Identity
Connor Cassidy
Connor Cassidy is an American rapper, singer, & guitarist born & based in Boston, Massachusetts. He is currently most known for the power & uniqueness of his voice, lyrics & guitar playing, and his charismatic, high energy stage presence that blends Rap, Rock, & Electronic with the help of a live drummer & a DJ. He gained his initial following by freestyling at local events across New England and releasing poetically rich & cinematic productions with accompanying music videos that, to date, have independently earned over 20,000 shares across social media & 100K streams. He's released one full-length LP (PHOENIX) and 30 singles, with "Family" being the most widely embraced, followed closely by "Godspeed" and "To Know You." His major influences include Breaking Benjamin, Slipknot, Nas, John Mayer, & many more.
ORIGINS
Connor Thomas Khalil Cassidy was born on Nov. 12th, 1995 to Tom and Joan Cassidy.
He was primarily raised in the small town of Norfolk, Massachusetts where his parents converted a run-down hunting lodge into a home. His father worked as a professor of education at Harvard University and consultant for The World Bank, and his mother worked as a court reporter for the Boston court system.
Growing up in Massachusetts, Cass was steeped in the region’s unique and spirited culture, known more for its sports than its music. Though he didn’t write his first song until the age of 15, he sensed early on that he was different. “Growing up I was someone that didn’t belong at just one table. I’d get bored with being around the same types of people, so I’d switch it up & wander. That’s probably why my fans are so diverse - I have an ability to resonate with many different types of people.”
This sense of freedom from a concrete personality archetype led to a wide mix of experiences & influences, which culminated in a mixtape he put together during his sophomore year of high school. The first-ever recording he produced was a homemade cover version of Slipknot’s .execute. from their 2008 album, All Hope Is Gone.
Every weekend, he’d travel to Dorchester, MA to record in the home studio of sound engineer Tarik McFarland - his first real exposure to recording & collaboration. “I remember he had mattresses chained down from the ceiling to isolate the mic from traffic noise. That man taught me a lot.” After releasing a freestyle remix to Lil Wayne’s 6 foot 7 foot, he gained the attention of his region and started performing extensively in & around Massachusetts opening up for more established artists such as Machine Gun Kelly, Cory Gunz, Shwayze, & more. The success of these shows made him see the possibility of music as being something more than just a passion.
Upon graduating high school, this vision was abruptly disrupted. A polyp had formed on his vocal cords that limited the use of his voice & barred him from recording and performing. To bide his time for healing & vocal training, he attended The University of Miami (FL) to study business. Being vocally limited, he learned to listen more and speak less, diving deeply into his newfound habits of mixed martial arts, transcendental meditation, and stock trading. While at school, he became the personal assistant for a local Miami entrepreneur who began funding his studio sessions to record demos and write for other artists as he regained his voice.
Feeling disconnected from the lives of his large family in the northeast & exhausted by the non-stop party culture of Miami, he transferred to Northeastern University: an academic upgrade and a better fit for his mindset. Still unable to record due to the altered quality of his voice, he became the personal manager of a close friend, Kyle Bent, who’d just signed an indie record deal. He also began selling real estate, working for Universal Music Group as a college rep, & taking various odd jobs to remain in the city & help fund Kyle's career. It was taxing, but for a while, it paid off: he built a reputation in the scene as a young, ambitious manager for a thriving talent.
Upon graduating college, he had a falling out with Kyle and refocused on himself. He started booking weekly sessions at Boston recording studios (namely The Record Co., The Bridge Sound & Stage, and The Mix Loft) & dove deeply into learning music production, sound engineering, and guitar. This lead to the release of his debut album PHOENIX in 2020, and although the COVID-19 pandemic cut off his touring plans, he released a dozen music videos that collectively surpassed 10,000+ shares across social media in just a years time.
As he prepares for the release of his second album, Cass is positioned for a transformative year. The evolution he’s experienced as a person will embed itself deeply into the music, and ultimately into the hearts of those who’ve bonded with him on his journey.