Cassie Watson Francillon, Val Jeanty

Biography

Cassie Watson Francillon, also known as Cassandra Watson Francillon, is a visionary harpist and interdisciplinary artist based in New Orleans, Louisiana. She constructs a 'sacred sonic architecture' through modern music on her concert grand harp, influenced by hip-hop, jazz, psychedelia, Black American spirituals, and her father's Haitian lineage. Her work reflects the journey, joy, and lamentations of modern Black American transcendence, exploring the vibratory essence of language in music as a healing and transformative act. She has shared her music extensively in New York, North, Central and South America, Europe, and Haiti, with her solo debut album hOULe (Gold Bolus Recordings) receiving international acclaim.[3][5]

Fun Facts

• Cassie Watson Francillon is part of a 'New Orleans Haitian gumbo' electroacoustic duet with Val Jeanty, channeling specific cultural elements in their experimental music.[4]
• Her recent release Bardo (self-released) follows duo albums Suite with Sasha Masakowski and KāFOU with Val Jeanty, marking her third album in 11 months.[6]
• She has performed in events like Reimagining Tropiques and KāFOU at Greenwich House Recital Hall, blending harp with electronics in avant-garde contexts.[3]

Musical Connections

Key Collaborators

• Val Jeanty - duo partner in nouveau kreyol ambient project KāFOU, merging Haitian spiritual traditions, Black American roots, and experimental soundscapes with percussion, concert harp, and electronics (KāFOU album (2024), upcoming duo album) [2024-present]
• Sasha Masakowski - frequent collaborator on duo albums and electro-ambient projects (Suite (2025), Honey) [2024-2025]
• Arséne DeLay, Mykia Jovan, Kr3wcial, Simon Lott, Aquiles Navarro, Gladney, Sulyiman - ensemble collaborators on live recordings (Consortium Grande (Live At the Marigny Opera House)) [recent]

External Links

• Spotify