Cass Hopetoun Shots Interview

Cass Hopetoun Unveils Debut Single and Video Shots

Fresh from winning the 2020 Tamworth Songwriters Association Talent Quest, Cass Hopetoun has released her debut single 'Shots' and its accompanying video. The track was co-written with Blake Dantier and produced by Matt Fell, who recently took home a Golden Guitar for producing the Alt-country Album of the Year, at Love Hz Studios in Sydney.

'Shots' is a song about coming of age, explains Hopetoun. 'I was realising that all my friends were in a hurry to grow up. They're all in their mid-20s and getting fulltime jobs, and sometimes it seems like they're allergic to having fun. One day I complained that nobody wants to do shots anymore, and that became the start of the song.'

The video for 'Shots', which was produced by Tribal Apes and directed by Bruce Dawson, simply oozes 70s nostalgia. It portrays a restless housewife desperately attempting to bring a bit of party back to Friday night dinner with some help from her friend tequila.

'Bruce and I really wanted to take a risk with the narrative,' says Hopetoun, 'and once he found out that I had an acting background it was game on. We had a rough plot for the day, which we stuck to, but we also had a lot of fun improvising throughout the shoot.'

The resulting video is as fun as the song suggests. Equal parts sexy and silly, if this is what Friday nights are like in the Blue Mountains, then the locals should be anything but blue.

With a natural flair for the dramatic and the vocal chops to back it up and then some, Hopetoun is one to watch in 2020, as her victory in the Tamworth Talent Quest has highlighted. There's plenty of material to come and she is eager to take her shot.

Interview with Cass Hopetoun

Question: How would you describe your music?

Cass Hopetoun: Sassy, rebellious and fun. My music has a lot to say about things that I think a lot of people my age (and older/younger) will find relatable. Sound wise - I'd love to coin the term 'Country-Swagger' if that isn't already a thing! I'd love it to be a good blend of pop and alt country that always has a hint of attitude.


Question: Can you tell us about Shots?

Cass Hopetoun: Shots is my debut single. It's a catchy little country pop tune that I co-wrote with my partner Blake Dantier. I recorded it back in late 2019 with Matt Fell at Love Hz Studios. It's pretty much a song that reminds people not to take life too seriously and have more fun. It will hopefully encourage other to pump up and take Shots.


Question: What inspired Shots?

Cass Hopetoun: I came up with the idea of the song around the time that a lot of my friends were getting their first 9 to 5 jobs and were starting to take life a little too seriously. I realised either I had become an alcoholic or they were becoming old way too fast (still hoping it's the later! (laughs)). I remember rambling on about how no one wanted to do shots anymore and then Blake and I being like 'That's a great idea for a song title'. A few days later I think, Blake came to me with the beginning of what shots would become (he doesn't mess around). The only things I kept drilling in through the revision process was that musically I wanted the song to keep true to the country genre (whilst still having that pop flavour) and have a hell of a lot of attitude.


Question: Is there a particular message you hope listeners take from your music?

Cass Hopetoun: It would be incredible to know that the songs I bring out into the world connect to people. Whether they just find them relatable or it moves them. If 'Shots' can help people let lose then I've done my job. I'd like to be known for being 'different', tackling things that haven't been tackled in the same way. What artist doesn't though! I just think music can be so powerful for people and there are so many topics left to talk about and express through music. So, I hope my music can help do this little by little.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Cass Hopetoun: I found music through performing on stage, so I think that will always been my forever lover. Although… pretending to be a superstar whilst recording 'Shots' felt pretty good! I think for me, there's nothing better than performing live in front of an audience - you can't beat that energy. When you're performing live, there's an extra element of adrenaline because you can't 'try that one thing again', it's just go for it! This adrenaline can help you do things you might not have thought were possible…like hitting a note that you were way too scared to try in a vocal booth. You also get to connect with your audience on a personal level. I know for me if an artist I admire looks straight at me during their performance - I never forget it.


Question: Which is your favourite song to perform live and why?

Cass Hopetoun: I love singing 9 to 5… who doesn't love belting out some Dolly? The feel and groove of that song with a full band is so much fun to groove to. I also love to have a good old belt and test out my vocal chops and the arrangement that I perform really lets me let lose at the end. So, I guess you could say I enjoy a bit of self-indulgence.

Let's be real though, I love way too many songs. They all have their own thing going for them. I also love singing songs that just get me, like Brandy Clark's 'Hold My Hand', it's a song that I just fall into the character so naturally and everything else in the room doesn't exist anymore…those kind of moments (ones where you forget you're in a dingy pub singing to no one) are priceless.


Question: If you could have anyone, in the world, attend a show, who would it be?

Cass Hopetoun: Brandy Clark. I would equally be excited and scared shitless if she turned up at one of my shows. She has inspired my music so much and it would be out of this world to have her there listening to my own stuff. I always like to think I would act cool as a cucumber if I met any of my idols but… it's anyone's guess what would happen if she walked into the room.

Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

Cass Hopetoun: I think most of the songs I've written lately are based off a personal experience I'm going through/something on mind. For the moment I find that easier to write about. It's usually something I'm feeling super passionate or annoyed about at the time and then the ramble that comes out turns into lyrics and the song.


Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Cass Hopetoun: Tenille Towns, Margo Price and Brandy Clark (All. The. Time). I feel like I get super obsessed with certain albums/artists for a while and then rotate to a different bunch every now and then. There's no testing the waters with artists for me, go hard or go home.


Question: What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Cass Hopetoun: When I first started singing, Delta Goodrem was my biggest idol. I even learnt piano so I could be just like her! I must say my inspirations have changed heaps over the years but, I think that having so many different artists as inspirations helps you create a sound as an artist that's completely unique. I've had a lot of mentors throughout the years that have been huge inspirations for persevering through the hurdles of an artist career. The kind of mentors that is always just so confident in you.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Cass Hopetoun: I would LOVE to write with Brandy Clark. It's officially on the bucket list so I hope she's up for it one day (laughs). I absolutely love her way of songwriting and writing with her would be the absolute best. She writes the sassiest songs and if we could create something half as sassy as her stuff I would be chuffed. I feel like she would enjoy writing with a glass of whiskey like I do too…


Question: What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?
Cass Hopetoun: Rejection is so prominent in this industry and I would say that would definitely be my biggest challenge. The music industry (and most entertainment based industries) involve you giving things your absolute all and sometimes it can pay off big time and sometimes you can end up feeling defeated as hell. It's so important to learn how to keep pushing on in a way that works for you so that you don't wear yourself down.


Question: What's a typical day like?

Cass Hopetoun: Shots for breakfast. Shots for lunch. Shots for Dins….

And in-between all that I run a wedding music business alongside my artist career, so a lot of my day is spent juggling the two. I'm lucky enough to work from home and run my own businesses so I usually squeeze in a lot of cuddles with my chocolate lab, Skip as well. I feel like half my week is spent with Blake trying to convince him why we don't need to go visit a sushi train too…


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Cass Hopetoun: I have loved the new experience of recording/producing a song, and also filming a music video. It was such a bizarre experience watching 'Shots' go from being a voice memo in my phone to a full on party tune with the music video of my dreams attached to boot! Having a song that is completely your own is such a privilege as a singer and storyteller. You get to put your footprint on it before anyone else and that is so much fun. Before 'Shots', everything I had performed was another artist's words and you're always to some degree playing a role…original music has felt 100 times better so far.


Question: What's next, for you?

Cass Hopetoun: I'll be bringing out a new single in a few months. Then another one after that and then - who knows! For now, I just want go hard on promoting 'Shots' and get the word out there, then try and perform it live wherever I can. I'm currently trying to work on building up my original song collection and working on songwriting in general.


Question: Can you share your socials?

Cass Hopetoun: Facebook
@cass_hopetoun
www.casshopetoun.com.au


Interview by Brooke Hunter