Dominican-American singer-songwriter La Cassandra has made a name for herself since emerging on the scene in 2021 through her genre-blending versatility. She seamlessly fuses bolero, R&B, disco, jazz, and Afro-Latin rhythms, which is even more magnetic on stage.
With her boundless passion, La Cassandra’s interests extend beyond music.
In “Lawn Talks”—our collaborative series with Neutrogena that brings together environment and conversation—artists share the inspiration behind their music, their connection to skincare, and their most memorable moments under New York’s scorching summer heat.
Our first guest, La Cassandra, wearing a flowy white summer dress, welcomed us to one of her recording sessions to share her trifecta of interests: music, beauty, and her culture. She shared tips for sun protection, emphasizing that enjoying your veranito shouldn’t mean skipping protection.
“I’m huge on sunscreen. I always gravitate towards a sunscreen that I can take with me, is easy to apply, and can be reapplied throughout the day. That’s why I use Neutrogena, because it’s powerful and it’s sunscreen you can’t feel.”
Everything connects beautifully for La Cassandra—from her music to how she cares for her sun-kissed skin—all tying back to her roots and the island she calls home. “Being Dominican, being from this beautiful Caribbean island, [has] always been something close to me, very personal, and to defend the genre that shapes who I am, it’s a special feeling.”
“I feel like it’s a beautiful little superpower to be able to write and bring light to that person who needed it so badly,” she shares, reflecting her deep understanding of music’s power to touch people and change lives—a responsibility she takes seriously. A highlight of La Cassandra’s 2023 debut album Lágrimas is its blend of tropical genres and romantic boleros. “My music is very much inspired by the tropical rhythms. These are the rhythms that I grew up with: merengues, bachatas, boleros,” she shares. She dances as she speaks, revealing her authentic self through her stories.
These are rhythms our communities have always known well—ones La Cassandra has made her own as an independent artist fighting for every victory and moment of recognition. “As an indie artist, everything is naturally ten times harder,” she explains. You’re constantly learning, [and] because you’re also being very vulnerable, you have to be able to connect more with your audience on a deeper level. It always is hard, but it’s a challenge that is constantly making me grow as a person.”
Yet amid the growth and struggles, she prioritizes joy, especially during the summer. “When I think of el verano, I think of being outside bailando, and what’s better than bailando with a merenguito and just being happy?” Her music, after all, perfectly suits these moments.
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