Cassandra Oro
I began my creative pursuits as a kid growing up in Oakland, California. I have always been inspired and enraptured by my own imagination, causing me to pick up everything from a sketching pencil to a pair of drumsticks before I reached driving age. The summer before my junior year of high school was spent learning acrylic painting techniques and charcoal drawing at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where I received special accolades from my instructors for outstanding work in our season-end group show. Most of my leisure time after school was spent learning to play my Nana’s nylon-stringed guitar via YouTube tutorials and jam sessions with my younger brother, Connor, who some 15-odd years later plays in my band.
From high school I went on to attend the University of California in Santa Cruz, where I double-majored in Anthropology and Art. I became very active in the college radio station, where I obtained the role of Class Instructor for the 5-unit course Intro to Radio, and eventually went on to DJ several of my own shows and served as the Station Manager for the 2014-15 academic year. It was at KZSC that I really cut my teeth as an on-air personality and fostered a great love for music discovery in our wide-ranging CD and vinyl library. I never tired of writing reviews of new music submissions to our station and sharing those views with my peers and listening community. This passion for music criticism led me to pursue independent music journalism once I relocated to Los Angeles, with my bandmates in tow.
A life in music media pushed me deeper and deeper into the LA music scene, causing me to constantly shift gears from working in a recording studio by day, to attending shows and covering them for the indie music blog Buzzbands.LA at night, all while recording my own band’s music after hours in the studio when no one else was around. Nowadays, I’m fortunate enough to have a full studio in my living room and to work with my best friends on original music as the indie-pop band CLUB ORO. When I’m not recording or rehearsing with them, I produce toplines and vocals for creative sync projects for use in TV shows/commercials.
I have relentlessly followed my passion for music and the industry that surrounds it, exploring so many of the roles this business has to offer. I believe my diverse experience in LA has made me a better songwriter, musician, producer and artist. Whether you’re looking to collaborate on an original song, sync project, or find sounds that fit your own creative vision, I’d love to hear from you!