Cassadee Pope Blends Pop-Punk With Country In New Single “Say It First” From Upcoming New Album ‘Thrive’

Cassadee Pope shared a brand new song from her forthcoming new album.

The season three winner of NBC’s The Voice shared her new single “Say It First,” the second single from her just-announced ninth studio album, Thrive. In the new track, the singer flawlessly infuses her current day country sound with her signature Hey Monday pop-punk sound creating the perfect mix that makes Pope’s music standout.

Co-written by Pope alongside Ross Copperman and Heather Morgan, and produced by Pope, Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild and Nickolas, “Say It First” explores the uncomfortable but necessary step in ending a relationship by being the one to say that it’s over. 

“’Say It First’ is a song I wrote about how tough of a position it is to be the one to end a relationship when you both know it’s already over,” Pope explained of the new single. “Being the ‘bad guy’ just because you said what you both were thinking comes with the territory. But not saying anything just isn’t an option. I love the nostalgic approach with the production and how it feels angsty but still vulnerable.”

Accompanying the track is the Ed Pryor-directed lyric video, the clip perfectly embodies the new single as Pope admits the chaotic movements throughout the video flawlessly represent the emotional rollercoaster of ending a relationship. 

“I wanted the lyric video for “Say It First” to really capture the conflict of remembering the fire you’ve had with this person in the past, but feeling so alone in the rain in the present,” Pope shared of the lyric video. “I love the chaotic movement of the lyrics on the screen because it’s truly an emotional rollercoaster when you decide to end a relationship. Ed Pryor always knows how to bring a lyric to life and I’m so glad to be working with him again.”

Listen to the new song below.

Thrive will blend the nostalgic pop-punk sounds from her early career with country storytelling, where she has grown as a songwriter and performer.

“I wanted to name the album Thrive because that word explodes with empowerment and endurance,” Cassadee shared in a press release. “The title track talks about not just surviving something but thriving from it, and I’m at a point in my life where I can see how the hard times were necessary. I also feel so unapologetically me in this new project which makes me thrive in every sense of the word!”

The upcoming new project was produced by Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild and Nick Wheeler from All-American Rejects.

Although the album doesn’t yet have an official release date, it is set to drop later this year in the fall.