by Lauren Rosier
Some musicians learn to love music and some grow up in a musical family, which then leads to a curiosity for a musical career. Texas native Cas Haley experienced the latter. He might be recognized as the season 2 runner-up from America’s Got Talent, but his experience with music started way before that.
“I grew up with musician parents; it was kind of given to me very early. I started when I was ten and learned from them and all their friends. From a really early age, I remember being twelve years old, and this was my love.”
Prior to AGT, Haley had been performing for thirteen years. When he lived in Dallas, he had a band called Woodbelly, and they had toured with likes of Something Corporate and Blues Traveler. Haley is known for his amazing reggae style and music; a genre that isn’t quite mainstream, but has a certain audience.
“From a pretty early age, I’ve always been attracted to it. Both reggae and ska through skateboarding,” he notes. “[I was] influenced to incorporate it into blues/soul. It’s just another form of soul music and just very conscious to me.”
Haley recently released his fourth album, More Music, More Family, at the beginning of November, and this record is definitely more meaningful to him. “The reaction’s been cool. This one really means a lot to me. I’ve worked with a lot of people on this. It was a lot of co-collaborating, a lot of songwriting. I brought a lot of new things to the table lyrically. This record’s intention is a little clearer, a little richer. I have more to say,” he reveals.
The intention or theme behind the record was trying to re-find his purpose, the value of family, and bringing it all back home. “Having hope is a theme throughout the album – a song is always rooted in something is going to get better,” Haley says.
If there’s anything Haley has learned since being in the music business and doing the show, it’s that everything and anything is possible. “It’s all about been devoted, being able to roll with the punches, having no expectations, but still maintain a vision of what I want my future to be. It’s all about sticking with it, remaining hopeful, and optimistic. Success is a total mind game and making sure you’re enjoying what you’re doing right now. We all do this thing where we have to pay our dues; I don’t think that’s necessary, we can all do the things we’d like to do.”
Catch Cas perform when he visits Philadelphia’s World Cafe Live on December 10th. Tickets are available now.
