Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Casi Joy

There’s no denying that Casi Joy has a voice that will stop you in your tracks. Her signature blend of traditional country with modern-day pop influences has won her fans around the world, including former Voice coach Blake Shelton. She’s shared the stage with peers including Maren Morris, Keith Urban, and Montgomery Gentry, and she’s just getting started. Earlier this year, she released a new single, and we learned all about it!

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Casi: My passion for performing actually came first. I had my first talent show when I was five years old. I didn’t have a musical bone in my body, but I loved to be on stage, so my parents let me, and it went from there. I’ve always loved to perform. That led to honing my craft, learning instruments, and learning how to write songs.

PC: When you look at your career, who or what has had the biggest influence on your career, either professionally or personally?
Casi: Personally, my parents have always been such a huge influence in the success that I’ve had so far. They’ve always supported me in every aspect of this industry and pushed me to never give up.

Professionally, definitely classic country music. I was singing in the Midwest Opry circuit, so all the classic country artists: Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Tanya Tucker. I’m very influenced by the greats.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out to you?
Casi: I’ve been so grateful and blown away with what we’ve been able to achieve so far. The moment that sticks out was when I got all four chairs to turn on The Voice. I got to look to my left and see my parents, my husband, and my brother. It was such an incredible experience to be able to look over and be like, “See mom and dad! It was all worth it. We did it.” It was a beautiful experience.

PC: Speaking of The Voice, what was the biggest lesson you learned from that experience that you’ve been able to apply to your career moving forward?
Casi: I think it was the whole process. A lot of people would think it’s grueling: you get up at four in the morning to get your hair and makeup done, you do all these interviews, then you shoot B-roll, then the real thing, and then you go to a voice lesson. That was something that really stuck out to me. It was like, “Am I ready for all of this?” When I got to see how all the behind the scenes happens, I was like, “Heck yeah. I’m ready for this!”

PC: Tell us about “The Money” and the inspiration behind it.
Casi: I’m over the moon, stupid excited about this one. I actually wrote it and recorded over a year ago. I’ve been sitting on it and waiting for the right time to release it. With quarantine and COVID, it didn’t seem like it was a good fit. Now that the clouds are parting, and it seems like we’re on the upswing of things, it seems like it’s time to put out a fun vibe-y song.

I wrote it completely autobiographical. We all go through money struggles. We all want to believe it’s not about the money, that it’s not the most important thing in the world. It’s pretty hard to live by that when the world revolves around money. The library is the only public building that you can walk into that doesn’t expect you to spend money. It’s like, “I don’t need to be a millionaire. I just want the collection calls to stop.”

PC: You’re an artist that has been steadily releasing music throughout the years. If you had to pick one of your songs that best encompasses who you are as an artist, which would it be and why?
Casi: I actually think it’s “The Money”. It encompasses my weird quirkiness and comedic aspects of my weirdness. But I’m also really proud of “Poor Angel”. That was one of the most vulnerable songs I’ve ever put out because I always try to spread joy in anything that I do and to always spread love, light, and positivity, but I just wasn’t feeling it during quarantine. A lot of people were going through the same feelings, and I was like, “I got to get this out there.” Even though my name is Casi Joy, I’m not always joyful. I thought it was important to let my fans know, even the people that claim to be okay all the time aren’t, and so you’re not crazy or weird being down in such a crazy time, or any time.

PC: What’s one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you started your career
Casi: I wish I would have moved to Nashville sooner. We always knew I needed to be in Nashville. My parents have been bringing me to Nashville since I was thirteen. We’d go down and record from Kansas City, where I’m from. I was too afraid to leave my family at the time. I’m super close with my parents, if you can’t already tell. I wish I would have been braver and bitten the bullet and done it.

PC: As we look ahead to the rest of 2021, what does the year hold for you?
Casi: Definitely more music! I’ve got lots of new songs I’m working on. I just got back the final version for one, and I’m so excited about it. I’m going to be touring all over the country. My husband and I actually sold our home right before quarantine and bought a tour bus. We’ve been living in that full time, and when COVID hit and no venues were open, we decided, “We’re going to do socially distanced shows at campgrounds.” So, that’s what we’ve been doing. It’s all about creating new paths.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Casi: Tegan and Sara or Blink-182.

PC: First album you bought?
Casi: I stole my older sister’s “Weird Al” Yankovic’s album.

PC: First concert you attended?
Casi: *NSYNC.

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Casi: Probably Taylor Swift’s 1989 or The Con by Tegan and Sara. The lyrics are so good.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Casi: The Super Bowl. Or the T-Mobile Arena in Kansas City in my hometown. It’s the ultimate bucket list for me—just to be able to come back one day and play for a totally crowded stadium in my hometown. I could just cry.

PC: A must-have on the road?
Casi: Bad fast food.

To keep up with Casi, follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify. Pick up or stream “The Money” today.

Listen to her new single “Namaste” below: