September 29, 2025 • 12 mins
One of our brightest musical talents is making waves across the ditch, just in time for some new music to drop.
Cassie Henderson arrived on our screens in 2014, competing on X-Factor at 14 years old, and making it all the way to the quarterfinals.
She stepped away from music for a while, before returning to the industry in 2023, quitting her job to pursue music fulltime.
Since then, Henderson’s won awards, released new music, and is currently competing on the The Voice Australia.
“It was the biggest opportunity for me to grow, and rise up, and test myself,” she said of performing on TV.
“I get messages a lot from young people in New Zealand saying that I inspire them, which is always a huge dream, but it’s almost a little bittersweet because I know how long I’ve been working at this, and I know how long I haven’t had success for.”
“It’s a really tough gig, but it's always been my passion, and it’s what I love the most in the world, so it’s no question for me.”
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now if you're watching The Voice Australia, you'll be following
Cassie Henderson. Of course, she first heard television way back
in The X Factor. This is eleven years ago. Debut
single was twenty twenty. Then in twenty three she quit
the day job and decided music full time was the
way to go. Anyway, she is brought the guitar and
she's with us. Cassie Henderson joins this morning.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Good morning, thank you for having me, not at.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
All great pleasure. So we know you currently on The
X Factor. I don't want to dwell on that on
the Voice rather than it started out the expected But
the Voice is that completed and sorted and can you
reveal something gripping as to what happened?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
I can't reveal too much. I can't talk about any
honey ed stuff. But we've just finished the Battles round
and I got through that, which means I'm onto the
next week's episode, which I'm very excited about. It's been
really cool to be able to watch the show with
my family and friends as if it was the first
time happening, even though I know what's coming.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
But what was the contrast to the expector.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
I think, to be honest, for me, it felt very
similar because I just like being on stage and it
was just that again. But I now tackle things like
this with a lot more a lot more growth, Like
I have worked at this my craft for a really
really long time. So when I step onto a stage
(01:21):
that's after months and months of practicing. Is when I
was fourteen, it was probably after a couple weeks of
practicing the songs.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
As an experience. If you were looking for growth and
advice and whatever, does that give it to you?
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
I think it does. To be honest, like I, it
is you were diving into the deepest end of the poll.
When you step onto a stage like that, there's a
huge amount of pressure. There's cameras, there's all sorts of
people telling you to do all sorts of things. So
if you can manage the nerves and manage the adrenaline,
then you know that you can probably take on most things.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
So what's it about for you? Is it about just exposure?
Speaker 2 (02:01):
I think I think TV for me kind of feels
like the handshake, right, It's what happens before you get
into the relationship and bring people into my world of music,
which is super, super important, but it was also just
the biggest mountain I could climb. It was the biggest
opportunity for me to grow and rise up and test myself.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Really, so, how many people are out there, I mean
that want to do what you are? I mean the.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Thousands, thousands, right, thousands? And I get messages a lot
from young people in New Zealand saying that I inspire them,
which is always a huge dream. But it's almost a
little bit bittersweet because I know how long I've been
working at this and I know how long I haven't
had success for and it's difficult. It's a really tough road.
(02:53):
It's a really tough gig. But it's always been my
passion and it's what I love most in the world.
So it's no question because.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Between the expector and the voice, you stepped away from music.
Why was that valuable? And do you have any regrets
around that or was that a learning experience?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
It's hard to have regrets on that because of where
I am right now. It was valuable in that I
got to live my life for four years. I got
to go to university, I got to have relationships and
do really normal kid staff. But I think as an artist,
there's always time pressure on your age and old you
(03:34):
can be and be a pop star. So I have
moments where I'm like, I wish, I wish I got
into this earlier, but I wouldn't be able to write
the songs I write today if I hadn't had that,
So no regret.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
So you're better now than you were obviously an age
just help with that. But experience, I assume also also
helps with that.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Yeah, and just taking it seriously, you know, like I
think when you're fourteen, you kind of you kind of
take everything on the nose and run with it. Whereas
now this is my job, you know, like this is
my passion and my love, but it's also my job,
and it's much more than being on a stage and
writing songs. It's a business as well, and that's always been,
(04:15):
you know, not my favorite part of it.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
But well, it pays the bills. At the end of
the day. You've had a lot of radio exposure that
your songs have been played a lot on radio. Does
that pay the bills? Is radio? The key is streaming,
the key is performing live in front of a festival,
the key, I.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Think it's everything, And if you're not doing everything. It's
pretty hard to make a living off of this career.
Radio has been amazing and it's like in terms of
exposure around New Zealand, it's been amazing as well. But
I think you kind of have to spin all the
plates at the same time to get to where you
want to go and be really aligned in that growth.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
So what's the magic do you think out of the business?
The voice is a good example. So I saw your
battle with Gemma. Now both of you seem to me
really good, thank you, But well, I mean, you know,
at the end of the day, what does the talent
naturally rise to the top or is there an element
of crap shoot slash luck in that.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
I think I have this theory about luck that you
can be the best singer in the room or the
best songwriter in the room, and if you don't have luck,
you're probably not going to rise to the top. Some
that's just I personally think the way the world works,
which is really unfortunate because then you get some incredible
singers and songwriters that we will never hear in the
(05:34):
public eye. So I'm really grateful because I have been
really lucky. But I do think you can't get luck
if you're not working hard out the other end. So
Jimma was a wonderful case because she is a brilliant
songwriter and singer. And during that week we worked our
butts off and you could see that in her as
(05:56):
a nineteen eight and was.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Some camaraderie or we hate each other.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Massively, we're we're best mates. It was actually really really sweet.
At the end of that show, the end of the song,
you can see us just laughing at each other because really,
what the heck?
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Okay, So, so where where's the music? Hat?
Speaker 3 (06:12):
What?
Speaker 1 (06:12):
What are we dropping? When's it dropping? How's it dropping?
What color? What color are we up to?
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Yep, so we've done pink and yellow so far. The
next EP is called the Blue Chapter, which is really exciting,
and there's a couple surprises sprinkled in in there in
the middle as well. But still working on finalizing the
Blue Chapter at the moment. And obviously the voice is
my priority right now, and so you'll see more music
from me very soon.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
You brought your guitar in, I did, and a spare guitar. Yes,
and it's not me playing you brought it, told you. Yeah,
you've brought a person in with you? So what what
are we going to play?
Speaker 2 (06:49):
We're going to be playing one of my favorite songs
of my own called Admit to That.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Cassie Henderson's with us along with Alex who joins us
on the guitar and your your little Martin guitar, because
we're video this and people will see how little Martin could.
Now what concerns me initially? As you two have never
done this, what you're about to do? So as we
as we entered, the level of confidence is high.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Yes, good faith and belief.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
That's all you need, faith and belief. All right, hit it, hit.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
It, I fine, comforting lotess, seeking show to add the bar,
(07:44):
sweet companionship to ungres. I'm mad with drinking.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
I hear voices in side.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
For all slowly ship of words, cereal.
Speaker 5 (08:10):
Din for convenience.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
They know, they know, they know, falling for.
Speaker 5 (08:20):
I know, I know, I know, felt.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Like Comma science online dead by searching.
Speaker 5 (08:31):
For some sort of your.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Can't find a comic call that grads may of.
Speaker 5 (08:44):
Nothing yours just like goes through room my sus.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Stumbling around and answering you, looking for evident.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Understanding. You won't you as fast and presentence.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
What's hiding in the pauses of your like common sciences.
Don't mind a bed searching for.
Speaker 6 (09:34):
Some side of car, can't find your came.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
Gold reads me. You're not being yours. Laments to that,
aliments to that. Had sweating on my salvation. You don't
know speed for can't shame the finder. Vein saves me
(10:11):
from nothing years he I know no, Lina, I know no, no.
(11:00):
I know lies down and straightly and try joy shut me.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
Don't spend on my exime talking too shorts all day.
Speaker 5 (11:25):
You watch me bad here right will stay?
Speaker 4 (11:31):
Carl listen bad Jay, shake this day right down it
to Marcy.
Speaker 5 (11:40):
I had to say you of me.
Speaker 6 (11:46):
I love you anyway, I love you anyway, I'll be
I love you anyway.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Well, for people who have not done that before, that's
really good. So let's just do it one more time.
Just joking. Lovely, so much lovely to see you. Appreciate
you coming and we'll catch up again soon. Appreciate it
so much. Thank you for having us great pleasure. Cassie Henderson.
Speaker 5 (12:29):
For more from the mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to
news talks.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
It'd be from six am weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio,
Now if you're watching The Voice Australia, you'll be following
Cassie Henderson. Of course, she first heard television way back
in The X Factor. This is eleven years ago. Debut
single was twenty twenty. Then in twenty three she quit
the day job and decided music full time was the
way to go. Anyway, she is brought the guitar and
she's with us. Cassie Henderson joins this morning.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Good morning, thank you for having me, not at.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
All great pleasure. So we know you currently on The
X Factor. I don't want to dwell on that on
the Voice rather than it started out the expected But
the Voice is that completed and sorted and can you
reveal something gripping as to what happened?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
I can't reveal too much. I can't talk about any
honey ed stuff. But we've just finished the Battles round
and I got through that, which means I'm onto the
next week's episode, which I'm very excited about. It's been
really cool to be able to watch the show with
my family and friends as if it was the first
time happening, even though I know what's coming.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
But what was the contrast to the expector.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
I think, to be honest, for me, it felt very
similar because I just like being on stage and it
was just that again. But I now tackle things like
this with a lot more a lot more growth, Like
I have worked at this my craft for a really
really long time. So when I step onto a stage
(01:21):
that's after months and months of practicing. Is when I
was fourteen, it was probably after a couple weeks of
practicing the songs.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
As an experience. If you were looking for growth and
advice and whatever, does that give it to you?
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
I think it does. To be honest, like I, it
is you were diving into the deepest end of the poll.
When you step onto a stage like that, there's a
huge amount of pressure. There's cameras, there's all sorts of
people telling you to do all sorts of things. So
if you can manage the nerves and manage the adrenaline,
then you know that you can probably take on most things.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
So what's it about for you? Is it about just exposure?
Speaker 2 (02:01):
I think I think TV for me kind of feels
like the handshake, right, It's what happens before you get
into the relationship and bring people into my world of music,
which is super, super important, but it was also just
the biggest mountain I could climb. It was the biggest
opportunity for me to grow and rise up and test myself.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Really, so, how many people are out there, I mean
that want to do what you are? I mean the.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Thousands, thousands, right, thousands? And I get messages a lot
from young people in New Zealand saying that I inspire them,
which is always a huge dream. But it's almost a
little bit bittersweet because I know how long I've been
working at this and I know how long I haven't
had success for and it's difficult. It's a really tough road.
(02:53):
It's a really tough gig. But it's always been my
passion and it's what I love most in the world.
So it's no question because.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Between the expector and the voice, you stepped away from music.
Why was that valuable? And do you have any regrets
around that or was that a learning experience?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
It's hard to have regrets on that because of where
I am right now. It was valuable in that I
got to live my life for four years. I got
to go to university, I got to have relationships and
do really normal kid staff. But I think as an artist,
there's always time pressure on your age and old you
(03:34):
can be and be a pop star. So I have
moments where I'm like, I wish, I wish I got
into this earlier, but I wouldn't be able to write
the songs I write today if I hadn't had that,
So no regret.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
So you're better now than you were obviously an age
just help with that. But experience, I assume also also
helps with that.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Yeah, and just taking it seriously, you know, like I
think when you're fourteen, you kind of you kind of
take everything on the nose and run with it. Whereas
now this is my job, you know, like this is
my passion and my love, but it's also my job,
and it's much more than being on a stage and
writing songs. It's a business as well, and that's always been,
(04:15):
you know, not my favorite part of it.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
But well, it pays the bills. At the end of
the day. You've had a lot of radio exposure that
your songs have been played a lot on radio. Does
that pay the bills? Is radio? The key is streaming,
the key is performing live in front of a festival,
the key, I.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Think it's everything, And if you're not doing everything. It's
pretty hard to make a living off of this career.
Radio has been amazing and it's like in terms of
exposure around New Zealand, it's been amazing as well. But
I think you kind of have to spin all the
plates at the same time to get to where you
want to go and be really aligned in that growth.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
So what's the magic do you think out of the business?
The voice is a good example. So I saw your
battle with Gemma. Now both of you seem to me
really good, thank you, But well, I mean, you know,
at the end of the day, what does the talent
naturally rise to the top or is there an element
of crap shoot slash luck in that.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
I think I have this theory about luck that you
can be the best singer in the room or the
best songwriter in the room, and if you don't have luck,
you're probably not going to rise to the top. Some
that's just I personally think the way the world works,
which is really unfortunate because then you get some incredible
singers and songwriters that we will never hear in the
(05:34):
public eye. So I'm really grateful because I have been
really lucky. But I do think you can't get luck
if you're not working hard out the other end. So
Jimma was a wonderful case because she is a brilliant
songwriter and singer. And during that week we worked our
butts off and you could see that in her as
(05:56):
a nineteen eight and was.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Some camaraderie or we hate each other.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Massively, we're we're best mates. It was actually really really sweet.
At the end of that show, the end of the song,
you can see us just laughing at each other because really,
what the heck?
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Okay, So, so where where's the music? Hat?
Speaker 3 (06:12):
What?
Speaker 1 (06:12):
What are we dropping? When's it dropping? How's it dropping?
What color? What color are we up to?
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Yep, so we've done pink and yellow so far. The
next EP is called the Blue Chapter, which is really exciting,
and there's a couple surprises sprinkled in in there in
the middle as well. But still working on finalizing the
Blue Chapter at the moment. And obviously the voice is
my priority right now, and so you'll see more music
from me very soon.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
You brought your guitar in, I did, and a spare guitar. Yes,
and it's not me playing you brought it, told you. Yeah,
you've brought a person in with you? So what what
are we going to play?
Speaker 2 (06:49):
We're going to be playing one of my favorite songs
of my own called Admit to That.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Cassie Henderson's with us along with Alex who joins us
on the guitar and your your little Martin guitar, because
we're video this and people will see how little Martin could.
Now what concerns me initially? As you two have never
done this, what you're about to do? So as we
as we entered, the level of confidence is high.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Yes, good faith and belief.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
That's all you need, faith and belief. All right, hit it, hit.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
It, I fine, comforting lotess, seeking show to add the bar,
(07:44):
sweet companionship to ungres. I'm mad with drinking.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
I hear voices in side.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
For all slowly ship of words, cereal.
Speaker 5 (08:10):
Din for convenience.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
They know, they know, they know, falling for.
Speaker 5 (08:20):
I know, I know, I know, felt.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Like Comma science online dead by searching.
Speaker 5 (08:31):
For some sort of your.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Can't find a comic call that grads may of.
Speaker 5 (08:44):
Nothing yours just like goes through room my sus.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Stumbling around and answering you, looking for evident.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Understanding. You won't you as fast and presentence.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
What's hiding in the pauses of your like common sciences.
Don't mind a bed searching for.
Speaker 6 (09:34):
Some side of car, can't find your came.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
Gold reads me. You're not being yours. Laments to that,
aliments to that. Had sweating on my salvation. You don't
know speed for can't shame the finder. Vein saves me
(10:11):
from nothing years he I know no, Lina, I know no, no.
(11:00):
I know lies down and straightly and try joy shut me.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
Don't spend on my exime talking too shorts all day.
Speaker 5 (11:25):
You watch me bad here right will stay?
Speaker 4 (11:31):
Carl listen bad Jay, shake this day right down it
to Marcy.
Speaker 5 (11:40):
I had to say you of me.
Speaker 6 (11:46):
I love you anyway, I love you anyway, I'll be
I love you anyway.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Well, for people who have not done that before, that's
really good. So let's just do it one more time.
Just joking. Lovely, so much lovely to see you. Appreciate
you coming and we'll catch up again soon. Appreciate it
so much. Thank you for having us great pleasure. Cassie Henderson.
Speaker 5 (12:29):
For more from the mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to
news talks.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
It'd be from six am weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio,
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.