Casi

Photograph by Kristina Banholzer

Name?
Casi

Where are you from?
I was brought up in one of Wales’ smallest cities, Bangor - up in the very north, located on the outskirts of Eryri (Snowdonia).

The word Wales actually derives from ‘Walah’ - the synonym given on the Celts by the Anglo-Saxons, meaning ‘foreigners, strangers, romance-speakers’ - growing up here gives you a very surreal outlook on British identity - I speak Britain’s native tongue as my first language, Welsh, but am often seen as part of a group that's on the periphery of British culture. I’ve always had a very different sense of what is means to be British.

What do you do?
I’m an artist, my main discipline at the moment is writing music.

Describe your style in three words?
Expressive, emotional, fluid.

You can make a record with anyone from history?
Freddie Mercury - I love ‘These Are The Days Of Our Lives’, it’s so sad but hopeful at the same time.

What’s the best show you’ve ever been too?
The Black Keys - ‘The Only One’ - after making the decision to buy tickets upon my return from a party, I unintentionally booked the wrong city. Paris was great though.

What British music icons inspire your sound today?
That’s a good question - I’d say musically I come from two very different places - my childhood was filled with traditional folk music, I’d often sing to the accompaniment of the harp - but I soon lost interest in the harp and through the medium of TV music channels, I became passionate for popular culture. Bowie has inspired everyone who creates art in the context of popular culture (and beyond) today, be they aware of it or not. Tim Walker, the photographer, has been an inspiration for a long time too.

You can spend an hour with anyone from history?
The poet, Hedd Wyn, who was killed during the Battle of Passchendaele in World War I. His story’s incredibly sad, but his poetry is still treasured to this day.

Casi, the Welsh-born synthpop songstress released her debut single 'Lion' via Chess Club Records in the Summer of 2016. You can listen to her new single 'The Beast' below.