True to the spirit of this project, “The Cassingles” comes as YET ANOTHER completely different kind of collaboration. As you may or may not know, I play bass with a little outfit called Parlour Bells, the musical mastermind of which I am lucky enough to also have as a guitarist in The Best Intentions – the amazing Mr. Nate Leavitt. Recently, Parlour Bells came out with an excellent EP entitled “Heart Beatings” (which I had nothing to do with) via a very interesting process: Nate made a bunch of synthesized music and then handed it over, previously unheard, to singer Glenn DiBenedetto to add vocal melody and lyrics. A record made in two different rooms. Pretty funky idea.

Along with my numerous other character flaws, I’m a wee bit of a control freak so the idea of turning complete power of production to another person had its morbid appeal. Could I really let go like that? I didn’t know, but if I were going trust anyone, it’d be Nate Leavitt. If we were in a junior high class learning about parental responsibility, I’d totally let Nate babysit my egg while I watched scrambled porn on the stolen cable box in my parents’ room. Soooooooo I performed four songs on acoustic guitar, sent them to Nate and said, “Do whatever you want. You have carte blanche. Call me when they’re ready for vocals.”

When it came time for me to hear the tracks, my little mind was blown. Nate’s electronic wizardry morphed my acoustic diddies into a collection of power-pop gems that could fit onto the B-side of a 1984 cassingle (hence the name). The influences of artists like Prince, Cyndi Lauper, Rick Springfield, The Police and other 80’s pop that have always been hidden somewhere deep in the foundation of my songwriting are unashamedly at the forefront of this EP. - Brendan Boogie