Cassendre Xavier is a self-described “renaissance negresse”. Although she also enjoys acting and making visual art, this first generation American-born citizen of Haitian and Chinese heritage is mainly a musician and a writer.
As a singer-songwriter/guitarist, Cassendre has released 9 albums of music described as “a cross between Tracy Chapman, Sade, and Enya” (Borders Music Expert Steven M. Wilson).
Her sound has also often been compared to that of Roberta Flack, Joan Armatrading, Joni Mitchell, Pheobe Snow, and India.Arie, among others. Her latest musical recording, “Live at Tin Angel” was honorably mentioned as #9 of “Top 21 Local LPs of 2007” (M.J. Fine, Philadelphia City Paper).
Under her self-assigned soul name Amethyste Rah and featuring music of light by Thaddeus (Sanaya Roman), she has a growing line of spoken word guided meditation recordings called “Affirmations for Survivors”, the first two being “Spirituality” and “Self-Love”.
Her “snappy and redeeming” (Karen Gross, Philadelphia City Paper) multi-genre writing has been published nationally in various literary anthologies and periodicals, as well as previously self-published chapbooks “secrets & lies: poetry and other words” and “Making of a Woman/Artist: a book for every black girl and every black woman who has ever wanted to be an artist” (http://artivistpublications.homestead.com/services.html).
She wrote, directed, and starred in a 5-actor play called “Sex for Survivors” which ran for three days in the Philly Fringe Festival 2003.
An award-winning cultural arts advocate, Cassendre is the founder and former director of several arts initiatives in Philadelphia including the Women’s Writing & Spoken Word Series (Robin’s Bookstore, 2002-2006) and the Black Women’s Arts Festival (The Rotunda and other venues, 2003-present).
She received a $15,000 Leeway Transformation Award in 2005 for her work in art and change.
A New York City native who has made her home in Philadelphia since 1990, Cassendre enjoys an active, raw vegan lifestyle, writing/composing/recording/performing, and getting as many naps and hot dates in as possible.
As of April 2009, her projects are as follows:
1) Writing and recording the final 2 of the Affirmations for Survivors Series (Self-Love and Spirituality were released in summer 2007. Sexuality and Life Skills are scheduled for release in summer 2009. View, hear, order them all at www.lulu.com/cassEndrE.
2) Promoting her latest musical album, "Capable of Love" available at www.cdbaby.com/all/cassEndrE.
3) Founding and facilitating REAL Raw - Vegan Live Foods Support & Transformation Group and worldwide web network. For more info, visit www.realrawlife.com.
4) Trying to keep up with MySpace, Blogspot, Facebook, LiveJournal, trying to do more YouTubing and starting to Skype, and trying to avoid text messaging and Twitter.
As of April 2009, her projects are as follows:
1) Writing and recording the final 2 of the Affirmations for Survivors Series (Self-Love and Spirituality were released in summer 2007. Sexuality and Life Skills are scheduled for release in summer 2009. View, hear, order them all at www.lulu.com/cassEndrE.
2) Promoting her latest musical album, "Capable of Love" available at www.cdbaby.com/all/cassEndrE.
3) Founding and facilitating REAL Raw - Vegan Live Foods Support & Transformation Group and worldwide web network. For more info, visit www.realrawlife.com.
4) Trying to keep up with MySpace, Blogspot, Facebook, LiveJournal, trying to do more YouTubing and starting to Skype, and trying to avoid text messaging and Twitter.
Cassendre Xavier
a.k.a. Amethyste Rah
Musician
Writer
Actress
Visual Artist
Raw Foodist
Humyn, Being.
Writer
Actress
Visual Artist
Raw Foodist
Humyn, Being.
All website contents (with some exceptions) Copyright © 2006-2009 Cassendre Xavier Enterprises.
Permission granted to copy and forward content as long as proper credit and www.cassendrexavier.com are included.
Permission granted to copy and forward content as long as proper credit and www.cassendrexavier.com are included.
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