Today we’d like to introduce you to DJ Rees and his band Casual Cadenza.
DJ Rees, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
This band has been a passion project of mine since late 2016. Since then, it has been through a few lineup changes. Every iteration of the band has been unique and special, and I’m extremely excited about the direction the current lineup is headed. My brother, Kyle Rees, has been playing drums with us now since May of 2018. Almost simultaneously, Spencer Williams joined us on keyboards. The following summer of 2019, Dustin Williams joined us on bass.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been a pretty smooth road, but there’s been plenty of obstacles. When the band first came together, two of the members lived in Athens, GA and two lived in Atlanta. So there was a lot of traveling for rehearsals and gigs. Eventually, scheduling and time commitments became an issue and that’s what eventually lead to the lineup changes in 2018. When you’re dealing with multiple people’s schedules, it’s always going to be difficult to find time to dedicate to the band, but I think we’re at a good place now. Everyone is invested in pushing this thing forward and we have a pretty organized process now for scheduling rehearsals and shows.
Please tell us about your music.
Casual Cadenza is a jam band from Atlanta, GA. We play a wide variety of music, including rock, funk, bluegrass, reggae, fusion, etc. We take a lot of pride in our ability to improvise and put a unique twist on any given song, whether it be an original song or a cover. I think one thing that sets us apart is our musicianship and the energy of our live shows. We put a heavy focus on dynamic peaks and blending all of these genres as seamlessly as possible. We try to make every show a unique experience.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I can’t say I would do too much differently. As a professional musician, you have to surround yourself with like-minded musicians who are pursuing it as more than a hobby and have similar goals. I think that open discussions about the band’s goals from the beginning is something I could have done better. But as they say, everything tends to happen for a reason and I’m very grateful for the memories and opportunities this band has afforded me.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 770-880-1409
- Email: casualcadenza@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casualcadenza4/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CasualCadenza/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClYGYq-Tti7OqPZ2r5tAm_g
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