The band Cassia has recently released a new track titled “Friends.” I have to be honest—I rarely listen to music for its story or lyrics. Most of the time, I just go along with the melodies and rhythms. However, the story behind Friends actually caught me off guard. If you watch the music video while listening to the song for the first time, you’ll understand what I mean.

I’m not entirely sure what genre to place this track in—something bordering indie, folk, and pop. The song features a whistling riff, acoustic guitar, drums, vocals, and bass. Friends is a surprisingly powerful track if you really focus on it, but it could just as easily blend into the background of a café or shopping mall. As I’ve said before, that’s one of the highest merits a pop song can achieve. This track reminds me of the folk/pop era when bands like Mumford & Sons were topping the charts. If you’re looking to relive that sound, Friends might be just the right song for you.

Cassia was formed in Macclesfield, near Manchester, UK, and consists of Rob Ellis (vocals, guitar), Lou Cotterill (bass), and Jacob Leff (drums). Personally, I’m still a huge fan of band culture—simply because I’m hopelessly in love with live music. There’s nothing better than musicians playing together in the moment. That’s why I love discovering great new bands like Cassia. Fun fact: the name "Cassia" comes from a djembe drum Jacob bought, made from Cassia wood.

For a relatively new band, Cassia has built an impressive fan base. Their debut album, Replica, was released in 2019, and since then, they’ve continued evolving their sound while keeping it fresh. Many of their tracks share that same “happy-sad” quality I felt in Friends. If you liked this song, you might also enjoy “Colossal Happiness” and “Boundless.”

I really enjoyed Friends—it feels light, sincere, and immersive. If you want the full experience, I highly recommend watching the music video while listening!

Author: Peter Källman

Peter Källman is a writer from Sweden who loves playing in bands, writing reviews and going to live shows!