As we continue to
navigate through the pandemic, musicians are adapting to changes in how they
are sharing and creating music. Local New Orleans harpist Cassie Watson
Francillon takes a vibrant yet soulful approach to music, exploring a
repertoire of jazz, Celtic, and classical
music through the complex
and beautiful sounds of her harp. During our current
climate, Cassie has used the time for self-reflection and to find deeper ways
to connect with others. Cassie expressed, "[Quarantine] has been a
double-edged sword, as the pandemic has commanded us to hunker down and refine
our priorities and voices as artists and performers."
Most recently during
quarantine, Cassie released an originally composed solo acoustic album, This
Appears to Disappear; performed livestreams across the globe; and composed
ideas for collaborators. With the collective Shakespeare
& the Blues (Cam
Smith, Bryan Webre), she was able to record an album
and rehearse within socially distant specifications. Entitled e.g.,
Rhapsodic, it will be released this fall on Nouveau Electric Records
(headed by Louis Michot of Lost Bayou Ramblers). Cassie
is hopeful to do a livestream for that release, harkening on the fun and
enjoyment of the album's sample mixes,including theharp, drums,
bass, guitar, and synth. She also socially distantly recorded a collaborative
track for John Cameron Mitchell's album, New American Dream, which is
out now. Cassie is excited to announce her upcoming limited-access residency
for smooth harp, which will be performed under safety precautions at the
Elysian Bar/Hotel Peter and Paul.
In the midst of the
pandemic, Cassie has made the most of her time, acknowledging the impact that
has been made on the interpretation of music for musicians and listeners. "Though
it has been a deep challenge that in-person gigs have been suspended and [that
has] depleted our local economy, there was a hidden opportunity to listen a bit
more authentically and to be heard that way, in turn,"Cassie states.
She misses connecting with individuals in person, as many of us do, but
emphasizes the importance of taking COVID-19 seriously and prioritizing the
sustainability of safety. "I miss seeing the emotion in their faces and that
reciprocity of sonic communication in the moment." Solo harp performances
remain on hiatus, but she intends to keep an eye out for upcoming ways to
perform for smaller groups within safe specifications.
Her time in quarantine has allowed Cassie the chance for deep introspection.
Down time has given her a moment to double-down on things she said she would do
and given her space to self-reflect. "I'm not looking frantically at what's
going on left and right, but remembering who I am and my unique strengths; we
each have them!" expressed Cassie, who's been able to focus on self-care, as
well as exploring and asserting her responsibility for community care instilled
in her by activist and mentor harpist Patrice Fisher (Ecos Latinos). Cassie adds that she finally
had the time to do a masked harp technician workshop with Catherine Anderson,
which ultimately empowered her to overhaul her
antique harp, develop a greater understanding of its unique craftsmanship, and
strengthen her core bond to the instrument.
As the pandemic continues to change, shift, and
impact so many lives, one thing that has grown from this time has been an
appreciation for human connection and how we have found new ways to communicate
and connect with one another deeply. We are all adapting to the new world we
are living in, and while we look for a sense of normalcy, it's true that we really
are all in this together. Cassie states, "Seeing folks show up for themselves
and one another in an unprecedented way has been a consistently miraculous
event. There is something to be said when we lose our fixation on waiting to be
perfect, simplify, and simply give."
About Cassie Watson
Cassie's first draw to music was its ability to tell a story and communicate
with listeners, both with and without words. Hearing the end of a harp cadenza
spoke to her, and as a young adult, Cassie further developed an interest in the
harp's complexity, tone, and expression. She takes inspiration for her music
from the actions of those who are truly authentic within their craft and convey
the fullness of their message and humanity. With her harp's strings, she has
gone on to produce melodies embracing creativity and never misses a moment to
have others swooning through her music's heavenly sounds.
Cassie expresses a love
for playing everything from Patsy Cline and Prince to Domenico Scarlatti and
William Grant Still, and she plays various types of events, such as weddings,
funerals, recitals, recording sessions, and interpretive installations. Cassie
also composes original music and mood pieces, conveying a desire to watch music
transform, develop, and gain breadth before her very eyes and created by her
own hands.
