Rising 18-year-old singer-songwriter Mariae Cassandra has signed a global deal with MNRK Music Group, expanding her career at home and internationally.
Born in Cebu, Philippines and raised in Perth, Western Australia, Cassandra has become one of Australia’s most exciting emerging artists. Cassandra won the 2024 triple j Unearthed High competition at age 16, cementing her breakthrough with the release of her debut single, Million Billion Trillion.
Following such an impressive debut was never going to be an easy task, but Cassandra did it with Seventeen – landing on Spotify’s Fresh Finds global playlist. Last year, she shared the stage with Charli XCX and beabadoobee at Laneway Festival and has since opened shows for Maggie Lindemann and Kita Alexander.
This year, Cassandra has headlined her own national tour and sold out shows in her home city of Perth, as well as Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. Internationally, she made her debut headline performance at The Grace in London and performed at SXSW in Austin, Texas.
Coinciding with her signing to MNRK Music Group, Cassandra released the single Splinters, which you can check out below.
“I’m so thrilled to be joining the MNRK family,” Cassandra commented in a statement. “I’ve been travelling around this year, meeting the team all over the world, and I adore these passionate people who I know have so much love for what they do and who they support.
“I know my artistry is in safe hands, and I’m so excited to share with you all new music and upcoming projects!”
Zac Abroms, MNRK’s Label Manager for Australia and New Zealand, added, “MNRK is privileged to be partnering with Mariae Cassandra as she enters this exciting new chapter of her career and sets her sights on a global audience.
“I had the pleasure of seeing Mariae on tour in Melbourne, and the atmosphere in the room was pure joy. Not only is Mariae a prodigious young songwriter with bona fide rock star credentials on stage, but she’s also an all-round creative powerhouse. Her genuine connection with her fans is truly a sight to behold.”
Upon her win of the triple j Unearthed High competition, Music Director Dave Ruby Howe said, “Mariae Cassandra’s songwriting has such a rare sweet and sticky quality that the Unearthed team has been hitting repeat on Million Billion Trillion for roughly that same number of plays!
“As we usher in a new Unearthed High champion with Mariae, we’re in awe of an artist whose hooks and lyrics are gonna inspire fandom and obsession in equal amounts.”
