Cass Eager's music takes heed of Soul, Funk and Blues, solidly dished up with Roots and Rhythm. Her distinctive pipes have drawn comparisons to everyone from Janis Joplin to Bonnie Raitt, but "Soul Sister Cass is no pale imitation" (NDL).
Her mix of raw blues, soulful grooves and lighthearted ditties are all punctuated by her husky-soaked vocals and driving rhythmic guitar, and together with her band they caress, cajole, captivate and always deliver. Performing in such diverse locations as LA, New York, East Timor, Canada and the Middle East has given Eager a depth and richness that comes from experience, and after her first album 'Beautiful Day' reached No.3 in Canada, the release of her upcoming second album is already being loyally embraced. "One of Sydney's most gifted singer-songwriters, whose refreshingly honest, raspy, almost Joplin-esque like voice is hers alone, and whose songwriting will spellbind the listener." Drum Media.
"Eager’s voice is the driving force of her music." Whistler Question, Canada.
THE ALBUM
Her debut album ‘Beautiful Day’ (MGM/littlebliss) released in Australia in 2007, is a stunning collection of tunes spanning soul to blues, folk to gospel, roots to reggae. From the reggae-tinged groove of the crowd favourite title track ‘Beautiful Day’ to the killer slide-guitar blues of ‘Take These Wings’ and heartfelt soulfulness of ‘Sister’, the instrumentation running through these songs adapt to fit the feel, from slide guitar to hammond and rhodes piano, harmonica, violins, stompbox and ukelele. Most are with Cass’s trademark rhythmic acoustic guitar sound, and all with Cass’s husky-soaked vocals and effortless melodies bringing them to life. Her first single ‘Beautiful Day’ has already charted in the Top 10 on Canadian Radio (Festival) and debuted at No.27 on the US Roots Music Report. In Australia, the single of the same name has enjoyed airplay on Triple J, ABC, and was Nova’s Unsigned Find. The single appeared on the 'soundslikecafe' Cafe sampler CD (MGM). It was featured on Robbie Buck's (Triple J) Australian Music Playlist on Qantas Inflight QRadio, and Tracks Magazine has given it an impressive 4/5 review. 'Cass Eager's voice has an alluring timbre and her vocals are sung with the kind of heartfelt sincerity that makes you want to believe in every word she utters . . . Several of the songs, like 'Beautiful Day' in particular, will have you singing along pretty much the first time you hear them'. Cass launched 'Beautiful Day' at Sydney's Vanguard to a near-sell out crowd. "As you make the journey from start to end, ('Beautiful Day') is a record which ingratiates itself into your lounge room... I love it when that happens". Rhythms Magazine
THE SHOWS
Cass has a vibrant history of performing, and that voice of hers has travelled not only several times along Australia’s East Coast, Darwin and WA, but has also taken her on three Canadian tours (the latest with Ash Grunwald), Eygpt and five visits to East Timor. Her music has also developed close ties with the surfing community, playing benefit concerts for SurfAid International and the Surfrider Foundation, and playing the 2007 Rip Curl Pro Surfing & Music Festival, Bells Beach (VIC). In 2006 and 2007 Cass showcased in Canada at NXNE and CMW (Toronto). Over the last years, Cass has also played the Byron Bay Blues & Roots Festival (NSW), Festival of the Sun (NSW), Broadbeach Blues Festival (QLD), Peats Ridge Festival (NSW) and the Vintage Blues & Roots Festival (WA). She was featured on the cover of Sydney’s ‘Drum Media’ after being announced as a finalist in the Blues/Roots category of the 2007 MusicOz Awards. Cass has recently been touring with Chase The Sun and playing to her own ever-growing Australian fan base at festivals and shows across WA, QLD, VIC and NSW on her national 'Beautiful Days' tour.
Many of Cass’s recent songs have stemmed from her humanitarian efforts in East Timor. Touring there five times, twice with the Australian Army, she performed for UN peacekeepers and in various orphanages. What started as an assignment to entertain the troops in the newly independent country turned into a rich relationship and affinity with the people there, especially the children. To raise money and awareness for this tiny nation, Cass donates her energies to various Australian benefit concerts. Her visits there culminated in a performance to over 40,000 people at Dili Stadium with Paul Kelly and Peter Garrett in 2004. Cass appeared on ‘Timor-Leste - Freedom Rising’ compilation CD (EMI/Capitol) put together by Paul Kelly in 2005, along with artists such as John Butler, Missy Higgins, Kasey Chambers & The Cat Empire. Cass launched the CD in Dili to a 500+ crowd. More recently, in December 2006, Cass’s 3rd Armed Forces tour took her to Egypt and The Middle East, with 5 shows across 3 countries in 8 days.
In Australia, Cass has performed with artists including Ash Grunwald, The Beautiful Girls, Alex Lloyd, Diesel, Lior, Paul Kelly, Jeff Lang, Chase The Sun, Blue Shaddy and Extended Family. She has also appeared on 4 other CD compilations of independent artists, being named ‘Emerging Australian Artist’ on SBA Music’s international compilation. Visiting royal Prince Harry saw Cass perform at Kerry Packer’s polo property on his Australian visit, and asked her for a repeat performance the following week, with Cass being requested to give the prince guitar lessons. “I play music because I love to. Music can make you laugh, cry, remember. It has the ability to take you away or bring you home, but wherever you go, it’s in the journey. I just strap on my guitar and away I go.”
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
"Lying on my back staring up at a cloudless Muskoka sky a smile creeps across my face as the lyrics echo out over the serene lake. ‘Everything’s alright, cause it’s a beautiful day’. Truer words have never been spoken. I think if Cass Eager could choose the setting for me to first hear her debut CD Beautiful Day, this would be it. She belts out her personal and introspective lyrics in a way only a singer/songwriter can. I thoroughly enjoyed this album, front to back, and will no doubt get a lot of play out of it this summer." Spill Magazine, Ontario
"Beautiful Day - natural, instinctive, comfortable – a very good record". YouthinkCDs, Vancouver
"Cass Eager is a prolific and inventive singer-songwriter. Her voice is gravelly and soulful (called ‘rich as chocolate’ by Australia's ‘Brag’ magazine). On the first listen, I heard elements of Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin with a bit of Ani DiFranco thrown in. I downloaded her song "Beautiful Day" onto my iPod and it's become a staple of my morning walk to work." pennlive.com – Harrisburg, PA USA
"Beautiful Day is on high rotation in my car and I still get blessed out with each listen. Finally a chick who does it raw and rootsy and plays slide as well. This album takes you on a journey with so many full bodied tracks, from the mesmerizing ‘Sister’ to the dashboard thumping ‘Take These Wings’. It’s a great debut and I can’t wait to see what she does next . . ." DubMAN II, iTunes
Cass Eager's music takes heed of Soul, Funk and Blues, solidly dished up with Roots and Rhythm. Her distinctive pipes have drawn comparisons to everyone from Janis Joplin to Bonnie Raitt, but "Soul Sister Cass is no pale imitation" (NDL).
Cass has a vibrant history of performing, and that voice of hers has travelled not only several times along Australia’s East Coast, Darwin and WA, but has also taken her on three Canadian tours (the latest with Ash Grunwald), Eygpt and five visits to East Timor. Her music has also developed close ties with the surfing community, playing benefit concerts for SurfAid International and the Surfrider Foundation, and playing the 2007 Rip Curl Pro Surfing & Music Festival, Bells Beach (VIC). In 2006 and 2007 Cass showcased in Canada at NXNE and CMW (Toronto). Over the last years, Cass has also played the Byron Bay Blues & Roots Festival (NSW), Festival of the Sun (NSW), Broadbeach Blues Festival (QLD), Peats Ridge Festival (NSW) and the Vintage Blues & Roots Festival (WA). She was featured on the cover of Sydney’s ‘Drum Media’ after being announced as a finalist in the Blues/Roots category of the 2007 MusicOz Awards. Cass has recently been touring with Chase The Sun and playing to her own ever-growing Australian fan base at festivals and shows across WA, QLD, VIC and NSW on her national 'Beautiful Days' tour.
"Lying on my back staring up at a cloudless Muskoka sky a smile creeps across my face as the lyrics echo out over the serene lake. ‘Everything’s alright, cause it’s a beautiful day’. Truer words have never been spoken. I think if Cass Eager could choose the setting for me to first hear her debut CD Beautiful Day, this would be it. She belts out her personal and introspective lyrics in a way only a singer/songwriter can. I thoroughly enjoyed this album, front to back, and will no doubt get a lot of play out of it this summer." Spill Magazine, Ontario