Cassendre Xavier a.k.a. Amethyste Rah

[BANDS, PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS MY PERSONAL PAGE FOR MY BIGGEST FANS! I PREFER TO NOT ACCEPT BANDS HERE FOR THE TIME BEING, BUT YOU'RE WELCOME TO JOIN MY BAND PAGE AT WWW.MYSPACE.COM/CASSENDREXAVIERMUSIC. THANKS AND I WISH YOU THE BEST WITH YOUR MUSIC!]---------------------- Hi, there :-) My name is Cassendre Xavier a.k.a. Amethyste Rah. I’m a self-described “renaissance negresse” (musician/writer/actress). I was first generation American born (Brooklyn NYC to be exact) to Haitian & Chinese parents. I’ve always been a very creative person, and for most of my last 16 years in Philadelphia, I did a lot of work to promote women’s and community arts and culture.----------------- In 2002 I founded the Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series at Robin’s Bookstore, which ran until 2006 and had three hosts including myself and writers Louise Bierig and Sherella Gibbs. -----------------In 2003 I founded the Black Women’s Arts Festival, which is an annual event that still runs and is now directed by Monica McIntyre, a fabulous cellist/vocalist/composer/lyricist and co-organizer of the Festival since 2004. ---------------From 2002-2006, I recorded and independently released 7 albums of music described as “a cross between Tracy Chapman, Sade, and Enya” (Borders Music Expert Steven M. Wilson). -----------In 2007, I recorded 2 albums of spoken word/guided meditations under my self-assigned soul name “Amethyste Rah” called “Affirmations for Survivors: Self-Love” and “Affirmations for Survivors: Spirituality”. My multi-genre published writing has been featured in various national magazines and literary anthologies ranging in subject from women’s culture to sexuality, spirituality, and humor. ----------I currently write a monthly column in the Philadelphia Gay News called “Black/Out” which appears on the 3rd Friday of every month. I’ve studied acting since 1991 and have appeared and done voice-overs, as well as had my music featured in several independent short and feature films in Philadelphia and Baltimore, Maryland. ------------In 2003, I wrote, directed, starred in, and produced a 4-person play called “Sex for Survivors” which ran for 3 days as part of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. -----------In 2005, I received the $15,000 Leeway Transformation Award for my work in “art and change”. ------------See my official website www.cassendrexavier.com for more biographical information. There! Now that THAT’S OUT – HOW ARE YOU??! :-) -------------------------I moved to NYC in December 2007 to pursue my full potential as an artist. It has indeed been both a joy and struggle to be here so far, and I shamelessly display and write my experience in three blogs/newsletters: “ME! ME! ME!”, “One Lucky Girl”, and “Green Smoothie Raw Blog”. ---------------I’ve been a raw vegan since 2005 and have experienced a 30lb weight loss as well as other amazing physical and spiritual benefits. ----------------------I’m into spirituality, meditation, self-actualization, Taoist & Tantric “love exercises” heh-heh ;-), writing, arts and crafts, walks on the beach, candle-light dinners, you know, the usual! I’m pretty focused on building my beautiful life here in New York, and being a more effective artist. -------------It is one of my main goals in life to inspire people through my life. ----------------I want my experiences and my writing about them to make you laugh, make you think, maybe make you feel better about your life and inspire you to get more joy for yourself. I also promote joy, liberation, and pleasure, as much as I promote creative expression and self-actualization. I believe that only when we are complete can we be most loving and generous to others, and I believe the free expression of both creativity and sexuality in a spiritual way are two of the major keys to completion. That’s what I strive for in my life. I warmly invite you to read my blogs to see what I’m up to in this and other areas. Thanks for everything, and make yourself a beautiful day! (Stay tuned for more updates, profile changes, and check my website www.cassendrexavier.com to read more about my life and get links to the stuff I do.) Peace, love, blessings, and light to you and your abundance. --------------------Cassendre Xavier, renaissance negresse. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ - YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT JOIN MY MAILING LIST! NO WAY! THAT’S ONLY FOR THE SEXY PEOPLE! STEP AWAY FROM THE MAILING LIST! STEP AWAY FROM THE MAILING LIST!!
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CASSENDRE XAVIER: Live at Tin Angel
[7th Album/2006] Honorably mentioned as #9 of "Top 21 Local LPs of 2007" by Philadelphia City Paper music critic M.J. Fine, "Live at Tin Angel" is "A fine example of why [Xavier is] so well-suited for the [live] format. Dig the groove-worthy 'A Little Bit of Love,' the bluesy a cappella 'Nothing Is All I Need' and a beautiful 'Beautiful'". — M. J. Fine, Philadelphia City Paper. (Recommended if you like James Taylor, Sting, Gary Moore.)
CASSENDRE XAVIER: The Cassendre Xavier Collection, Vol. 1
[6th Album/2004] 6 soulful originals plus 3 marvelous interpretations of American pop classics by Carole King, Pat Benetar, and Roberta Flack. An absolute essential for any fan of this gifted singer-songwriter-guitarist. (Recommended if you like Sade, Carly Simon, Carole King.)
CASSENDRE XAVIER: live at the kraftbrau, kalamazoo
[5th Album/2004] A great live show at the famous Michigan beer-lovers' pub featuring newly recorded originals "Your Eyes", "Don't Believe in Love," "One Lucky Girl", "Hope" & special bonus track. (Recommended if you like Tracy Chapman, Joan Armatrading, Corinne Bailey Rae.)
CASSENDRE XAVIER: Beautiful
[4th Album/2004/CD] Well deserving of its title, this stellar CD is Xavier's 2nd studio release. Most notable are Crow's "Strong Enough", Flack's "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", originals "B.O.G.'s Song", "A Little Bit of Love", and "Beautiful".
CASSENDRE XAVIER: 4our: a sampler
[3rd Album/2003/CD] 4 songs taken from her first two CDs "The Whittenberg Sessions" and "Live at Cafe Improv"; a wonderfully affordable way to introduce yourself to this warm & gifted artist.
CASSENDRE XAVIER: Live at Cafe Improv
[2nd Album/2002/CD] Smooth, rich voice, guitar; humor & audience laughter. Highlights: Carole King's "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?", B.B. King's "The Thrill is Gone", Neil Young's "From Hank to Hendrix" & wonderful originals.
CASSENDRE XAVIER: The Whittenberg Sessions
[1st Album/2002/CD] A debut beloved by the lesbian community, featuring Pat Benetar's "Love is a Battlefield", Nina Simone’s "Four Women", funky original "Friend" & the redemptive a capella mantra "Nothing is All I Need".