In a time where the music industry often favors fleeting trends over enduring artistry, Hunter Cassidy is breaking the mold with authenticity and purpose. We sat down with the Springfield, Illinois native to talk about his journey from obscurity to rising stardom, the power of vulnerability in music, and why he’s not playing by the industry’s rulebook.
Q: Hunter, let’s start at the beginning. What sparked your journey into music?
Hunter Cassidy: I’ve always been drawn to emotion—whether it’s joy, heartbreak, longing, or hope—and music became the natural outlet for that. I officially started putting my work out there in 2020, but I’ve been writing songs and experimenting with sounds for as long as I can remember. It wasn’t about going viral—it was about saying something real.
Q: Your sound blends genres like pop, acoustic, dark pop, retro, and rock. How did that fusion come about?
Hunter: I grew up listening to everything from Michael Jackson to John Mayer to Queen. They were storytellers and performers—unapologetically unique. That inspired me to be fearless about mixing styles. I don’t believe in boxing myself into one genre. If a song needs to feel raw and stripped down, I’ll grab my guitar. If it needs drama, I’ll go cinematic with it.
Q: You’ve said you write all your own material. How important is that to you?
Hunter: It’s everything. Writing is where the truth lives. I need to be hands-on with every lyric, every chord progression. I can’t hand that over to someone else and still feel like it’s my story. It’s therapy for me, honestly. That’s why songs like After the Storm and Telephone hit so close—they’re not manufactured, they’re me.
Q: Tell us about working with producer Collin King and your upcoming debut EP.
Hunter: Collin is a genius. He doesn’t just understand my sound—he feels it. We’ve been building this EP brick by brick, making sure each track tells its part of the story. Telephone, which dropped on January 15th, was the first piece of that. It’s about distance, about trying to hold onto someone even when the line is going dead—emotionally or literally.
Q: Many artists chase label deals. But you’ve taken a different path. Why?
Hunter: I’m not against the idea of expansion, but I’m not chasing a label. I’ve found a small team I trust, and that’s rare in this industry. My wife and my label support me 100%, and I don’t want to dilute that with outside pressure or creative compromise. We’re building this from the ground up—and I like it that way.
Q: What’s your ultimate dream as an artist?
Hunter: Performing in New York or Miami would be incredible. Sharing a stage with Ed Sheeran or Noah Kahan—that’s the dream. But ultimately, I want my music to live in people’s lives. If I can sell out stadiums one day while still staying true to who I am, that’s the goal.
Q: And what keeps you grounded?
Hunter: My wife. She’s my biggest supporter and my anchor. The journey gets wild sometimes, but she reminds me who I am and why I started.
With a powerful mix of introspection and ambition, Hunter Cassidy is more than just an artist on the rise—he’s a voice with something to say. As he gears up to release his debut EP, one thing’s for sure: the spotlight suits him.
Check out his new single “Telephone”
Available now on Spotify
Follow him on Instagram @thehuntercassidymusic
