Artist Cassie Taylor talks about her current single “DEADNAME (Find You)”

Cassie Taylor in her music video “DEADNAME (Find You).” (Photo courtesy of The Karpel Group)

Cassie Taylor, a bluesy-soul artist, has released a music video for “DEADNAME (Find You).” The song features BIPOC trans artists Cuee and Dante Foley.

“The driving disco beats and stirring instrumentation of transgender drummer Dante Foley embody the song’s themes of self-acceptance, liberation and embracing one’s authentic identity,” the artist explained in a press release. “The lyricism of transgender rapper Cuee adds a dynamic layer to the track through the power of his thought-provoking verses.”

Taylor grew up with blues musician Otis Taylor, with whom she began touring internationally at the age of 16. Shortly after leaving this world, she joined a girl group before launching a solo career.

The artist slowly withdrew from the stage after suffering a burnout and eventually left after the birth of her child. As her child grew older, she resumed recording music but did not release anything until December of last year.

What finally brought them back on the scene was the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

“I really needed an outlet for my emotions and my thoughts and feelings, and that’s what prompted me to at least start writing and breaking down songs. And then last summer I started to let loose a little bit more,” Taylor says.

Being a touring artist can be a difficult life, especially as a solo artist with a child. Taylor says she has no plans to tour her new music for now, but she is committed to releasing more music for fans to enjoy.

“Releasing music is what I really love and the opportunity to tell stories that I think are important and need to be heard,” says Taylor.

Taylor’s new song “DEADNAME (Find You)” tells the story of a trans man who finds himself and finds love.

The story was inspired by people in Taylor’s life who were going through change during the pandemic, as well as the artist’s exploration of her own queer identity.

The single functions as an anthem of acceptance and as a musical form of resistance.

“If people have the opportunity to show themselves as they are, I think that will make the struggle more sustainable,” Taylor says. “I think being queer and surrendering to joy is a protest.”

It took over two years from the idea to the realization, between problems with label managers who didn’t want to release a song about transsexuality and finding an authentic voice on the record. Releasing the song was not an easy undertaking, but the hard work was worth it.

Taylor says the single has received overwhelmingly positive support since its release last month.

For Taylor, it is important to normalize discussions around gender reassignment and gender affirming practices, as almost everyone leans toward the latter.

“I don’t think there’s a single celebrity, model, or human being on earth who isn’t participating in something to affirm their gender. I think what makes people sit up and take notice, especially in the discussion about trans rights and inclusivity, is that we all do it,” Taylor says.

Taylor has recently been back in the studio recording new music that addresses LGBTQ+ themes. The artist says fans can expect new music sometime this summer.

Watch the music video for “DEADNAME (Find You)” below.