Cassadee Pope Looking to Inspire With Next Studio Album

Cassadee Pope's new single "I Am Invincible" may not be the only inspiring song from the singer's next studio album. While the record is far from finished, she says other songs like "Alien" help deliver a message she's been feeling lately.

The new single is a song of empowerment — especially female empowerment. When it came time to film the music video's thrashing scenes, she says she dug up old memories to help fuel her on-camera rage.

“I just channel all the obstacles thrown my way, like my parents’ divorce when I was 11," Pope tells Taste of Country one day after singing the song on Today. "I had to get through that. I felt helpless through that, but I came out the other side learning a lot from it.”

Pope is a very happy, very positive person who rarely gets angry, but she has a dark side that she allows herself to visit regularly. It's good songwriting inspiration, but she also doesn't believe it's healthy to ignore dark thoughts.

The 26-year-old wasn't bullied growing up, but she was picked on for chasing a dream her peers didn't understand. She'd skip parties to practice with her band, and then get crank calls from classmates telling her she sounds like a chipmunk when she sings.

“It kind of sticks with you when you do well,” Pope admits. “Sometimes they pop into my mind and I’m like, ‘You know what, I proved them wrong.’”

"Alien" is a song Pope has been playing live. It's about breaking free of a label or a box others want to put you in. You don't have to be this, or that, or this and that.

“I grew up singing country," the former-rocker says, "and I feel like I’m a good girl, but I've got tattoos and I travel and I’m on the road a ton. As a kid I got good grades, but I also had a fake I.D. There’s all these contradictions with myself, and I’m sure a lot of people.”

There's a small chip on Pope's shoulder, but it's hidden well. Look for more of it to be revealed in very healthy, very positive ways when her follow up to the Frame by Frame album is released in 2016.

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