Cassy Judy presents 'I've Come So Far – Symphonic' – moving her already anthemic, reflective track into a sweeping, orchestral landscape. The result is a cinematic, emotional piece of music accentuating Cassy's strength and power. . . With a raw vocal delivery, and a driving instrumental outro.
Before this stunning transformation, 'I've Come So Far', released a few years ago, was already filled to the brim with meaning for Cassy. She says it has always been a deeply personal reflection of her journey survival and progress.
“It's a marker of how far I've come as a trans woman from starting my career as a criminal lawyer before I knew who I was, to performing at the Broken Heel festival and now at Rainbow In The Outback!” Cassy reflects. “I think that the movie 'The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert' lodged itself in my subconscious and I knew that being in Broken Hill would give me the space and freedom I needed to find and grow into my true self!”
Cassy says the desire to add those orchestral elements wasn't just to bring the emotion and expression to the surface with swelling strings and emotive piano.
“I'm a huge fan of Shakespearean type tragedies,” she admits. “Many famous artists perform with orchestras! I want to do that one day! So, I commissioned Derek Turner and the boffins at Quarterpipe Studios to stop bludging at the skate park and put their mad technical skills into action!”
“Derek is just a wizard with string arranging. If you don't believe it, listen to my song, 'Another Piece of Ass'. So I love the strings. I had to have them on my song!”
FROOTY is super excited to share Cassy's track a day ahead of release. Enjoy.
The entire orchestral arrangement was uniquely built around the original track's blistering guitar solo, and Cassy says that lyrically, on top of being extremely personal, the song was inspired by iconic Australian cabaret performer and transgender pioneer Carlotta.
“The inspiration for the song really came from seeing Carlotta's performance of 'I'm Still Here' in 2019 at the Broken Heel Festival. I just loved the statement vibe of it!” Cassy says. “The Les Girls girls really inspired me and made way for women like me to live out our truths safety and without too much persecution. I look up to them! Carlotta, Aisha, Vonnie. They've given me space and opportunities to shine and I'm forever grateful!”
When it comes to how Cassy would like the refreshed track to be received, she's got a powerful message to send.
“I want people to picture themselves soaring high towards the sun like Icarus (yes, I just watched Chistopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey'), but without the melting wax bit. You know what they say, 'if you shoot for the moon, you might reach the stars',” she says.
“I want people to challenge themselves, step outside of their comfort zones and then look back and say 'I've come so far'. I want people to have the fire of injustice in their bellies and re-record their songs and really stick it to the big record companies, Taylor Swift style. Then they can look in the mirror and say, 'I've come so far'.”
“I want people to swim with whales and dolphins, not be stung by bluebottles or step on a sea-urchin, turn to their nearest and dearest and say 'I've come so far'.”
'I've Come So Far – Symphonic' is out 30 July. Cassy Judy plays a Single Launch Show at MoshPit Bar (Sydney) 6 August.
