “Everybody Sings” or “Champagne” – those are my Top 2.
C: Okay, well… [Laughs]
D: [Laughing] What are your picks?
C: I know what it is! [Laughs] It’s not out in the public yet. I shot the music video for it and it looks awesome so far. It’s a very nice visual video – not a huge story line, just very nice to look at. It’s definitely a little more light-hearted than “Wasting All These Tears.” That was a very deep, emotional first single so I’m excited to lighten things up a bit.
D: But I love the “Wasting All These Tears” video, especially those great shots of you on the swing with the rain – that was your first big budget video, did you enjoy making it?
C: It was the first video I did the most acting in and definitely the most diverse video shoot I’ve ever done. With my old band (Hey Monday) our videos didn’t have as many wardrobe changes and different shots but this one had a lot of them. It was a long day but shooting in Nashville was really great. It was so organized, everyone was so focused and there wasn’t a lot of distractions going on, it was a long eleven or twelve hour shoot.
D: Is acting something you’d like to pursue in the future?
C: That would be fun, yeah. I want to pursue it eventually but I would be reluctant to do any acting right now because I need to spend all my time on my music. Anything I do now would have to be very small, small roles so it wouldn’t take up too much of my time.
D: I watched your reality show Cassadee Pope: Frame by Frame which was a lot of fun. Did you watch the show yourself?
C: I did, I watched it. Although some of it was a little cringeworthy, the off days going to visit radio and me not knowing who I was wearing on the red carpet [Laughs] the rest of it was so raw and authentic to me, I’m glad I did it. I was reluctant to do it at first because I know there’s a lot of production that goes into those shows, a lot of stuff you don’t see that is prompted, but I made it very clear that I was not into that or making that kind of show, and CMT wasn’t either – they’re not like that. It was a respectable, raw, gritty show and people got to see me in my truest light – imperfections and all.
D: I think that’s a great way to introduce a new artist, especially to the country market. I don’t think the show was trying to make you something you’re not. The fans want to know the real you, who you are and what you’re about.
C: My goal wasn’t to have a hit reality show that people would demand another season of – I made it really, really raw.
D: I didn’t think you would want to be on The Hills or anything. What’s coming up in 2014 that’s got you excited? I know you’re touring with Tim McGraw…
C: Yes! I’m really excited. That’s probably what I’m most excited about. He’s an artist I grew up listening to and obviously Faith is a huge influence to me. I’ve met both of them a few times and they’re just such lovely people. It’s inevitable. anyone who tours with Tim McGraw ends up being this massive artist. I’m hoping I’ll be one of those artists he launches.
D: I think that’s going to happen either way. Thanks for chatting with us on Top Country!
C: Thank You!
