Hereditary by Cassadee Pope via cassadee.com
Hereditary by Cassadee Pope is the artist’s first full reintroduction back into the pop-rock genre. The album is comprised of twelve unforgettable tracks that display the singer’s iconic vocals and clever lyricism. Having been a fan since Pope’s Hey Monday days, I was ecstatic to learn about the return to her roots. Hereditary has both heavy anthems and soft ballads, providing songs for all different music tastes. From the first single, People That I Love Leave, it was apparent that this new era was going to be one of the best projects by the talented artist.
Track List
People That I Love Leave
Eye Contact
Secret
More To Me
Three of Us
Rom Coms
Almost There
Capacity
I Died (Feat. Daisha McBride)
Hereditary
Ever Since The World Ended (feat. Aaron Gillespie)
Wrong One
Cassadee Pope is a singer-songwriter from West Palm Beach, Florida, now based in Nashville. In 2008, she made her musical debut as the lead vocalist and co-founder of the pop-punk band, Hey Monday. After one full-length album and three EPs, the band went on an indefinite hiatus in 2011. The following year, she released her solo self-titled EP before auditioning for the 3rd season of The Voice. She joined Blake Shelton’s team and became the first female winner of the show. The following year, she released her first full-length album Frame by Frame, which charted on the top 10 of the Billboard 200 and debuted at number one on Top Country Albums. In 2015, Pope collaborated with Chris Young on his single “Think Of You” from his album, I’m Coming Over. This song became Pope’s first number-one track on the U.S. Country Airplay chart and earned her a Grammy nomination, making her the first The Voice contestant to receive this prestigious status.
After parting from her record label, Pope returned to independently releasing music. Hereditary marks her third album as an independent artist. Her discography is extensive, from her pre- and post-The Voice days, ensuring there is truly something for everyone. She is currently on her The Hereditary Tour, with supporting acts The Foxies and Natalia Taylar on select dates! She will also be joining Marianas Trench on tour this fall and will be performing with Hey Monday at When We Were Young 2024 in Las Vegas this October and the Emo’s Not Dead Cruise 2025 departing in Miami. Check out her website to find dates near you and purchase tickets or VIP upgrades before they sell out. And make sure you follow her on all social media platforms to stay up to date with all new announcements!
People That I Love Leave
Hereditary kicks off with the fiery lead single, “People That I Love Leave.” Released over a year ago, the song was the first taste of Pope’s new era of music. The high-energy track shares the singer’s fears and anxieties regarding relationships due to past trauma. Pope confesses her inability to let herself fall. From familial relationships to romantic partnerships, she has seen loved ones leave without a second thought. Through her insightful lyrics, she tells her subject to not expect her to say “those three words.” However, she reassures them as she sings: “I know you're confused, but it's not about you// It's not something you did, it's just not something I do.” After years of being burned, she refuses to let anyone else in. It is a heart-wrenching notion that showcases a darker, more jaded side of Pope. With the up-tempo, pop-rock production, “People That I Love Leave” was the perfect song to introduce the flawless album.
Eye Contact
The high-energy soundscape continues with the second track. While the previous song reflects Pope’s fear of being left by those she loves, “Eye Contact” shares the story of when this fear becomes reality. She kicks off the song with the chorus containing the clever hook: “You said you’d never tell me goodbye// You left in the dark, I guess you were right// Straight to my face, an all-out attack// Now I hate eye contact.” Immediately, Pope wraps up the entire message of the song: trusting a “professional liar” that she couldn’t read. They lied to her face while holding her gaze, showing no indication of dishonesty. Now, Pope is living with the leftover trauma, unable to trust anyone— even when they are able to maintain eye contact. Alongside the feisty lyrics, the instrumentation contains the iconic pop-rock sound that Pope is effortlessly comfortable in, emphasizing that she is back home to where she belongs.
Secret
Pope has written every single one of her songs based on personal experiences. However, “Secret” is the first song to stray from this pattern. The track is inspired by the Hulu Original Series, Normal People. The show is about the secret love affair between a popular jock, Connell Waldron, and a socially inadept scholar, Marianne Sheridan. He refused to let anyone know they were dating, even turning a blind eye when his peers would bully her. This inevitably led to an unsurmountable distrust and resentment. Pope took this intricate plot line and turned it into an infectious track from Marianne’s point of view. The vulnerable lyrics explore her complex feelings of love, betrayal, and disappointment. Pope ingeniously brings to life the inner workings of the character’s feelings, showcasing the artist's unmatched songwriting ability.
More To Me
“More To Me” was the first track written for Hereditary. At the time, Pope was unaware that she was even writing a new album. The song was a cathartic release when struggling with a musical identity crisis -- should she stay country or return to her roots of pop-punk? After releasing her previous album, Thrive, Pope was unsure where her career was heading and felt that "none of it mattered." “More To Me” was the catalyst for following her intuition and going back to rock music. The song details moving on from the bitterness and resentment held against someone who did her wrong. She realized that even without them around, she still let them have a hold over her. But now she has determined that there “is more to me than hating you now.” The song instantly caught my attention with the dark pop-rock soundscape and heavier lyrics, making it my favorite track from the project.
Three of Us
“Three Of Us” was the only ballad released prior to the album, giving the audience a taste of Hereditary’s softer side. While the production leans on a more subtle soundscape, the lyrics pack a massive punch. Pope details the struggle of watching a loved one crippled by addiction. She paints a picture of wanting to help this person, but nothing she does will help. In the chorus, she sings: “It’s you and me and the drugs make three// If they’re so damn good how can I compete.” While she loves them dearly, she can no longer sit back and watch it happen. She continues in the chorus with the lyrics: “You love to say that I’m fucked up// It’s either you and me or the drugs// ‘Cause I’m done with the three of us.” This first line holds a double meaning. One interpretation is that her loved one is telling Pope that it is not fair to give them an ultimatum. However, the second can be interpreted as the subject saying they are “fucked up” from the drugs. The double entendre cuts deeper, making the audience think more about Pope’s poetic lyrics. “Three Of Us” discusses a subject that the singer has not covered, providing a song for fans to resonate with while also being a cathartic release for her. While I enjoy Pope’s high-energy anthems, I was pleased to hear another classic emotional ballad from the talented artist.
Rom Coms
“Rom Coms” is the more mature version of “Cinematic” from Pope’s debut album, Frame by Frame. While the latter track is about the whimsical, picturesque romance portrayed in movies, “Rom Coms” details a more realistic story. When she was younger, she dreamt of a love found in a romantic comedy—where they would show up with a boombox on your front lawn. But now, as she has gotten older, she is glad this is not the case. In the chorus, she tells her partner, “’Cause I love the mess we’re in, my fucked up prince// It’s time to let go of all the unrealistic fantasies// You make it seem like we don’t need the silver screen.” Pope breaks down the walls, defying the expectations of love. They do not need to be picture-perfect, as long as the chemistry, love, and respect are all still there.
Almost There
Pope shares another side of herself that she has not before in her highly infectious song, “Almost There.” The track showcases a more sensual and intimate storyline, as she divulges the private moments between her and her partner. Regarding the song’s background, Pope wanted to embrace her sexuality and indulge in her desires. She acknowledges that from a young age, especially young women, people are taught to suppress their natural urges. Instead, she rejects this idea and sheds the shame held over her head. Now, she proudly boasts about the beautiful relationship she has been in for years and uses her voice to encourage others to stay true to who they are. With her astonishing vocal range and fiery production, “Almost There” is an instant fan-favorite.
Capacity
The lyrics of “Capacity” immediately caught my attention with its cutthroat, straight-to-the-point lyrics. In the same vein as her song, “Say It First,” the new track is about the ending of a relationship—where both people know it is about to end. Instead, Pope is pleading to her partner to rip the Band-Aid off and tell her it is over. She knows they are stalling, and she just wants them to end it now, rather than stringing her along. In the bridge, she tells them: “It might suck to hear but things would be clearer// Hey, yeah, I might regret you but I’d respect you// Hey, I don’t need a favor, don’t need a savior.” These cheeky lines instantly became my favorite as Pope holds nothing back and tells them they are not doing her, or themselves, any good by bottling their feelings. She does not have “the capacity” to wait for them to finally spit it out. From the moment I heard this song, it has been living rent-free in my mind, proving to be one of Pope’s best tracks.
I Died (Feat. Daisha McBride)
As a fan of the macabre, my morbid curiosity attached to “I Died” the moment Pope announced it. The song shares the despairing moment of realization that the person you once loved treats you like you no longer exist— like you died. Each lyric left my jaw on the floor as Pope exposed her muse for the traitor that they are. While the song may be about a romantic relationship, there is also the possibility that it may be about her former label, making the song even more tragic in my personal opinion. As the final single prior to the album’s release, the song gave listeners the first taste of the album’s collaborations. Daisha McBride makes her first appearance in the second verse with a fiery solo. While rap is not my preferred genre, McBridge’s talent astounded me, and her voice paired wonderfully with Pope and the song’s heavier soundscape. With the grim lyrics and dark production, “I Died (feat. Daisha McBride) instantly became my favorite pre-album release single.
Hereditary
“Hereditary” is a “self-deprecating” track that details Pope’s generational trauma in a humorous tone. The catchy production paired with the singer’s cheeky manner when speaking the hook immediately made the song become one of my favorite tracks. The song displays Pope’s funny side – something that longtime fans are well acquainted with through interactions via live shows and social media posts. Her hilarious quips are a way to cope with her trauma, providing a cathartic release for herself while simultaneously giving listeners something to resonate with. The song is an electrifying pop-rock anthem that quickly became one of my top favorites on the album and from the artist overall.
Ever Since The World Ended (feat. Aaron Gillespie)
“Ever Since The World Ended” starts as a soothing rock ballad with an acoustic guitar and soft drum production that slowly builds into a passionate anthem. The increase in the soundscape emphasizes the heavy emotions behind the vulnerable lyrics about heartbreak and longing. The song features a collaboration with seasoned pop-rock artist, Aaron Gillespie, known for being the drummer and clean vocalist for Underoath, the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for The Almost, and a previous touring drummer for Paramore. Pope and Gillespie’s voices effortlessly blend to create the epitome of a pop-rock duet. Both vocalists have unique voices that fit perfectly with the genre, so it comes as no surprise that their collaboration would be a hit. Throughout the song, the lyrics compare the ending to a relationship as the apocalypse. They miss their muse and have been going crazy “ever since the world ended.” With the emotional lyrics and powerful production, Pope and Gillespie leave listeners craving more collaborations from the talented pair.
Wrong One
Similar to the previous track, “Wrong One” starts with a soft, acoustic verse that subtly introduces the song’s unique storyline. This lulls the listener into a sense of comfort, believing it will be another soothing ballad. However, after the final line of the first verse, the song explodes into a passionate anthem. Pope has a powerful voice with incredible vocal control, displayed by every single song she has released and her well-deserved win on The Voice. And yet, I still find myself in awe when hearing her remarkable vocals. Her voice hits impressive high notes with such ease that she makes it look easy. “Wrong One” was one of the songs that left me with my jaw on the floor, overwhelmed by the singer’s impeccable range. Ending the album with this intense track leaves listeners with a permanent mark, compelling them to hit repeat on the flawless project.
In the fifteen years of being a fan, I have been a witness to Pope’s different career phases. From the early years with Hey Monday, her solo pop EP, and her The Voice audition (I remember it being the only season I cared enough to vote in) to her transition into country music, becoming an independent artist, and returning to rock music, I have stuck through it all. And enjoyed every moment. Pope has such an intimate and personal approach to her music, making every single fan feel seen and heard through her lyrics. She is authentic to who she is, which only makes her listeners fall for her even more. Hereditary and the ongoing success of the tour, is only proof that Pope is in her element. To witness this in real-time, buy tickets to the Hereditary tour now and check back to our website soon to see my review of opening night!
Written By Karlee Skipper
*copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.
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