Video: Cassowary, ‘Starlight’

Kevin Bronson on July 16th, 2020

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Animator Kate Diliberto adds some twinkle to the already-sparkling song “Starlight,” one of the highlights on the self-titled album from Cassowary.

“Cassowary” is the work of 25-year-old multi-instrumentalist Miles Shannon, an L.A. whiz kid who, after graduating from LACHSA, matriculated to New York City to explore the jazz scene and, finding it stifling, returned home with a head full of ideas. (His first recording was contributing keys to childhood pal Earl Sweatshirt’s 2015 album “I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside.”) Of the album, Shannon says, “I really wanted to make a record that I would listen to. I want people to listen like a musician, with that intent. It’s clearly not just a pop album with pop songs. I wanted to challenge people, sonically. I want people to go in there and be surprised.”

Accepting that challenge yields rich rewards. Sure to rank as one of most dynamic albums to come out of L.A. this year, “Cassowary” will appeal to jazz-heads, beat-scene devotees and fans of sun-baked disco, soul and hip-hop (the latter highlighted by Tyler Cole’s appearance on “Cyclical”). The three-part jazz instrumental “114º” sets the thermostat for everything that lies in between. The tracks got their name for the temperature in the studio on the day in 2018 when Shannon recorded them with bassist Aidan McDonough and drummer Sean Tavella.

“She Funked Me” and “Belt Notch!” sound from another era without feeling reverential; “Roach” will wrap your head in knots; and Shannon’s sax on “Moth” flits beautifully around the flame.

As for “Starlight,” it’s “about the allure of fame,” Shannon says, “wanting to be a star and the infatuation with that, and the difference between becoming an artist and becoming a ‘star’ … how and why those things aren’t mutually exclusive. When I approached Kate with the idea, I explained this to her and it was easy for her to run with it. I love her artistry and so that allowed me to really trust her direction and let her have fun with it. What ended up was something beautiful. Kate really laid into the celestial vibes behind ‘Starlight’ and more literally displayed the difference between me as an artist and perhaps me as the star (alien) that I wish to become.”

“Cassowary” came out in April via Fat Possum.

||| Watch: The video for “Starlight”