Kaitlin Cassady - North Star (2025)

This showcase has the drapery of an indie-produced effort. The charm is evident in the light touches, piano note clarity & ethereal vocals of Kaitlin Cassady. Not as powerful & diverse as the late Eva Cassidy, as rough-hewn bluesy-folky as Karen Dalton, but there’s a Judee Sill (“The Kiss”) & Sarah Maclachlan quality to Kaitlin’s airy vocal.

The 10 original, introspective songs of Kaitlin’s sophomore North Star were produced & recorded at her studios in CA & Minnesota. The indie-folk artist blends confessional lyrics with jazz-inspired melodies, harmonies threaded with pop sensibilities. The themes include the standard fare — love, grief, joy & stress.

The songs are narratives with spare instrumentation, primarily driven by Kaitlin’s piano. Ms. Cassady doesn’t venture too far from her range. No showboating, but no gooeyness either. Her songs are carefully arranged & “Golden Hour” & “Past, Present & Future” are well performed & recorded. Despite a lack of production value, & more instrumental intensity, Ms. Cassady does express herself well through her songs.

It may be possible that her voice is still borderline juvenile in spots. Her youthfulness comes through on “Live Forever,” which is gently rendered & shows more range but does need something to punctuate the melody. A warm, brief sax solo, a brief trumpet to help alleviate the piano from all its responsibilities. Nonetheless, it’s lovely. With an eccentric Stevie Nicks touch should be rubbed on — the song could be lifted to a Fleetwood Mac quality.

Through a hint of vocal diversity in “Melancholy Daydreams,” I believe that Kaitlin’s place eventually would be more in a jazz-oriented environment. It’s natural; she’s developing a tone that will be effective as a jazz chanteuse. It’s not there yet, but of all the songs she’s performed, this one stands out with strength. The Julee Cruise-Jane Siberry-type mystical, emotional fluctuations are well done, but her jazzier inflections are impressive.

Kaitlin’s precise voice, as heard on previous tunes, doesn’t require vocal treatments. This is what diminishes “North Star” a tad – eliminate the effect & let the voice carry the wonderful melody. This is where a professional producer would’ve stepped in & said no. It’s not necessary. She does not require the “presence.”

This music isn’t necessarily folk-rock either. It’s more simply balladry, middle-of-the-road, with an easy listening relevance. The lushness betrays the folk-rock genre tag. The intimacy is too strong. There is no middle ground in this music. “Time of My Life” is a good tune, but Kaitlin’s pushing her ability on some notes. Another key would help her get through it without the high notes sounding juvenile. Potential is high – she needs a wise producer.