From the other side, Jillian Ann and Cassidy Haley live life where few travel
Story & Photography by Terry Check
Before Jillian Ann and Cassidy Haley became partners … partners in life but not necessarily “till death do us part”, their life journeys were separate but parallel climaxing in an array of “edgy”, or should I say “edgeless”, talents as business partners and lovers.
Leaving home as a teenager, the self-educated Jillian Ann never turned back paying her bills by Avant Garde modeling, acting in independent films, writing provocative lyrics and singing at underground festivals. Her breakaway talent was producing DJ music sets fusing her vocals with the latest beats, then on-stage performances in musical genres of goth, electronica and rock while experimenting with downtempo, dubstep, trance and downtempo.
As a notable electronica artist in bass music, blending of sounds between genres, she pushed beyond labels creating “sounds so new there were no names for them yet”. In the male dominated, music world, Jillian didn’t fit in, as a matter of fact, she stood out as an amazing talent leading the way for other women, such as singer-songwriter Zola Jesus and ballerina turned DJ, Anne Tyler, to break into the “boy’s club”. With her international acclaim of more than 50 million hits on her song, “Quiet Riot”, she reflected on her work, “I like to give the audience a feeling of empowerment while expressing the ability to confront preconceived notions, defined parameters and contrived obstacles by offering a musically creative example of how energy can be used to overcome, liberate and persevere”. The hypnotic energy generated by her music was so overwhelming that the audience danced through the night, loving each other as one.
As a teenager, Cassidy Haley loved to design garments, make patterns and sew clothing from fabric remnants at the Tinker’s Workshop in Berkeley, CA. Angry with the state of the world, he participated in the 1999 WTO activism movement, and joined the “creative side of activism”, the Mystic Family Circus, providing a peaceful and sustainable culture through performing arts. While stilt walking and aerial silk dancing, Haley, on his off-days, would design and sew circus costumes.
After moving to Los Angeles, Haley turned his costume design talent into a fashion label, Ernte, with his partner Evan Sugarman, a friend he met at Burning Man the year before. In 2003, Haley left the company to pursue his music, but within a few years he returned to fashion to start Skingraft with partner Jonny Cota. SKingraft was known for its “raw underground fashion and sleek, high end couture”. After four years, he sold his interest in the company to once again pursue his music full time.
The songwriter/musician (piano and acoustic guitar) wrote and produced his debut EP album, “Little Boys and Dinosaurs” which reached #3 on the iTunes electronic charts. Following his debut full-length album, “The Fool”, the songwriter created “The Lovers” with a Kickstarter campaign which ultimately generated over $16,000, exceeding his goal.
After an emotional three year journey, the album, “The Lovers” was released with the first half of the album sharing his traumatic breakup with an ex-boyfriend, and the second half discovering the “deepest and darkest parts of each other” (Jillian and himself), and their boundless love for each other.
Having the same circle of friends, Jillian “stalked” Cassidy online, and on a road trip to a music festival, they finally got together both on stage and in their tent. On New Year’s Eve 2012 the words, “I love you” were exchanged, and while driving back to the city the next day, they envisioned the creation of a “multi-media entertainment and lifestyle company called “Ritual” focusing on fashion, music and performance media, and lifestyle”.
Together, this bisexual, polyamorous couple is a perfect blend of talent and passion creating amazing couture fashions in the current collection as seen in their music video, “Breathe” ( https://youtu.be/yVKqvKkyGkk ). Their music released as RITUAL can be downloaded free from bandcamp ( http://makelifearitual.bandcamp.com/music ). Check out Jillian Ann’s latest release, “Goodbye”, a reflection of her life of overcoming tragic beginnings with boundless love; and the duet called “Breathe”, a fusion of fashion and music world transcending an earthly reality.
The Ritual website (www.makelifearitual.com) serves as a forum for Jillian and Cassidy to share their philosophy of living a better life. Cassidy’s manifest, “How To Live Like A Superhero”, brings forth the power of positive inputs and outputs, and the need to diminish the negative ones within us. Their other perspectives include: “The Warrior Within”, “The Dreams Will Save Us” and “The Huntress and the Death of the Fashion Industry”.
They tell it as they see it, holding nothing back. When on set for the MODE photoshoot, their passion for each other and the camera was magical, accentuating the sensuality of themselves and the fashions.
What’s next for Jillian and Cassidy? For Jillian thinking about all the amazing art projects they would create together. For Cassidy it’s riding the wave of life into the future they are creating together. Whatever they do next, it will reflect the incredible journey they have been on together, creating their art and building the company that is RITUAL.
