Set for release this Friday, the 10th of October, ‘The Family Album’ is the third EP from powerhouse vocalist Cassie Holt, the former frontwoman of Cassie Holt and The Lost Souls.
‘The Family Album’ is available to pre-save here.
‘The Family Album’ is a concept release that sees Cassie Holt dedicate each track to the people she loves. Opening with ‘People I Love’, which serves as an introduction to what is to come, and giving a potted history of what she’s gone through, it is followed by 6 tracks, addressed and concerning her family, and roots. The EP came about after a move from her home state of Texas to California. From there she experienced shut downs during Covid-19, pregnancy, and the death of her father – even just one of these events would have given enough to make an album.
Opening track, ‘People I Love’, sees Cassie in a hospital room, in Long Beach, California, where she is saying goodbye to everyone she knows – and loves – just in case the very worst happens to her, as she battles with pulmonary edema. This segues into the next song, ‘Going Home’, where sadly she is experiencing last breaths of her father, as he dies in his own hospital room, in Dallas. The grief is palpable; she knows that her father must go, but it doesn’t make it any easier – it’s not fair. Cassie is torn between knowing that her father will be in a better place, where there’s no longer any hurt or sadness – and wanting him to stay with her, and her family.
The beautiful third track, ‘Mama’, is a dedication to her mother, telling her how she feels, “while you’re still around to heart it”. She apologises for any hurt she caused her – “for all the stupid shit I did when I was younger”. It’s soulful and stirring, and builds up as she recounts the bravery and strength of her Mama, who always made them feel like they were more than enough.
‘You And Me Against Everybody’ is Cassie Holt’s dedication to her sister, feeling every bit like an empowering girl anthem, relatable and resonant with any woman.
‘Spend My Life With You’, the fifth track, is a soulful country ballad, with an organ instrumental that transports it into Gospel territory, and elevated even higher with a chorus of backing vocalists. A love song with a slow dance rhythm, it feels like a wedding first dance song – and should certainly find its way to being one. ‘Spend My Life With You’ was co-created with Sharlotte Gibson, who is best known for her work with Whitney Houston, Kelly Clarkson, and Queen Latifah.
Penultimate track, ‘Sassy Little Bitch’, is a gutsy, glitzy dedication to her brother, a fierce queer, and undeniably proud anthem, written and sung in celebration of her brother’s journey.
The final track, ‘Lil Baby’, is a lullaby for her daughter, letting her know how much she means to her, and how much she has changed her life. “You make me a better version of me”. It’s haunting and poignant, with a music box style instrumental that underpins Holt’s powerful vocals.
‘The Family Album’ is out this Friday, the 10th of October. You can find out more about Cassie Holt and her music online on Instagram, Spotify, and Apple Music.
