SoCal based singer/songwriter Casey Ahern has delivered her latest single titled Just A Dance featuring some mighty fine musicianship from some Nashville’s top class players.
Now 20 years old, Casey has been performing and playing with bands since she was 16. With that in context, the past few years have seen her online presence grow as she continues building buzz one show and one release at a time.
Her portfolio of performances includes some well known LA venues including The Mint and The Viper Room. She has also played at popular SoCal venues such as The Canyon Club (Agoura Hills), The Arena (Simi Valley) and Borderline Bar & Grill (Thousand Oaks). This year, she starting performing acoustic shows at Soho Restaurant in Santa Barbara as well as Music Club and Figueroa Mountain Brewery in Los Olivos.
Her upcoming album, Where I Run, is being prepped for release and includes an impressive list of Nashville’s top musicians including: guitarists Tim Galloway (Josh Turner, Luke Bryan) and Kris Donegan (Brett Eldredge, Shania Twain), bassist Lee Hendricks (Eric Church), keyboardist David Dorn (Tim McGraw, Kelsea Ballerini), drummer Matt King (Maren Morris, Brothers Osborne) and two time Grammy nominated violinist Eamon McLoughlin (Rodney Crowell, The Band Perry). Where I Run (the album) was produced by the veteran production team of Nathan Meckel and Mark Niemiec who are known as The Buzz Brothers.
Just A Dance is the lead single off the forthcoming album and sets the tone for what we can expect from her future release. With a contemporary country foundation, a little pop appeal, and some West Coast folk attitude, Just A Dance is a slower jam that is going to stimulate the senses of those who enjoy their country a little more classic but with a refreshing and modern aesthetic.
Listen to Just A Dance below or find it on Spotify.
Connect with Casey Ahern on her official website.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
I grew up in Oak Park, California which is a small, suburban town about 45 minutes or so north of Los Angeles. Although it wasn’t big in my hometown growing up, I write and sing country music. Though I’ve been exposed to a lot of different types of music, so there are moments where aspects of other genres shine. If I could describe my sound, it’d be a blend of California’s Laurel Canyon lyricism mixed with the notorious Nashville sound.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?
Sundays were always family day in my house growing up and every morning, there’d be music playing in the kitchen. Then during afternoon drives on the car radio. And at night, while watching old musicals, such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Doris Day classics. Music was always surrounding me and once I started taking guitar and singing lessons and it just clicked. It was more than just a realization that music is what I want to do, it was discovering my soul’s purpose and I never questioned it. I can literally feel a warmth in my heart when it comes to music and that extreme passion keeps me pursuing music each and every single day. It’s like a fire in my soul and the light peaks though my bones and skin and resonates throughout my entire being.
How is this new release different than previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?
“Just a Dance” has been extremely different from my previous releases. For my last release, I did everything myself and now I’m lucky enough to have people helping me out and truly believe in me and this song. Personally, for this release, my goal is to gain some exposure and sort of pave a path for Where I Run, which is my forthcoming EP that “Just a Dance” is the lead
single off of. It will be releasing next year.
Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this oversaturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?
I think the biggest challenge is that being it’s so easy to put yourself out there, it does create an oversaturation. So when trying to build an audience, say on social media, it can be difficult to get in front of people since you’re not only competing with constant content, but the algorithms as well. On the other hand, it does allow indie musicians to build that fanbase and
put music out without having to be backed by a major label.
What was the last song you listened to?
I just was listening to “In Color” by Jamey Johnson, which I absolutely love. The story told in the lyrics and the emotion behind his voice and the music, makes me tear up every time I do. I’m extremely close with my family and it reminds me of when we all sit around telling stories while looking through old photos. Just how much those memories with them mean to me and how
amazing life is, even through the tough times.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
Sound-wise I definitely prefer vinyl since you can hear all the intricacies of the music. Although, convenience-wise, I’d have to go with MP3s just because when I’m out and about, I can’t be carrying around a Victrola playing music out loud haha!
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
I used to always listen to the radio and sometimes still do, but Spotify has become my top platform I use to listen to music. I personally like it because I can create playlists based on various moods, genres, events or even locations. For example, I have a ranch in Northern California and I have a playlist for all the songs that remind me of it. So it’s nice to be able to
craft playlists that are more personal.
Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?
I keep my socials, website and music platforms up to date, but I’d say the best one to connect with me on is Instagram since I also post to my story on there. Then for music, Spotify is my top and it has any upcoming shows on there as well as my releases.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4hgvJQ6te9I2VRBatFbhov
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casey_ahern/
Anything else before we sign off?
A little fun fact about me is that I have my private pilot’s certificate! So when I’m not doing music, I’m up in the air. Being that I’m so focused on what’s going on in the plane, I don’t have time to think about what’s going on down on the ground. Flying allots me that feeling of true freedom.
