Watch Cassandra Coleman’s Paste Session in Chicago

By Matt Irving  |  October 16, 2025 | 2:46pm
Music Features Cassandra Coleman
Watch Cassandra Coleman’s Paste Session in Chicago

During our weekend in Chicago for Lollapalooza, Paste Studios recorded sessions in all kinds of incredible spaces, but when I look back, one of the most surprising and comfortable was our session with Cassandra Coleman. In collaboration with Lettuce Entertain You and Shure Microphones, Paste Studios captured moments of immense talent across a series of intimate performances at some of Chicago’s most interesting restaurants. Cassandra’s soulful session at RPM Italian was a musically pleasing and intriguing set of tunes. The restaurant’s modern and sophisticated finishes made a fitting backdrop for her vocal talent.

When Cassandra Coleman walked in with her band, the room immediately softened. The laughter and sense of camaraderie between the small group set a positive tone for the session before the music even began. They opened with “Coming of Age,” which Cassandra released as her debut single in June. Her voice immediately settled well in the space.

The instrumental arrangement was relatively minimal, yet simultaneously kept the songs full and rich while also highlighting Cassandra’s voice without ever overshadowing it. Nashville musicians Alec Shaw and Charles Myers played dual acoustic guitars, with Charles utilizing a 12-string that added a unique, shimmering sound to the set. Ashley Perez’s harmonies perfectly accompanied the rest of the band, with the soft nature of her voice well matching Cassandra’s. Together, their vocals mixed with the twin guitars to fill the room in a very dynamic, satisfying way.

She followed with “Moonbeam,” a track that showcased the ethereal side of her voice, light, soulful, and calming. As I looked around the room, I could sense that everyone from the RPM Italian restaurant staff to the production crew felt lucky to be there. Being able to hear such beautiful music in such an intimate beautiful space was an experience that we were all lucky to have, and lucky to have captured in such detail to immortalize.

Though the session only contained two songs, the large sonic range of Cassandra and her band made the set feel as if it had at least twice the number of songs. In the midst of Lollapalooza’s noise and hustle, this small, scenic session reminded everyone what live music can do when it’s allowed to breathe in a more private space.

Huge thanks to Lettuce Entertain You and Shure for partnering with Paste Studio and giving us spaces like RPM Italian to host these special moments. Keep your eyes peeled for more Paste Studio “On the Road” Sessions!

 
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