Mary Ann Casale Album "Where I Belong" Review.

Artist: Mary Ann Casale

Album: Where I Belong

Released: 2025

Artist Website: https://maryanncasale.com/

Mary Ann Casale is a prolific singer/songwriter in the Americana genre, leaning closer to a classic folk artist than much of what falls under the Americana umbrella these days. Her voice is about as unique as they come. She is one of those rare artists that is difficult to find comparisons because she truly has her own fingerprint. Her voice is quite deep, a bit smokey and possesses "that thing" that is a rare commodity in music. A quality that is hard to put into words, but easy to hear. 

The first cut and title track, Where I Belong, sets the table for what is to come for the entirety of the release...an easy going songwriter with an exceptional vocal delivery. Sweet acoustic guitars are abundant throughout with tasteful fills and a solos provided by Tas Cru that reek of maturity and experience. The production details are instantly clear and worthy of mention. The mix is balanced and warm, doing nothing more than capturing a great performance.

What The Heart Wants is a standout track with its laid back infectious shuffle groove. Coming in with another tasteful guitar lead at the top that sits beautifully in the recording. Tasteful playing is the unsung hero in most guitar based music, but to the folks who know, it is a prerequisite. Guitarist Tas Cru clearly has control over his ego and delivers the goods in the way that the song calls for and nothing more. Anything more would be too much. His playing compliments Casale's vocals throughout. Never over stepping but supporting an exceptional mature and dynamic voice.

After multiple listens to the record my favorite track is Be With You. A bouncy, bluesy classic country influenced folk cut that has some deep roots into the music that came out of the southeastern United States in the first half of the 20th century. Mississippi John Hurt comes to mind. It follows the time tested 12 Bar Blues format with the exception of the bridge. There is a graceful power to Mary Ann's voice that is exposed with each note. Her phrasing and performance are as relaxed and as confident as they come. She is truly a musical gem. 

Where I Belong is a ten song set that clocks in at about 35 minutes and is an easy listen at every turn. Mary Ann's voice is a pleasure throughout the entirety of the set. It is all quite mellow, as the more classic folk records tend to be. The songs are well crafted and recorded wonderfully. In many ways her music is a throwback in time, but somehow doesn't feel dated in any way. I suppose that is the measuring stick of quality at some point on any recording. The goal is to create music that scoffs at time and dates. This album captures something that is truly timeless, as all good art does. I highly recommend it to fans of classic folk records. It will be a refreshing new voice in anyone's Folk/Americana collection. 

Check out the interview below....

Tell us the brief history of your band or musical career.

I started playing music at a young age and decided I wanted to be a solo artist in high school. It was in the 70s and “wine and cheese” venues were all over where I lived so that’s how I started. I also sang in shopping malls, and small fund-raisers. I began writing my own songs and sprinkled them in with cover tunes in cafés and coffeehouses on Long Island and the college coffeehouse circuit. I joined a few bands and continued performing until I met up with my current music partner and band, Tas Cru. I’ve release three albums and now continue to sing lead and backing vocals on tours all over the US and Europe performing mostly original music as well as standard favorites. We play as a duo called “Eclipse – the Tas Cru & Mary Ann Casale Acoustic Reverie.” I continue to sing backing vocals on Tas’ albums.

Who are your musical and non-musical influences?

Musical – Bonnie Raitt, Joni Mitchell, John Denver, Eagles, Dan Fogelberg, Harry Chapin, Karen Carpenter.

Non-musical – teachers in high school and college who pushed me out of my comfort zone as well as many authors who taught me to think outside of the box. 


What’s your favorite accomplishment as a musician thus far?  


Co-writing with my music partner, Tas Cru, when creating his Memphis Song album. That opened up a whole new world of creativity that has carried my music into different genres. My music now crosses genres and is not easily defined.

Tell me about your favorite performance in your career.

On our European Tour – as “Eclipse” duo, we performed in a pub in Freiberg, Germany. The crowd loved the music, they sang along to a few of the songs and loved the originals. It was a true listening crowd that had no trouble participating in singing along in full voices. It was magic!


What's the best piece of advice another musician ever gave you?

When singing or playing guitar, don’t forget to leave space in between notes and phrases. Space between the notes is just as important as the notes themselves.

What's new in the recording of your music?

I didn’t stick to one particular style. There is a bit of everything in there. I’m doing just about all of the vocals and there are a couple of new players on this album. We’ve added accordion which is completely new as well.


How has your music changed over the years?

It’s not just strictly folk, it’s got a bit of blues to it as well as some Americana and country.

What inspires you to write the music you write? 

Events that happen in my life, as well as what I observe from day to day. Some songs are about people, some just paint a picture of what happens to be going on in the world as a whole and in my little corner of it.


What made you want to play the instrument you play?  


I had an uncle who played guitar. He was my teacher. It was perfect to accompany my voice as a solo performer. As for mandolin and dulcimer and autoharp, I like the sound of them, so I picked them up and play them from time to time.

Are there any musicians who inspire you that are not famous? What qualities do you admire about them?

There are many who are tremendous players that no one knows of. They just do what they do, and I admire that they play to play, not for any fame.

Describe your worst performance. What did you learn from this experience?

Many years ago, I performed with a three-piece “old time,” and Celtic Band. We sent the venue an audition tape and got the job. We performed but the crowd was not receptive. We never got paid by the owner. It was not a good fit for the venue, though we played well. I learned that either people like my music or they don’t. It is a matter of opinion and either good or bad, I can’t let it define me.

Tell me what your first music teacher was like. What lessons did you learn from them that you still use today?

I will never forget Mrs. Collins from 5th grade. She basically pushed me out on a stage. I learned to sing strong and if you make a mistake, make it, (possibly big), and move on. 



What are your biggest obstacles as a musician?

Tribute and cover bands. I perform a mix of both covers and originals and now more and more, I am hearing from venues that cover bands and tribute bands are what people want. Audiences want things that they know or that they can dance to. It is hard for music like mine to be heard yet the venues are out there. They just need to be found. I hope this swings the other way and people want to listen to something new and fresh.

What do you think the best aspects of the music business are?

For a listener, the streaming platforms are the best ways for music to be heard. There are so many places that someone can find music to their liking. To the performer I feel it is the networking now that can be found through social media. 



What strengths do you have that you believe make you the musician you are?

My voice is unique. It’s not like many others. I write and play around my voice.


Do you have any weaknesses that you're actively working to improve on?

Other instruments, mandolin mostly. I love to play and I love the sound but I don’t get too much of an opportunity to play it out. So if I am not playing it out, I am not practicing! Always practicing on guitar and singing to stretch my range.

Describe your favorite and least favorite part about being a musician.

I love performing for people. I love hearing people’s stories about how the music touched them, or they feel like I am writing about them. My least favorite part is when I get put into a box and can’t be as expressive as I want to be either in vocals or playing. Fortunately, that is all from the past and I’m in a more creative space to take the lead on some things. I am being listened to. 


Do you have any anxiety about performing live? 

No. I used to.

If you had to choose one... live performance or studio work, which do you prefer and why?  
Live performance. Though it is fun to be creative in the studio, I like performance better. I can connect to the audience and they give feedback right away. It’s a bond between performer and listener which you can’t get in the studio.

Describe your creative process when you write new music.

Sometimes the lyrics come first, they pop into my head, and I have to just stop what I am doing and write them out. Other times I get a tune in my head and I write lyrics around that tune depending on my life situation at the time. Sometimes, it’s both. A song will just come about and it is done and on paper in less than an hour.

Give us some advice for new musicians just starting out in the industry.


Grow a thick skin. Take some criticisms and ignore other ones. Don’t give up and don’t get in your own way. Know the music. Lose the tablet or phone for lyrics when performing. Then you are just reading off of a paper instead of feeling the music.

What is your favorite piece of gear and why?

My guitar. It’s been a part of me since I was a kid. Maybe not the same one all the time, but I do love them.

How do you prepare for your performances and recording work?

Practice, then when done, practice some more. But leave some “air” in the music for change. Nothing is set in stone until it is a wrap in the studio or after the show.



What do you like most about your new album?

The interplay with all of the musicians. I believe they had fun with it and it shows in the music.

What artists do you enjoy listening to nowadays? 


Mostly people I know that have given me CDs. Musicians I have played with have bands and their own albums and I love that. I’m a bit old school, so I like music that inspired me in the past. But my car still has a CD player and the stack of CDs in there are from people I know!