Cassidy King to Headline The Dinah’s ‘L Word’ Pool Party

The Dinah, the largest annual festival for queer women, is returning to Palm Springs this month to celebrate its 31^st anniversary.

Pulling out all the stops, the legendary festival will be held September 21-25 at the iconic Margaritaville Resort (formerly known as The Riviera), which was famous in the 1960s for its role as celebrity central, drawing the likes of Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, Marilyn Monroe, Sonny and Cher, and more. The Dinah will keep up with tradition by hosting dance parties and nighttime soirees with a stellar all-women entertainment lineup.

This year’s roster will include singer-songwriter Cassidy King, who will perform at the L Word Pool Party on Saturday, September 24. Hailing from Chardon, Ohio, King has successfully built her reputation as a solo artist with her singles “Professional Smiler” and “Wasted,” and she recently released her latest track “Under Covers,” which is a sonic call to arms for all LGBTQ women in need of a sapphic heartbreak bop to vibe to. Passionately charged, King always delivers powerful lyrics that come with deep self-reflection.

She took some time to talk more about making her Dinah debut and artistry with OFM.

Hi, Cassidy! How excited are you to perform at The Dinah this year?

I am so excited! It’s like I’m living a dream. I sometimes have to pinch myself because I can’t believe this is real, and honestly, I didn’t even know that places like this existed. I’m from Ohio, and there really isn’t anything like The Dinah out there. So, the fact that events like this exist, and it’s a giant queer pool party, and then to be performing at it, I’m still in shock. We’ll see how I process everything once I’m there (laughs).

Yes, The Dinah is an iconic and legendary festival. I’m sure there’s going to be so much for you to take in.

I think it’s amazing that it’s been around for over 30 years. Think of the power behind that! Thirty years ago, queer people were very much not accepted, and there weren’t many safe spaces like this. There’s so much history, and it’s incredible that it’s been around as long as it has because it really did come from a place and time where it was a rare thing to find spaces like that. Obviously, there’s more now, but there’s still so much work that we need to do. I just feel honored to be a part of this year’s entertainment lineup.

Can you give us a hint as to what we can expect from your set?

It’s going to be a lot of upbeat stuff. I mean, we’re at a pool party, right? We’re going to have fun! I make pop music, so it will be something to dance to, and I’m just going to make sure that everybody’s having a good time. We’ll throw in a cover that everybody knows, and I’m going to be vibing in my little bikini. It’s going to be a fun set.

What do you always hope audiences take away from your music?

I think for this audience, there’s two things. Obviously, like I said, I want them to have fun, but I also want people to just feel validated. I want them to feel like they’re not alone in whatever they’re feeling. A lot of times, when I’m feeling things the hardest, and a lot of it comes from love, you feel very alone, and I sometimes convince myself that I’m the only one feeling this way.

It’s incredibly invalidating and I feel a lot lonelier when I think I’m the only person feeling these things. So, I just want to be able to talk about those things through music and let people know that it’s OK. It feels good to know that there’s somebody out there who’s with you. People sometimes don’t talk about their feelings because they think they’ll be seen as weak, but that’s not the case.

Have you always had a passion for singing and songwriting?

Oh my God, for sure. Ever since I was a young kid. I grew up in the church, so I was in church choirs, and that’s how I learned to sing. I always loved to sing, and it’s crazy that it happened in a church. In Ohio, you don’t really see people who have pursued a career in entertainment because it’s very blue collar, so I didn’t think I could have a career with singing. There was nobody in my life that I knew who had pursued entertainment. Like, what do you actually do?

I knew that I loved singing, writing, and performing, it was my passion, but I didn’t know how to do anything with that. It wasn’t until I was 19 and went to college, and that’s when I started posting covers on SoundCloud. I found my first studio to go into. So, it was a little bit later in life where I was like, I can do this as a career.

How would you describe your musical style and aesthetic?

I do pop music, but I still have a lot of folk roots because I’m from the middle of nowhere. Growing up, my mom listened to a ton of 80s music, like 80s hard rock, so I have a lot of that in my background too. Then I got into Paramore, so there’s truly a whole mix of things (laughs).

Would you say Paramore is one of your biggest musical influences?

Oh, for sure! I’m a hardcore Paramore stan.

You recently released your first single of 2022, “Under Covers.” What can you tell us about that?

Yes! I am very proud of that song. I wrote it about being comfortable with yourself and your sexuality, and how you present yourself physically. I grew up with a lot of internalized and externalized homophobia and dealing with that was really scary. It sometimes still is. There are days where I still struggle with it, especially going back home. Writing this, it was something I wish I had when I came out. Still to this day, those are words of affirmation and reassurance for me, and I hope it’s the same for other people.

Anybody that made you feel wrong for who you are and who you love, “Under Covers” is a song you can sing when you feel like nobody understands you or you feel wrong about it. You should never feel wrong for who you are and who you love. Like, saying that out loud, it sounds like such a silly concept. If you feel like somebody’s telling you that it’s wrong, I just want people to listen to that song. It feels good, and it’s like a proud moment. You should love who you want to love no matter how they identify. Love who you want. That should be enough, and I don’t know why it’s still not for some people.

How is “Under Covers” different from your previous works?

Let’s just say that, in this space when I was writing, I felt like I was in a better headspace than my last projects. I think it shows in the music. It’s a lot happier and more positive. Because I was in a better space, I think my writing reflects that. Obviously, I’m still an emotional person, and I’m going to throw some heartbreak stuff in there, but it’s a bit brighter and warmer. I’m excited to share that part of myself with people.

How will you continue to stay true and authentic through your craft?

I have a lot of beautiful people around me. Growing up where I did, there were a lot of hard things that came with it, but there are a lot of beautiful things that came with it too. I’m still friends with people I’ve been friends with since I was 3 years old. They will always be around me no matter what and check me for anything I would ever do. I think that’s important, and I never want to forget who I’m doing it for. It’s always for the younger version of ourselves.

We’re always trying to be what we needed. We are trying to be the person that we needed when we were younger. I always want to keep that in the back of my head. I think the people around me are always going to ground me, and a lot of my music is done with my best friends. I’ve been working with the same producer for quite some time. It’s very intimate and close, so they’ll check me if I’m doing anything wrong.

What are some future goals you hope to accomplish with your career?

I want to get an album out there and eventually go on tour. Those are some of my top goals, but I also just want to keep getting better as a person. As long as I focus on becoming a better person and artist, I think everything else will follow. I try not to put numbers on anything, so I try to set my intentions with more internal intentions and then let external rewards come. So, I just want to be a better person and artist.

Before we wrap up, are there any other upcoming projects or anything else you’d like to mention or plug?

I got another single coming in September, called “Matcha Tea,” which is about a girl who likes matcha tea and flowers. Then I have some other upcoming projects, so just keep an eye out!

Stay up-to-date and connect with King by following on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @cassidyyking, TikTok @cassidytheking, or visit her official website, cassidykingmusic.com. For more information on The Dinah, visit thedinah.com.

Photos courtesy of Cassidy King