Music & Songwriting

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair and bangs singing into a microphone on stage under bright lights.

Music has always been a key part of my life, and it transformed my life when I started writing songs after taking two songwriting courses while in high school at the Arkansas Arts Academy, I enrolled at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in the fall of 2020 to pursue a degree in Commercial Songwriting, which I completed in December 2023. During my time as an undergraduate, I wrote numerous songs. I collaborated with producers such as Owen Tadych, Seth Gunter, and William Thorley, ultimately resulting in four releases featuring a total of nine tracks available on all major streaming platforms.

A young woman with long, wavy hair singing into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar on stage, with colorful stage lighting.

Released December 2023 - this EP was the most significant release to me, as it encapsulated a lot of thoughts/feelings I never thought I’d share with the world. Since its release, it has amassed over 10,000 streams in 40 countries.

Close-up of a person's eyes with dark hair falling over the forehead, with warm orange lighting and the word 'colateral' written in white cursive text in the top left corner.

COLLATERAL - debut EP release

Released April of 2023 - this collaboration was one of the most rewarding points for me as an artist. Seth and I wrote this song after reading Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney and having so many conversations where we both related to the main character, Frances.

A potted plant with large leaves placed on a wooden deck. The background features a wooden wall and part of a window. Text overlays the image, including the title 'no surprises' and the names 'Cassie Joy + Seth Gunter'.

no surprises - collaborative single

Released October 2022 - this double single release was a result of what was originally a full EP - though I decided to limit the tracklist because I felt unprepared for a full EP release. These songs were both written in one sitting, and took weeks of working and re-working to sound cinematic and storytelling, which was my goal.

A young woman with dark hair and bangs, wearing a white floral dress with short puffed sleeves, stands outdoors in front of a bush with white flowers and green leaves.

feels like this / in between -
double single

Released February 2022 - this first single brought to life what my music could sound like fully produced. Owen Tadych brought together this track after I wrote this slow, sad piece and responded to an ad he put up in Wright Music Hall on campus for free recording sessions. I’ll always remember this first release as pivotal to my understanding of songwriting forever.

A young woman with dark hair and bangs holds a bouquet of pink roses on her shoulder, looking to the side against a pink and white background with red and pink shadows. The word 'garden' is written in cursive at the bottom.

garden - debut single

Press

Cassie Sistoso on stage, playing a keyboard, under purple and blue stage lights.
A woman with shoulder-length hair singing into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar on a stage decorated with string lights. Audience members are visible in the foreground. Caption indicates her name is Cassie Sistoso, performing September 13 at the KUC theater.
Text discussing how MTSU students performed at yard parties, with a focus on student singer-songwriters like Cassie Joy, who played her song "Garden."

Live Performances