If You Like: Jamila Woods, Rae.Dianz
In the midst of growing up and finding one’s voice, a lot can get lost in the translation. One of the biggest foundations in the R&B genre is the progressive change that comes with an artist’s growth. The change should be consistent but never overflowing as to get in the way of one’s journey. In the realm of R&B, there’s a conversation to be had about the lack of authenticity when breaking into the genre. This brings me to R&B singer/songwriter Jasmine Cassell.
My first interaction with Jasmine came as she opened up at a local Philadelphia show this week. With no other knowledge of her style of R&B, the singer’s aura gave off warm overtones of someone well connected with their creativity. Jasmine Cassell embodies that Philadelphia late-night slow jam voice that your mother has always been fond of. Not getting caught up in just aspect of R&B, Jasmine shoots for over-arching sound coffeehouse fall jazz. Like many R&B artists, Jasmine Cassell’s songs tend to lean a lot into the hustle and flow of love music. It’s feel-good warmth music to dance in the kitchen with your significant other.
On Jasmine’s 2018 EP, Seven, listeners are taken through a wide range of earthly emotions. The opening track, “I Am” is the perfect mantra/track to open the album. Speaking from a higher plane of self-love, Jasmine reassures us how she sees herself (“I am the lion in the jungle, I am the shark in the sea”). Full of pride and black women magic, Jasmine Cassell puts in the work to hone her skills to acheive a larger expansive reach on the Philadelphia music scene.
Two years removed from her first EP, the R&B flowerchild has a more mellow and hyper focused mind as revealed on her 2020 single, “Things Change.” While still maintaing the core of R&B, Jasmine accompanies vintage synths with black folk/americana. The process of waiting for love is at the forefront of this track as well doucmented in the music video. Jasmine Cassell is currently hard at work on her upcoming second EP. If her newest single, “Lie” is any hint of what to expect, more heartfelt R&B is on the way.
