Cass Fox
Encyclopedia
Cassandra Fox is a musical artist from England
. She is best known for co-writing and singing on the 2001 hit single Touch Me
which she produced with Rui Da Silva
.
as the only daughter in a large working-class Irish family. From her lyrics you can tell this wasn't the easiest childhood with her only escape being music. From an early age she sang in Irish pubs and won talent contests but when choosing a career, she did not see singing as something which she could be successful in. Along with a friend from school, she went into nursery nursing. She went through a series of dead-end jobs, finally servicing fruit machines so she could get a company car. She recalls how she felt, "Even though I wasn’t being honest with myself about what I really wanted to do, I always knew it was all temporary. When I worked in offices, I was always the girl asking if anyone wanted a tea or coffee. Then I’d go hide in the toilet, doodling or day-dreaming or writing songs." She lived for the weekend, during these jobs, when she would go across the country with her friends to popular large clubs such as Cream
, Gatecrasher
and Miss Moneypenny's
. At 4am one morning she nearly crashed her car into the central reservation. This made her reassess her life. "I suddenly thought, ‘What am I doing? I’ve got a voice, I can write songs, and I’m just doing these crappy jobs. It’s time for me to be brave. No more messing about.’" She said "I had no money, no car, but from that day I started making music."
She quit her job and started singing in clubs, bars, and on the street. Rui Da Silva
saw her performing with some buskers in the West End
and he invited her to start hanging out at his studio. It was there she wrote the lyrics to Touch Me
over one of Rui's old demos. This became her first success. The single topped the UK charts early in 2001, selling some 300,000 copies. Cass decided though to walk away and start again. "I knew from the start that dance music wasn’t the direction I wanted," she says. "I thought having a hit would open doors, but that’s not how it worked out." She wanted success, but on her own terms. "If I do something, I have to do it 100 per cent,"
She stopped working with Da Silva, due to her desire to work in other genres, and began working with a friend, eventually finding a musical style that felt her own. 'Army Of One' is about her frustration with record companies and was the first song she felt was hers and hers alone. "I felt, 'This is it. This is what I want to do." She played the song to Rollo Armstrong
at his studio and he immediately wanted to work with her. Unfortunately he had commitments with his sister Dido
and band Faithless
, so while waiting Cass worked with Craig Dodds (Sugababes
), writing three songs with him. "That was brilliant, it was like a therapy session - getting all my angst out." When she eventually worked with Rollo
, he helped her add to her music and find her more passionate side.
You can hear the influence she draws on her debut album Come Here
from people such as her childhood heroine Dolly Parton
, Annie Lennox
, Tracy Chapman
or Kate Bush
. She has even drawn comparisons to Eminem
due to her lyrics describing family strife.
Cass was the first of two support acts on Faithless
' "Forever Faithless" tour in 2005, the other being Crazy P
. Cass later appeared on the 2006 Faithless
album To All New Arrivals
, providing vocals for the track "Music Matters". She has appeared alongside the band on the tour supporting this album.
A version of her song "Little Bird" was remixed into DJ Tiësto
's compilation album "In Search Of Sunrise 5" released in 2006. On 4 September 2006 Cass's Songs "Army of One" and "Come Here" were made available as free singles for the week on the UK version of iTunes
.
As of 3 June 2007 Cass had added a song "Home" to her MySpace
page along with a small sample of artwork for the song. It is expected that the song will feature on her second album which is currently in production.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. She is best known for co-writing and singing on the 2001 hit single Touch Me
Touch Me (Rui Da Silva song)
"Touch Me" is a house song by Portuguese producer Rui da Silva featuring vocals written and performed by British singer Cassandra Fox."Touch Me" is arguably Rui da Silva's most popular song, spending one week at the number-one spot on the UK chart, the first song by a Portuguese musician to do so,...
which she produced with Rui Da Silva
Rui da Silva
Rui da Silva is a Portuguese producer and DJ, whose single "Touch Me" topped the UK Singles Chart in 2001.At the time, he was the only Portuguese musician to have a UK hit, and hence was the first to score a UK number one.-Career:...
.
Biography
Cass grew up in North LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
as the only daughter in a large working-class Irish family. From her lyrics you can tell this wasn't the easiest childhood with her only escape being music. From an early age she sang in Irish pubs and won talent contests but when choosing a career, she did not see singing as something which she could be successful in. Along with a friend from school, she went into nursery nursing. She went through a series of dead-end jobs, finally servicing fruit machines so she could get a company car. She recalls how she felt, "Even though I wasn’t being honest with myself about what I really wanted to do, I always knew it was all temporary. When I worked in offices, I was always the girl asking if anyone wanted a tea or coffee. Then I’d go hide in the toilet, doodling or day-dreaming or writing songs." She lived for the weekend, during these jobs, when she would go across the country with her friends to popular large clubs such as Cream
Cream (nightclub)
Cream, based at the Nation nightclub in Liverpool, is one of the best-known night clubs in the UK. Cream began life as a weekly house music night at Nation, and ran in this format for 10 years, from October 1992 to June 2002...
, Gatecrasher
Gatecrasher
Gatecrasher is an international clubbing brand made famous by the Gatecrasher dance music events held at the Gatecrasher One nightclub in Sheffield, England during the late 1990s and early 2000s. The event received awards such as "Club Of The Year" at the Ericsson Muzik Magazine Dance Awards in...
and Miss Moneypenny's
Miss Moneypenny's
Miss Moneypenny's is a house music nightclub that was founded in Birmingham, England, in 1986.The nights were originally associated with Chuff Chuff rave events, initially held as boat parties, with founding members Mick, Jim, and Dermot Ryan, and Lee Garrick taking turns to entertain the crowds...
. At 4am one morning she nearly crashed her car into the central reservation. This made her reassess her life. "I suddenly thought, ‘What am I doing? I’ve got a voice, I can write songs, and I’m just doing these crappy jobs. It’s time for me to be brave. No more messing about.’" She said "I had no money, no car, but from that day I started making music."
She quit her job and started singing in clubs, bars, and on the street. Rui Da Silva
Rui da Silva
Rui da Silva is a Portuguese producer and DJ, whose single "Touch Me" topped the UK Singles Chart in 2001.At the time, he was the only Portuguese musician to have a UK hit, and hence was the first to score a UK number one.-Career:...
saw her performing with some buskers in the West End
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
and he invited her to start hanging out at his studio. It was there she wrote the lyrics to Touch Me
Touch Me (Rui Da Silva song)
"Touch Me" is a house song by Portuguese producer Rui da Silva featuring vocals written and performed by British singer Cassandra Fox."Touch Me" is arguably Rui da Silva's most popular song, spending one week at the number-one spot on the UK chart, the first song by a Portuguese musician to do so,...
over one of Rui's old demos. This became her first success. The single topped the UK charts early in 2001, selling some 300,000 copies. Cass decided though to walk away and start again. "I knew from the start that dance music wasn’t the direction I wanted," she says. "I thought having a hit would open doors, but that’s not how it worked out." She wanted success, but on her own terms. "If I do something, I have to do it 100 per cent,"
She stopped working with Da Silva, due to her desire to work in other genres, and began working with a friend, eventually finding a musical style that felt her own. 'Army Of One' is about her frustration with record companies and was the first song she felt was hers and hers alone. "I felt, 'This is it. This is what I want to do." She played the song to Rollo Armstrong
Rollo Armstrong
Rollo Armstrong is one half of the music producers/remixers team Rollo and Sister Bliss and is a founding member of the electronic music group Faithless.-Early life:...
at his studio and he immediately wanted to work with her. Unfortunately he had commitments with his sister Dido
Dido (singer)
Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong , known as Dido, is an English singer-songwriter.Dido shot to worldwide success with her debut album, No Angel...
and band Faithless
Faithless
Faithless were a British electronica band consisting of Maxi Jazz, Sister Bliss and Rollo. The group is best known for their dance songs . Faithless recorded six albums. During their career they sold over 15 million records worldwide...
, so while waiting Cass worked with Craig Dodds (Sugababes
Sugababes
The Sugababes are an English pop girl group based in London, consisting of members Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen. The Sugababes were formed in 1998 with founding members Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan. Their debut album, One Touch, was released in 2000 under London...
), writing three songs with him. "That was brilliant, it was like a therapy session - getting all my angst out." When she eventually worked with Rollo
Rollo Armstrong
Rollo Armstrong is one half of the music producers/remixers team Rollo and Sister Bliss and is a founding member of the electronic music group Faithless.-Early life:...
, he helped her add to her music and find her more passionate side.
You can hear the influence she draws on her debut album Come Here
Come Here
Come Here is Cass Fox's first full length album release as a solo artist.Commenting on her own album she said:"I want this album to touch people, That’s the most important thing to me; that it connects to people and perhaps tells them that whatever it is they want to do, they can do it. If I can,...
from people such as her childhood heroine Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
, Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox, OBE , born Ann Lennox, is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving minor success in the late 1970s with The Tourists, with fellow musician David A...
, Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her singles "Fast Car", "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution", "Baby Can I Hold You", "Give Me One Reason" and "Telling Stories". She is a multi-platinum and four-time Grammy Award-winning artist.-Biography:Tracy Chapman was born in Cleveland,...
or Kate Bush
Kate Bush
Kate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart...
. She has even drawn comparisons to Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
due to her lyrics describing family strife.
Cass was the first of two support acts on Faithless
Faithless
Faithless were a British electronica band consisting of Maxi Jazz, Sister Bliss and Rollo. The group is best known for their dance songs . Faithless recorded six albums. During their career they sold over 15 million records worldwide...
' "Forever Faithless" tour in 2005, the other being Crazy P
Crazy Penis
Crazy Penis are an electronic music group from the United Kingdom, formed around 1995 by Chris Todd and Jim Baron.-History:...
. Cass later appeared on the 2006 Faithless
Faithless
Faithless were a British electronica band consisting of Maxi Jazz, Sister Bliss and Rollo. The group is best known for their dance songs . Faithless recorded six albums. During their career they sold over 15 million records worldwide...
album To All New Arrivals
To All New Arrivals
To All New Arrivals is the 5th studio album by dance music act Faithless. The album was created after the positive response to the Faithless Greatest Hits tour, originally described as their "final tour". The album was released on 27 November 2006, a week after the single Bombs...
, providing vocals for the track "Music Matters". She has appeared alongside the band on the tour supporting this album.
A version of her song "Little Bird" was remixed into DJ Tiësto
Tiësto
Tijs Michiel Verwest, , known as Tiësto , is a Dutch musician, DJ and record producer of electronic dance music. Although he has used many aliases in the past, he is best known for his work as DJ Tiësto...
's compilation album "In Search Of Sunrise 5" released in 2006. On 4 September 2006 Cass's Songs "Army of One" and "Come Here" were made available as free singles for the week on the UK version of iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
.
As of 3 June 2007 Cass had added a song "Home" to her MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page along with a small sample of artwork for the song. It is expected that the song will feature on her second album which is currently in production.
Albums
- Come HereCome HereCome Here is Cass Fox's first full length album release as a solo artist.Commenting on her own album she said:"I want this album to touch people, That’s the most important thing to me; that it connects to people and perhaps tells them that whatever it is they want to do, they can do it. If I can,...
Original release (19 September 2005) - Come Here
Re-release (19 June 2006)
Singles
- "Touch MeTouch Me (Rui Da Silva song)"Touch Me" is a house song by Portuguese producer Rui da Silva featuring vocals written and performed by British singer Cassandra Fox."Touch Me" is arguably Rui da Silva's most popular song, spending one week at the number-one spot on the UK chart, the first song by a Portuguese musician to do so,...
" with Rui Da SilvaRui da SilvaRui da Silva is a Portuguese producer and DJ, whose single "Touch Me" topped the UK Singles Chart in 2001.At the time, he was the only Portuguese musician to have a UK hit, and hence was the first to score a UK number one.-Career:...
(1 January 2001) - "Out of My ReachOut of My Reach"Out of My Reach" is a song by Cass Fox. It was Cass' first solo single release after her success with Rui Da Silva on "Touch Me". It was released on 5 September 2005, two weeks before the release of Come Here.-Reviews:...
" (5 September 2005) - "Army of One" (12 June 2006)
- "Little BirdLittle Bird (Deep Skies song)"Little Bird" is a song by Deep Skies and Cass Fox. The song's backing track was written by Deep Skies with the vocals being written and performed by Cass Fox being a remix of the song on Cass' album released the year before. It was released only on 12" on 12 June 2006, one week before the...
" (12 June 2006) - "Touch Me" - new version (30 October 2006)
Demo sampler releases
| Release | Come Here (5 Track UK Promo CD) | Come Here (4 Track UK Promo CD) |
| Track Listing | 1. Out of My Reach 3:26 2. Million Dollars 4:00 3. Strangers 4:29 4. Little Bird 5:46 5. Come Here 3:31 |
1. Out of My Reach 3:26 2. Million Dollars 4:00 3. Strangers 4:29 4. Save Me 4:14 |
| Year of Release | 2005 | 2005 |