As with so many models, Cassie wanted more. So, a few years back, an industry connection introduced her to the producer Rockwilder. He suggested Cassie take vocal lessons.
Cassie got further after mutual friends introduced her to producer Ryan Leslie, who had connections to P. Diddy's Bad Boy label. She signed to Leslie's production company last year, and, savvily, the two set up a Myspace site to expose their demos, including "Me & U." "I answered every E- mail that came in. I really got into it," Cassie says.
The site took off - to the point where deejays started playing the song from the demo alone. Eventually, that inspired the usual bidding war among labels. Diddy's Bad Boy won out.
His label needs the hit badly. Having lost smash acts like Faith Evans and 112, Bad Boy's only score of late has been through it's Southern division, thanks to Yung Joc. The imprint may advance the turnaround next week, once Cassie's self-titled debut album hits stores.
Cassie's disk benefits from a uniform sound. Leslie produced every track. While the disk takes detours to new wave rock, it's mainly bubblegum R&B, with a splash of synth-pop tossed in. The album's lyrics hone a sex-kitten persona for Cassie, a role she calls "my alter ego. It's really not me."
The candid singer is the first to admit that, vocally, she's "no Aretha Franklin." But Cassie can do a decent Janet Jackson. And so long as summer lasts, there's no need for her to do much more.
Cassie got further after mutual friends introduced her to producer Ryan Leslie, who had connections to P. Diddy's Bad Boy label. She signed to Leslie's production company last year, and, savvily, the two set up a Myspace site to expose their demos, including "Me & U." "I answered every E- mail that came in. I really got into it," Cassie says.
The site took off - to the point where deejays started playing the song from the demo alone. Eventually, that inspired the usual bidding war among labels. Diddy's Bad Boy won out.
His label needs the hit badly. Having lost smash acts like Faith Evans and 112, Bad Boy's only score of late has been through it's Southern division, thanks to Yung Joc. The imprint may advance the turnaround next week, once Cassie's self-titled debut album hits stores.
Cassie's disk benefits from a uniform sound. Leslie produced every track. While the disk takes detours to new wave rock, it's mainly bubblegum R&B, with a splash of synth-pop tossed in. The album's lyrics hone a sex-kitten persona for Cassie, a role she calls "my alter ego. It's really not me."
The candid singer is the first to admit that, vocally, she's "no Aretha Franklin." But Cassie can do a decent Janet Jackson. And so long as summer lasts, there's no need for her to do much more.
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