On the last New Music Friday of the month, CASANDRA is giving fans a final taste of her upcoming EP. The Miami-born, Los Angeles-based artist has released “Want vs Need,” the last single ahead of her upcoming EP Isla Tranquilita, arriving May 15.
Built on atmospheric production, the track leans into a quieter, more introspective space. CASANDRA’s vocals move between restraint and release as she unpacks the tension between instinct and expectation, framing desire as something often shaped by early conditioning. That push and pull sits at the center of “Want vs Need,” which gradually evolves into a statement about reclaiming intuition and trusting one’s inner voice.
The single arrives as the closing piece of a rollout that has steadily introduced the emotional core of Isla Tranquilita. The EP’s title, translating to “little island of peace,” carries direct personal weight. It is dedicated to her late great aunt Teresa, a Cuban émigré who played a defining role in her childhood in Miami. Whenever moments of overwhelm surfaced, she would repeat a simple phrase—“tranquilita”—encouraging calm and reflection, a sentiment that now anchors the project’s identity.
Notably, the EP was crafted during a physically and emotionally demanding period in CASANDRA’s life, marked by ongoing health challenges. That background informs both the tone and structure of the record, which leans into stillness rather than urgency. The collaboration with producer Jaye Locke proved central to shaping that environment, offering a space where ideas could develop without pressure. The result is a body of work that prioritizes clarity and emotional honesty over immediacy.
CASANDRA’s trajectory leading into this release reflects nearly a decade of steady artistic growth. Having started releasing music as a teenager, she has built a catalog rooted in independence and self-definition, blending alt-pop, R&B, and electronic elements into immersive soundscapes. Among her biggest hits are “Misc U Already” (398K streams), “Fuerte” (348K streams), and “ahoy” (274K streams).
While Isla Tranquilita is just weeks away, “Want vs Need” is out now on all streaming platforms.
Photo: Andrey Nikolaev
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