On her newest single “Wine & Gold,” Casii Stephan is falling into a passionate, all-
encompassing love. The soul-rock singer-songwriter from Minnesota is no stranger to slow-
burns, but this heartfelt track is a breakthrough after tales of fear and heartbreak —
documenting her journey towards a happy, hopeful relationship.

Stephan is assertive and brave, using her powerful lyricism to address uncomfortable
topics — such as sexism and toxic relationships — with an underlying tone of positivity. On
“Wine & Gold,” she celebrates how exhilarating it is to be consumed by affection — yet how
painful it can feel at the same time.



"This is the kind of love that grabs you off of the bar stool. You were sitting on and dances with you until your feet start bleeding," she explains.

“Wine & Gold” is shimmery yet gritty, Stephan’s electrifying voice acting as a call to
action towards her lover. Through hard-hitting guitar riffs, triumphant horns and Stephan’s lush,
serenading voice, she takes listeners on an immersive journey, placing them directly in the
center of her storm. Her contemporary Americana sound is reminiscent of Amy Winehouse’s
classic “Valerie,” and pays tribute to the acts that the track’s producer, Ben Tanner, has worked
with in the past — Alabama Shakes and St. Paul and the Broken Bones.

“You burst into my life,” Stephan croons, commencing the explosive start of her affair. At
its core, “Wine & Gold” is a love story, but not the flawless, fairytale kind. It emphasizes the
“sick” in lovesick, the stomach ache that comes with the butterflies, and the grueling agony that
accompanies giving somebody all your love. “It’s more than you complete me / It’s a little bit
obscenely.”


Stephan swoons about her newfound romance, but proceeds with caution — trying not
to let her fantasies distract her from reality. “Don’t let the world ruin this now,” she pleads near
the end, too painfully aware of what could go wrong. She is not one to shy away from
addressing dark subject matter, giving her songs of hope a much more dynamic message —
things can and will change for the better.

Stephan’s newest EP, Relationship Status, drops this spring.