We had the pleasure of chatting with Casandra Carson, the talented vocalist of Paralandra. With their new album “The Body Electric” recently released, Paralandra continues to captivate both old-school and modern Hard Rock fans. In this interview, Casandra shares insights into the band’s music, the creation of their latest album, and reflects on memorable moments from her musical career.
Reuel
Hello Casandra! I’m happy to chat with you. How are you doing?
Casandra Carson
Doing great! Thanks for having me.
Reuel
A couple of months ago you released your new album: “The Body Electric”. How are you feeling about the way the fans received your album?
Casandra Carson
Honestly, I couldn’t be happier! We’re getting a lot of love from our hometown fans; some of whom have known these songs for years just waiting for them to be recorded and released, so it feels like a breath of fresh air in a way finally getting it all out there. On top of that, it’s been so cool seeing so many orders, not only from all around the USA, but from all over the world! This has, by far, been our largest, most widely recognized and received release to date, and I couldn’t be more proud.
Reuel
This is indeed amazing! Congratulations!
How would you describe your sound to our readers who never had the chance to listen to your music?
Casandra Carson
I like to describe our sound as hard rock. We’re a high energy band heavily influenced by the guitar heroes of the 80s, the heaviness of modern rock, but also we value the importance of big singalong choruses and hooky melodies that you get in the pop world. Mix all that together with positive, uplifting lyrics and you’ve got Paralandra.
Reuel
Fascinating. If you could choose one song from The Body Electric to summarize Paralandra’s essence, which song would that be and why?
Casandra Carson
That’s a tough one! It’s hard to encapsulate Paralandra in just one song, but I think I’ll have to go with Resurrexit. It has the classic, high energy heartbeat our band is known for, it’s got a great chorus, a dual harmony guitar solo, still gets heavy, and lyrically is about God’s promise of eternal life.
Reuel
Your single “Love of My Life” stands out with a completely different sound from your usual style. Did you enjoy working on something so different? And how have your fans responded to it so far?
Casandra Carson
I had a lot of fun doing this one and equally had a lot of anxiety, haha! I loved the idea of doing a piano ballad since that’s not something we’d done before, and felt strongly that’s what this album needed, but I was also nervous about sharing something that was so personal to me. Love of My Life was only intended to be an anniversary gift for my boyfriend, so part of me didn’t want to share it with the world. It felt sacred in a way. But so many people have connected with the song, and are now using it as their wedding song, and as a way to express their love to their partners; I honestly don’t have the words to describe how honored I am at the response.
Reuel
Well, it’s a great song! Reflecting on your over decade-long career with Paralandra, what are some of the most cherished moments you hold dear from your musical journey?
Casandra Carson
There truly are so many cherished moments, it’s hard to narrow them all down. Of course, we’ve played some amazing shows for thousands of people all over the country, but aside from the concerts themselves, we have so much fun just being on the road together. These guys are my best friends, and I’d say the vast majority of my favorite memories are from off days, the green room, or whatever creepy cabin in the woods we end up sleeping in that night; just laughing, living in the moment, and being our ridiculous selves.
Reuel
What do you think about how women are represented and included in the music industry in general, and specifically in Metal and Rock music?
Casandra Carson
Honestly, I feel that women are being represented in rock and metal more than ever right now! Whether it’s because it’s trendy or because people are actually having a change of mind, heart, and interest, I truly believe we’re on our way to a new norm where “female-fronted” is no longer considered a genre of music. It’s always been about the talent, songwriting, and live performances for me, and I think there’s a lot of people out there that feel the same way.
Reuel
Brilliant. You are currently on tour! When and where can your fans see you perform live next?
Casandra Carson
We’re going all over this year! We have dates spanning from coast to coast, north to south, and everywhere in between from now until December. Check out our website for the latest tour dates at www.paralandrarocks.com
Reuel
Thank you for the interview, Casandra. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Casandra Carson
Thank you again for having me and sharing the Paralandra word! I just want to encourage anyone out there reading this to chase after what brings you the most joy in life. Whereas I may not be the most successful, rich, or famous person in the world, I’m wealthy in lifelong memories and experiences, and you can’t put a price tag on that… especially when you have a killer soundtrack to go along with it.
