Interview – Cassidy Paris: The Commitment to Keep Hard Rock Alive

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By Gabriel Arruda – @gabrielarruda07

It’s exciting to see the younger generation being influenced by ’80s hard rock and aspiring to follow in the footsteps of the bands and artists who helped popularize the genre around the world. Cassidy Paris, an Australian in her early twenties, is one of those people who have embraced rock as a way of life. And that’s no exaggeration, as it’s rare to see such a strong rock ’n’ roll spirit shining through both the songwriting and the stage performance, where she truly stands out, feels at home, and showcases what she does best: singing and bringing all her energy to the songs featured on New Sensation (2023) and Bittersweet (2025), her two albums to date. With charisma, style, attitude, and, above all, talent, Cassidy is one of those artists destined to conquer major stages around the world. While touring Brazil, she sat down for an interview with Road To Metal to talk about this exciting chapter in her life and other aspects of her successful career.

Cassidy, you started out at a very young age. When did you realize that music would become more than just a passion and turn into a career?

CP: I think the major turning point for me probably came during high school. Before that, there was another important moment when our great friend Paul Laine came to Australia. I worked with him on songwriting for the first time, and that was around the time I realized this was really what I wanted to pursue. But high school was the real turning point for me. I realized that so many kids wanted to become scientists, doctors, or teachers, whereas music was really where I wanted to be, especially in that environment.

You were exposed to experienced musicians from a very early age. How did those experiences help shape the artist you are today?

CP: In many ways, actually, in every way. I mean, I grew up with my dad, who has been my mentor and role model ever since I came out of my mother’s womb (laughs). Then, as I mentioned, I was introduced to Paul Laine, and from there I got to know a whole range of different musicians. More recently, I met Fred and Pete, who have a great deal of experience in the music industry. I really value all of that and try to absorb as much knowledge as I can from these musicians because they have so much to teach me. I feel very privileged that they’ve also been able to pass on all that experience to me.

Edu Lawless – @edulawless

Do you think your musical identity was clear from the beginning, or was it something you discovered over the years?

CP: I think it definitely developed over time. For me, those early years were all about discovering myself and figuring out who I would become as an artist because I started so young and, as you said, I was exposed to so many different artists and bands. But finding your own path in the music industry is something many musicians talk about, especially those who get into this business at such a young age. I think that recently, with my second album, *Bittersweet*, I finally felt like I’d found my identity as an artist and as a performer. I hope people can see that in the live shows, and that those who have followed me from the beginning can also notice the difference, from the release of my first single, “Talk About It,” to my most recent one, “Stronger.”

You met Paul Laine when you were very young, and he became an important figure in your artistic development. What did you learn from him that is still part of who Cassidy Paris is today?

CP: I call Paul my “fun uncle” because I once called him my dad, and he wasn’t too happy with that title because he didn’t think it sounded fun enough (laughs). He’s been one of the main foundations of the whole Cassidy Paris project from the very beginning. He taught me a lot about songwriting and even about the attitude we should have as artists, as well as how to make fans feel that they have a connection with us. He really taught me how important that is from a very early age. It’s something I still carry with me, and I try to put it into practice by making sure fans feel seen and appreciated at every show they attend. Regardless of everything else, it always comes down to the fans and trying to give them the best show possible. But going back to Paul, he’s been a huge supporter of me and my career since I was around 12 or 13 years old. So I owe a great deal of my journey to him as well.

He released a new album recently. It’s amazing!

CP: Yes, he’s amazing! I’m a huge Paul fan, just like my dad, Fred, and Pete. Everyone is a fan of his! I was talking to him about the new album recently, and songs like “Her Name Is Trouble” instantly became some of my favorites. So I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to build that mentor relationship with him while growing up.

If I’m not mistaken, that new solo album was originally supposed to be the fourth The Defiants record.

CP: Yes, that’s right! The Defiants are great!

Their latest album, Driver, is really good!

CP: Amazing! It’s an amazing show, with a fantastic crew as well. I love all of them.

Bittersweet (2025) presents a more mature artist compared to New Sensation (2023). What changed in Cassidy Paris during that period?

CP: Quite a lot, I think. Emotionally, I went through a lot of things that ended up shaping the album. Many artists say that when you go through something that fundamentally changes who you are, you end up making your most honest and genuine music. I think that worked really well on tracks like “Stronger” and “Nothing Left to Lose,” because you can hear how I channeled all those experiences into my music. And honestly, I don’t know if I would have been able to get through everything I went through without music. It has always been a very important outlet for me, a place where I can put all my energy and soul.

Does the title Bittersweet simply represent the album’s concept, or does it also reflect a specific period in your life?

CP: Yes, I think Bittersweet was a title I had chosen for the album some time ago, and when so many things happened in my life, it ended up making a lot of sense. I feel like the whole album is almost like a prophecy, and I don’t think there could have been a more perfect title for it. I’m also looking forward to releasing the new songs soon because I hope people will realize that they represent an evolution, a step forward, and that they reflect more accurately where I am in my life right now.

The album features some very different musical moments. How do you decide how far to experiment without losing your identity?

CP: That’s a great question! I think that, for me, listening to a Cassidy Paris album is a bit like listening to a band such as Extreme: you’re going to find things that are very different from what you might expect to hear on one of my records. I’m really happy that we made that clear to fans with *New Sensation* (2023), because they could see that you might find songs like “Addicted” alongside “Midnight Desire,” which are genuinely very different from each other. I think that’s the main thing for me: it’s never been about putting myself in a narrow lane and limiting the musical direction I want to take. It’s much more about seeing how things develop and considering where the fans want me to go. Another thing I learned from the latest album, especially with “Nothing Left to Lose,” is that this heavier sound has grown with me as I’ve matured and delved deeper into the Cassidy Paris universe. I think that will probably be the direction we take from now on because that’s what the fans want to see.

Frontiers Records (Imp.)

Is there a song on the album that holds a particularly special meaning for you?

CP: Stronger is a very important song. It was the second single we released from Bittersweet (2025), and it’s simply the most special song to me because I can see in it not only a version of myself that I feel no longer exists, but also a new, stronger version—sorry for the pun! I can also see that transformation in the fans. Every night, when we play this song, they connect with it in a different way, on a very special level.

Stronger really carries that feeling. What else does the song represent to you?

CP: Well, it was originally a song by Wicked Smile, my dad’s band. I used to sing it with them, so there’s actually a Wicked Smile version of “Stronger” out there, as well as a Cassidy Paris version. My version was adapted to suit me, not only in terms of what I was going through at the time, but also musically. That’s why the song has always held a special meaning for me, from childhood through my growing up and transition into adulthood. My dad originally wrote it with me in mind, thinking about the difficulties I was facing in high school, the bullying I experienced, and the importance of overcoming it all. In the end, I think it fit perfectly as a piece of the Bittersweet puzzle.

The whole album is really good, but “Finish What We Started” is a song I’m particularly fond of.

CP: Oh, thank you! I love that song!

And I also love Can’t Let Go, which is a wonderful ballad!

CP: Thank you!

Your sound is strongly connected to ’80s hard rock and melodic rock. What still fascinates you about that era?

CP: All of it, I think. To me, the rock scene is constantly changing and adapting to modern times every single day. We have so many new people emerging on the scene, and young people coming to our shows and discovering rock, whether through our music or because they discovered me through rock. That’s really cool to see. I think that with so many artists emerging now and embracing this musical style, we’re going to start seeing this kind of music gain momentum again and return to the mainstream on a much larger scale.

Edu Lawless – @edulawless

Artists such as Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, and Lita Ford paved the way for women in rock. How much do these artists influence the way you perform?

CP: In many ways, I think Pat Benatar is one of my biggest influences. I watched her a lot throughout my childhood and teenage years, and I still watch her today. She has an incredible ability to command the stage and win over an audience. The same goes for Joan Jett and her charisma, as well as Lita Ford. Another major influence while I was growing up was Lzzy Hale. I grew up listening to Halestorm and watching the way she moved around the stage and sang. I learned so much from that band. I grew up with posters of all these people on my bedroom walls. So saying they influenced me would be an understatement. They really helped shape me and allowed me to build my identity as an artist and as a person in the music industry.

Do you feel there’s a difference between reviving a sound from the past and keeping it alive through a new generation?

CP: Absolutely! I don’t think anything is ever going to sound exactly the same, and I hope people remember that because we’re living in a different era. For this musical style to continue to exist and for new and more experienced artists to coexist, we need to support one another and find a middle ground. What I’ve seen recently, working with so many people in this industry and attending events such as the Monsters of Rock Cruise, is that many artists who may have reached their peak in the ’80s or ’90s are very supportive of me and other younger artists. It’s great to see because I believe that if we work together, we’ll achieve the result we all want: seeing rock return to a prominent place in the mainstream.

Edu Lawless – @edulawless

And do you believe your generation can contribute even more to hard rock today?

CP: Absolutely! I think bringing rock back into the mainstream is something everyone would love to see because we’re so passionate about this musical style. It would be great to hear these songs playing on mainstream radio and see this kind of sound gaining ground again. Even on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, we see all kinds of different songs gaining visibility thanks to these tools. As I said, it all comes down to working together, and I really hope we can make that happen as an industry.

As I mentioned at the beginning, you started your career very young and entered a scene that is still predominantly male. Have you ever felt that you had to prove more than other artists?

CP: I like to think that, at least among the people I spend time with and work alongside, gender has never been an issue. I’ve never heard comments like “she’s good for a woman” from the men I work with today. I really respect that because I don’t think this kind of thing should even be questioned. Obviously, it’s great to see women in the music industry, especially from a representation standpoint. But I would never go to a show to see an artist because they’re a woman, a man, or belong to any particular gender, let alone because of stereotypes. I think it all comes down to the music and the art of making music. And I believe that’s a very important message to share.

Would you like your career to help other girls see rock as a place where they belong?

CP: Absolutely. I think that’s been a very important part of the whole Cassidy Paris project, and I see it happening every day. We just played a festival called Made of Stone, and one of my favorite memories was meeting a little girl named River. She told me she had started playing drums and was really excited to see a woman onstage. That’s exactly what I mean when I talk about representation. It’s never been about a woman being better or worse than a man, but it’s wonderful that younger girls, or women of any age, can see that. Perhaps women had less representation in the ’80s and ’90s, when there were very few of them. So one of the things I love most is seeing the impact we can have on so many people’s lives.

Edu Lawless – @edulawless

You’re in Brazil right now. What has stood out to you most about Brazilian audiences?

CP: Well, from my perspective, I haven’t had much exposure to that yet, obviously, because I haven’t played any shows or met many fans in person. But even online, it’s been really cool interacting with Brazilian fans. I was telling my dad earlier that it seems like all these people have a very special light and energy about them. I’m really excited to perform here for the first time, and I feel privileged to have this opportunity because Brazilians seem to want to experience everything so intensely, perhaps even more than anywhere else I’ve played before. That’s really exciting for us!

Have you noticed any differences between Brazilian audiences and fans in Europe, the United States, or Australia?

CP: I’ve already met some Brazilian fans at events like the Monsters of Rock Cruise, and I promise I’ll give you an update after we’ve completed the tour. But I’ve been told that Brazilians are very vibrant, full of energy, affectionate, and show a great deal of appreciation for artists. I could see that even today when we went out. Everyone was very helpful, smiling, and friendly. It’s such a great energy to be around, so I feel very privileged to be here right now.

Were you familiar with Brazilian rock before coming here? Do you know any Brazilian bands or artists?

CP: Well, there’s probably a lot I still don’t know, and I’m looking forward to exploring that side of the rock scene a little more. We’ve had a Brazilian bass player perform with us before, Vinnie Tex, and he was great. I also know that Doro has a Brazilian musician in her band. These days, there are so many different cultures represented in bands, and it’s really cool to play festivals because you get the chance to talk to people from so many different backgrounds. Even Crashdïet has a Brazilian musician in the lineup. So there are many different ways for Brazilian musicians to be represented in music. I’m excited to visit Galeria do Rock, I think that’s what it’s called, and spend some time looking for vinyl records and CDs. It’s going to be a lot of fun for us!

Edu Lawless – @edulawless

That’s great! Since you mentioned Crashdïet, it’s amazing to see a Brazilian musician like Chris in such an important band.

CP: Yes, yes! I was talking to Chris earlier today, and he was telling me that I needed to try this and try that. He’s a really cool guy. Actually, he reached out to me a while ago to invite me to appear in a Crashdïet music video. In the meantime, we were on tour, and we finally met in person at Monsters of Rock earlier this year. That was really cool!

You really don’t know any Brazilian bands?

CP: Guys (turning to her bandmates), do you want to give me a hand with this? Can you think of anything?

Stevie Janevski: Sepultura!

There’s also Nervosa. I don’t know if you’re familiar with them...

CP: Yes. Oh, there’s Malvada. And you know what’s funny? The girls from Malvada are friends of mine, too! I chat with them a little online, and they’re absolutely killing it! They recently played Rock in Rio. So, actually, I do know Brazilian bands; I just end up forgetting them when I’m put on the spot.

There’s a singer here in Brazil who’s been attracting a lot of attention, named Aléxia. I think you’ll like her, so give her a listen sometime. Her songs are all in Portuguese, though.

CP: I’ll listen to her. Hopefully, that will help me learn the language, because I’m realizing that not many people speak English here, so communicating is going to be difficult for me. If I listen to her music, maybe I’ll be able to learn.

Is there an artist you still dream of working with?

CP: There are so many artists I dream of working with. And I believe collaborations are something that will happen naturally over time. The guys and I have a very clear vision of where we want to take Cassidy Paris over the next few years, and I can’t wait to share that with everyone. But I also want to thank you for taking the time to interview me.

If you could go back and talk to 11-year-old Cassidy Paris, what would you tell her?

CP: Keep going, because, in the end, you end up coming to Brazil (laughs).

And looking ahead to the next five years, where would you like to be?

CP: I’m really happy with Cassidy Paris’s progress and with what we’ve built so far. One thing that’s very important to me and always at the forefront of my mind is building a solid foundation and a fan community that feels more like a family. I hope we can continue strengthening that relationship with our fans, making it feel more like a family than simply a fan base. I think that’s something I’ve really noticed over the past year in terms of connection, and I’m very excited to keep developing it. I hope that, in the future, this relationship will grow into something even bigger, into a real love story that’s even more intense than it already is.