After getting Lyme disease last year, Ryan Cassata is thankful to be back on the road.
The Los Angeles singer-songwriter felt isolated because of having a chronic illness and recalled experiencing that same feeling as a trans youth years ago.
“I’m excited to be feeling well enough to be back out on the road,” said Cassata, who’s still fighting the illness, but is stable enough to be touring.
“The sense of isolation that the disease has caused me reminds me of how I felt as a trans teenager: isolated and feeling like I was the only one going through it in the world. There’s also a lack of understanding that happens with both chronic illness and being trans.”
Cassata also explores those themes on his latest album, Greetings From Echo Park. He wrote most of the album while battling Lyme disease and includes 14 cathartic tracks that reflect on queer identity, trauma, uncertainty, and survival.
“So if you’re queer/trans, chronically ill, disabled, or experiencing feeling different, or being othered in any way, you may relate to the lyrics on this record,” he said.
“There are many songs that also reflect the queer experience, like “QUEER american DREAM.” I wrote that song about the state of the nation and the quest for trans equality. I sing a lot about how hard it feels right now to be trans.”
I recently did an email interview with Cassata about his album ahead of a September 26 show at The Current Art Studio in Detroit.
The Stratton Setlist 