The creative underground of Sydney has always been a haven for voices that challenge, uplift, and gently ridicule the conventions. But, to the extent that a few artists do, Cassy Judy embodies that spirit. With her upcoming seven-track EP, The Cassy Judy Mixtape, the trans singer, songwriter, comic performer, and criminal lawyer, who proudly identifies as Cassy Judy, not only moves out as an artist but also as a cultural disruptor, utilizing her humor, honesty, and saxophone swagger equally.
For years, she was a vibrant force in Sydney's queer performance scene, winning over packed comedy festival shows, National Folk Festival, and Broken Heel Festival stages with her energy, and live audiences whom she converted into happy, noisy choirs. It is more than just songs. It is an archive of life, a mixture of protest, celebration, and a diary entry from someone who has survived, seen, and chosen to laugh.
This undertaking goes to the roots of the artist's experience, which few people can relate to. Before music became her primary focus, she worked as a criminal lawyer in Broken Hill at the Aboriginal Legal Service. This chapter not only influenced her perspective but also shaped this EP. For instance, the satire in "Love Letter to Society" and "You're Gunna Get Sent" is combined with a strong political stance, sharply indicting systemic injustice. On the contrary, the composition of "Learn to Love Again" mapped out by Sam Schroder radiates softness and openness, hence proving that one cannot be more opposed in nature from another, and yet simultaneously coexist in the same person, as Cassy.
With a shiny new saxophone in hand, her musical vulnerability is extended beyond just the lyrics, adding richness and intimacy to the instrument’s sound on the record, an achievement celebrated at Quarterpipe Studios in Gymea Bay. The producer, Derek J. Turner, is the grit, while the creative director, Adriana Zapato Delgado, is the feather, the passion behind the fire, and the pom-pom-waving energizer. This community-driven art is the kind that is messy, rock, solid, and, most importantly, human.
Moreover, the presence of chaos, a love affair of sorts: The three tracks "Xanthan Gum, " "I’ve Come So Far Calypso, " and "Fly Away" are bursting with irreverence and a lively dancing atmosphere. Jude doesn’t seek approval from people to combine brisk, activist work of the comedy genre with the truth of human nature; she goes ahead and does it anyway. Highlighting the strength of queer people, subverting social conventions, and encouraging everyone to sing as loud as they can to silence their fear are just some of the things she does.
According to her, her songs are stamps, a declaration of identity, humor, defiance, and real-life experience. The release of the mixtape does not sum up her work; in fact, it is more of a manifesto, which, when unfolded, reveals its different layers of laughter, community, and melody. In a time when, more often than not, the attribute of being polished is valued over that of being authentic, the woman named Cassy Judy stays true to her fellow humans and, at the same time, invites other people to laugh with her, think about what she’s saying, and dance to her tunes. Here you have queer storytelling in its most vibrant and colourful form, brave, unfiltered, and full of love.
Follow Cassy Judy for more amazing updates and performances:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cassyjudymusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetranssinger/
Twitter(X): https://x.com/judychair/with_replies
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cassyjudymusic
Bandcamp: https://cassyjudy.bandcamp.com/