By: Kat Harlton
Photos Provided By: Strut Entertainment
Facebook: /CassandraMazeMusic
Twitter: @CassandraMaze
Instagram: @CassandraMazeMusic
Toronto’s Hard Rock Cafe is filled with memorabilia from some of the greatest musical artists of all time, a staple of Toronto’s Yonge & Dundas Square since 1978, it’s welcomed both emerging and legendary acts to it’s space, and It’s here that I meet rising alternative/pop artist Cassandra Maze. For those just learning of Maze, she’s toured internationally, and has provided vocal session work and keyboards for Devin Townsend, Victoria Duffield and Latency’s Brandon Lehti, she’s also had song placement in the hit TV series Eve of Destruction.
Now Maze is on tour supporting her new single Wait, off her yet to be announced album which she hopes to release in the spring. The upbeat, high energy track is inspired by the saying “Good things come to those who wait“, which Maze doesn’t necessarily agree with.
I think it’s a difficult saying to apply to now, because it sort of touches on patience and the idea that you can’t be too hasty in life, and I think it would make more sense if it said ‘Good things come to those who put in the effort, and are trying to preserve’. It’s meant to inspire anyone who’s waiting for something. It’s an anthem.
Maze makes it clear she doesn’t just ‘wait’ for things to happen to her either. Like any emerging artist she knows you have to be proactive when it comes to your career.
I try to write something everyday, usually it’s just a voice memo of lyrics or a melody. I always have melodies going through my head, I’m always tapping my foot and humming to myself, and sometimes that will start an entire song.
From there Maze takes her ideas to Logic and usually makes demos on her laptop
I try to take somewhat of a backseat, I like when it’s natural and the music kind of just flows through you, and when I get lucky, and there’s a spark that really inspires me, that’s usually when I’ll finish a whole song because I’m emotionally and artistically invested in it.
And for those times when inspiration doesn’t come she looks to some of her earliest influences for help.
Jeff Buckley was a really big influence of mine, he really inspired my song writing, and working on just being more genuine and getting the emotion into a song.
I actually also like Zedd a lot, he does very EDM type of stuff, but he’s classically trained in piano and is a producer as well so I respect that, I’ve learned a lot from him.
As our interview wraps up, Maze gets set to fly back to B.C where she plans to stop in Vancouver, Victoria and Nanaimo to finish off her tour. For tour dates and more info please visit: http://www.cassandramaze.com