By Staff Writer
Once you hear Casey Hensley live you’ll never forget her. Her talent and power are taking the music world by storm. Surrounding herself with only the best musicians, and heavily influenced by all of the greats, it’s no wonder she has everyone talking. The Oceanside, Calif-based singer/songwriter and her band are well known for their ability to cross blues subgenres, including jump, swing, and Chicago blues.
In March 2020 Hensley released her long-awaited debut album, Good As Gone (Vizztone), where the world got to hear the amazing depth and range of her artistry. Good As Gone is Casey’s first all-original studio album, highlighting Hensley’s jaw-dropping dynamic vocals along with the perfectly simpatico backup of master guitarist, Laura Chavez. Hailed as “Best Blues Act” (2019 San Diego Music Awards) and called a “rising star” by the Los Angeles Times, Casey Hensley is a young woman who does not play by the rules and creates music with 100% heart, paving her own way and laying it all out for the world to hear.
Blues-E-News recently checked in with Hensley as part of their ongoing ‘5 Quick Questions’ series. Here’s how it went.
BEN: You released Good As Gone in March of 2020, right as Covid-19 was beginning to happen. How did the resulting pandemic hurt, in the promotion of the new album?
CH: Yes, I did. It was really hard because this was my first original studio album and I put a whole year into getting it just right, and it hurt the album’s release in every way. I had tours lined up all over the US and Europe and everything got canceled and postponed. Since I couldn’t tour it just didn’t get the attention it would have, but this record is really special to me, that’s why I’m still pushing it so hard. I feel like as far as my career goes last year was a wash, and I’m just trying to get it all back on track.
BEN: You’re from the San Diego area, which has always had a vibrant live music scene. What are you hearing from the live venue owners in your area, as far as the music scene returning in some form this year?
CH: Mostly it’s just a waiting game, every time there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel, there’s another wave of cases. I hope that when everyone is able to get the vaccine at a steadier pace, things will start to open back up, you just never know when that will be.
BEN: Some music artists, slowly but surely, are starting to get back on the road in 2021. What are your thoughts about touring and playing out this coming year?
CH: I had to cancel tours all over the world in 2020 and it was a big hit on my career like all artists. I’ve been told as of now a lot of those festivals are trying to come back in 2021 and would still like to have me, so I’m hoping I can be back on tour by fall if possible, we are all just hoping that once more people get the vaccine we can come back to some sort of normalcy.
BEN: There’s a great deal of blues history and impressive pedigree in your band – drummer Evan Caleb Yearsley Gutierrez formerly played with his late mother, Candye Kane, and renowned guitarist Laura Chavez, who, too, once played and recorded with Kane. Can you discuss this dynamic and how it affects your overall music?
CH: I am so lucky to work with such incredible musicians, they really bring out the best in me. Laura and Evan are so used to playing together after all those years that I swear they can read each other’s minds and know exactly where the other one wants to take the song without saying a word. I was really lucky to get to watch so much of Candye perform before she passed, her show was so high energy and fun and she really connected with people. It’s funny even people that don’t know the connection between us come up to me all the time and say I remind them of her, so I think our show definitely has that same energy.
BEN: These are definitely strange, uncharted times we are living in. Do you at all see the role of a musician as someone who should “tell it like it is” in their music, socially- or politically-speaking, in their music?
CH: I do. I really hate when I hear people say “shut up and sing” or “shut up and play.” I think when you are in the public eye it is your responsibility to speak up, especially in times with so much hate and anger. I’m never going to just “shut up and sing” it’s not who I am. If I feel strongly about something you will know it.
For more on Casey Hensley log onto www.caseyhensleymusic.com or https://www.facebook.com/CaseyHensleyBand. Follow Casey Hensley on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/caseyhensleymusic/.
