You, Me and An Album
On each episode, a guest introduces the host, Al Melchior, to an album they love but that he doesn't know.
You, Me and An Album
201. Cassie Wieland (Vines) Discusses A Winged Victory for the Sullen (self-titled)
New York-based composer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Cassie Wieland joins Al for this episode to introduce him to the 2011 self-titled debut album by A Winged Victory for the Sullen. Cassie talks about discovering this album during her college years and why it was an important album during that part of her life. She discusses how the album is compelling for her even though (or even because) it doesn’t make obvious demands for her attention. Cassie also delves into the process of making her first full-length album as Vines and making the transition from composer to songwriter.
Learn more about Cassie’s music at https://www.vines.music/ and on her Bandcamp page at https://vinesmusic.bandcamp.com/.
You can also follow Cassie and her Vines project on the following platforms:
Instagram: @cassie__vines
TikTok and YouTube: @cassievines
Cassie and Al had mentioned her upcoming performance at Basilica SoundScape 2025. Get more information about the festival at https://basilicahudson.org/programs/soundscape/.
The first episode of Bonus Tracks—YMAAA’s subscriber-only podcast series—is now available at patreon.com/youmealbum. More monthly episodes, posts and other good stuff are soon to come. Please consider subscribing! Your support will make it possible for Al to keep this podcast going.
Another way to support YMAAA is to buy the We Can Connect Through Music PDF guide. In just a few quick minutes, you can learn more about what your favorite music and your loved ones’ favorite music have in common. Learn more at https://almelchior.gumroad.com/l/wecanconnect.
To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.
3:16 Cassie joins the show
4:02 Cassie explains how her varied musical tastes evolved
7:15 Cassie expounds on why she refers to her music as ambient
9:55 Cassie talks about how AWVFTS was unlike anything else she had heard when first discovering it
12:28 Cassie explains why listening to AWVFTS was helpful during her college years
14:47 Listening to the album now brings Cassie back to certain moments in the past
15:55 Cassie talks about one of her favorite elements of AWVFTS’ music
18:19 Al had trouble getting past his perception of the album as lacking contrast
23:48 Cassie likes that AWVFTS isn’t concerned with grabbing her attention
24:51 There are “tiny moments” that Cassie looks forward to on the album
26:45 Cassie talks about developing one’s own judgment about what good and bad music are
34:40 Cassie appreciates the synergy she hears between AWVFTS’ two members
36:25 Al was surprised by the hookiness of “Evicted”
38:34 Cassie talks about writing instrumentals versus writing songs with lyrics
40:52 Cassie discusses creating the shape of I’ll be here as a cohesive album
43:54 Cassie recounts the process of writing “Evicted”
46:01 Cassie talks about the making of the “Evicted” video
50:40 Cassie discusses “being loved isn’t the same as being understood”’s viral moment
52:54 Cassie talks about playing at Basilica SoundScape and other upcoming events
Outro music is from “I’ll be here” by Vines.