Kassi Valazza is our modern-day folk hero, casting a long shadow alongside legends like Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell. It’s not just her voice – it’s her style, poetry, approach – she’s the total package. But make no mistake: Kassi is none of them. She’s entirely herself, and she more than holds her own in that rarified air. In fact, with the help of her band, she doesn’t just dwell in the realm of folk – she transcends it. From Newman Street pulses with rhythmic grooves and shimmering pedal steel, flirting with psychedelia in a way that feels effortlessly vintage without ever leaning too far into nostalgia.
Her musical journey began over a decade ago in Portland. After two well-received albums, years of touring and cultivating a devoted fanbase. Valazza relocated to New Orleans.. From Newman Street reflects that transition – emotionally and artistically – capturing the movement, memory, and mindset of starting anew.
Though she once considered Nashville, New Orleans became her new home. Still, when it came time to record, she returned to Portland to work with Matt Thompson at Echo Echo Studios. Of the album’s ten songs, half were written in Portland prior to the move, and the other half in New Orleans. The tracklist doesn’t reveal their origins, but the sequencing seems intentional. The title track, a poignant nod to an apartment she once loved, closes the record with quiet emotional weight.
Valazza recorded the album with her full six-piece touring band, all credited as co-producers and co-arrangers. Their cohesion and sensitivity to the material are evident in every track.
Kassi brings the same calm presence to the stage as she does to her songs, even as they explore life’s underlying tension. At our 2nd Annual SXSW showcase in 2025, she and her band delivered one of the standout sets of the week – tight, transportive, and downright mesmerizing. Since that March afternoon, our anticipation for From Newman Street has only grown. Now that it’s here, we’re grateful – and fully under its spell.
@meanwhile_in_music
