Hello everyone, I’m Tehillah from DULAXI, and today I’m delighted to welcome Dutch artist Cas du Pree for a conversation about his latest single, Blank Page.
Hailing from Brummen in the Netherlands, Cas has continued carving out a unique identity through emotionally honest songwriting and adventurous pop production. His newest release, Blank Page, was released on July 24, 2026, and marks an exciting new chapter, not only because of its polished dance-pop sound, but also because it represents his first major collaboration with UK producer Mike Harley.
Before we begin our conversation with Cas du Pree, here’s what you need to know about today’s featured project.
About Cas du Pree
Over the past several years, Cas du Pree has steadily developed a musical identity that refuses to be confined by convention. Rather than following predictable pop formulas, he has built his catalogue around deeply personal storytelling, creative experimentation, and a willingness to evolve with every release. Since making his debut in 2020, his music has reflected both his own experiences and an artistic curiosity that continues to shape his direction.
Blank Page arrives as one of the most significant milestones in that journey. The single introduces Cas’ first major collaboration with UK producer Mike Harley, a partnership that grew naturally after the pair first connected through XRPRadio before later joining EastLondon Recordings. Built on mutual admiration and creative trust, their collaboration quickly extended beyond a single release into multiple projects, opening the door to what Cas describes as another exciting new era.
Inspired by the rhythmic energy and memorable hooks of Dua Lipa’s dance era, Blank Page explores a surprisingly personal subject beneath its infectious pop exterior. At its heart lies the fear that every creative person eventually faces: wondering whether inspiration might one day disappear. Rather than allowing that uncertainty to become discouraging, Cas transforms it into a song that balances vulnerability with uplifting energy, encouraging listeners to find possibility even within self-doubt.
The record was co-produced and mixed by Erim Ahmet in the United Kingdom and mastered by longtime collaborator Ivo Statinski in the Netherlands. It also reflects the creative possibilities offered by Cas’ new home studio, a space that has become central to refining his evolving sound while preserving the authenticity that has always defined his music.
As Blank Page introduces another exciting chapter, it also reflects an artist continuing to challenge himself creatively while remaining committed to honest storytelling and meaningful collaboration.
Having this brief introduction to today’s featured project, I’m sure both new listeners and longtime fans are excited to hear directly from Cas. So, without further ado, let’s begin today’s interview.
INTERVIEW SESSION
Tehillah:
Every artist reaches a point where music becomes more than just a passion and starts to feel like a calling. Looking back on your own journey, what were some of the defining moments that shaped you both as a person and eventually gave you the confidence to pursue your own artistic path?
Cas du Pree:
I wasn’t exactly brought up studying music. So all I had was my artistic vision and what I liked. In the past my vision has been somewhat difficult to pursue, but being surrounded by more and more people in the music business really helped me to shape my musical personality. After releasing my first single and how it was received, really showed me that I am good enough to do this. 2 albums, and a few singles and EP’s later I feel like I am headed exactly where I want to go.
Mike Harley: For me, it was all about finding a lane that felt entirely my own. I’ve spent years deep in songwriting and production, but the real turning point was realizing I wanted to bridge the gap between heavy club grooves and polished dance-pop. Building up that confidence doesn’t happen overnight; it comes from putting out tracks, seeing how people react on the floor, and learning to trust your own ears above all the noise. Signing with East London Recordings recently was definitely a massive milestone that validated that entire journey for me.
Tehillah:
Your music has consistently balanced experimental production with deeply personal storytelling, which isn’t always the easiest combination to make accessible. What first drew you toward pushing creative boundaries instead of staying within the comfort of familiar pop formulas, and what does artistic authenticity mean to you today?
Cas du Pree:
It’s not that difficult to do something that doesn’t fit the generic mold since I did not study music at all. So all I had was my own vision and there was never a comfort zone to begin with. Pop formula? No idea what that looks like! Since every single song is written from my personal believes and experiences it’s quite easy to stay authentic. And working with people that know who I am and what my believes are helps. They know exactly what I’d like to do.
Mike Harley: From a production standpoint, staying inside a safe pop formula gets boring fast. I’m always chasing that sweet spot where a track has massive energy but still carries a genuine emotional weight. Authenticity to me means not holding back on the sonics. If a weird synth texture or an unexpected rhythm change makes the track feel alive, you go with it. When you pair that experimental edge with a vocal that has real storytelling behind it, like Cas brings, you get something magical that people can actually connect with.
Tehillah:
Before becoming creative collaborators, you and Mike Harley first connected through XRPRadio, where you were genuinely supporting his music long before you ever worked together. It’s a story that feels built on mutual respect rather than industry networking. How did that early connection develop into the creative partnership you now share, and why do you think the timing finally felt right?
Cas du Pree:
Mike Harley: The connection through XRPRadio was entirely organic. Cas was a genuine supporter of my music before we ever talked shop, and that kind of mutual respect is rare in this industry. When you aren’t trying to force a “networking” moment, you can just appreciate the art for what it is. The timing clicked because we both reached a point where our sounds were evolving in a complementary direction. I was looking for a specific kind of vocal depth to build my production around, and Cas had these incredible ideas ready to burst.
Cas du Pree: I feel like we broke the mold. There is so much hate and jalousy in this business and that really isn’t neccesary. We can co-exist and cheer for eachother. Since my radioshow revolves around music I genuinely love, all I can do is cheer fort hem and make sure people have their music heard as much as possible. Having Mike joining EastLondon Recordings as well was just a sign that we had to work together. I mean, I’ve been begging him for years!
Tehillah:
You have described this collaboration as the beginning of “yet another new era,” suggesting that Blank Page represents more than just a new single. When you think about the artist you were before this project and the artist you are becoming now, what has changed most in your creative mindset?
Cas du Pree:
Let it all go. People change, taste changes. Some days I absolutely love a track and other days I can hate it. So we aren’t even the same people then when we started creating ‘Blank Page’. It’s definitely not the last thing we did together though. Mike recently smashed a remix of one of my current single before ‘Blank Page’ came out, and we already have the next single ‘Walk A Mile’ setup to release. And I am not done writing just yet, so know there is more coming!
Mike Harley: This project definitely kicked off a brand new chapter for me. In the past, you can get hyper-focused on keeping things inside a strict box. But working on this material opened up the floodgates. My mindset shifted from just “producing a track” to creating a whole sonic ecosystem. It’s given me the freedom to lean even harder into my signature club arrangements while keeping the emotional core front and center.
Tehillah:
Your sound continues to evolve toward polished pop while still preserving the experimental edge that has become part of your identity. How would you define the musical space you’re creating for yourself, and what qualities do you hope listeners immediately associate with the name Cas du Pree?
Cas du Pree:
I am not sure. All I want is to let people think every once in a while while also being able to dance. I want them to wonder what to expect next because you’ll never know what’s coming! We don’t even know what’s coming 😉
Tehillah:
Blank Page explores a fear that many creatives quietly carry, the possibility that inspiration may one day disappear and that there might be nothing left to say. Was there a particular moment in your own life that sparked this idea, and how did you transform such a vulnerable thought into a song that feels both deeply personal and widely relatable?
Cas du Pree:
Yes. This became really clear after writing my new album. We wrote 14 songs, and I felt a bit empty after. My life isn’t as glamorous as you expect from artists, and to keep my trademark lyrics I have to write from memories, experiences or thoughts. I love being at home as well instead of going out. I’m an introvert personally. And if you stay inside long enough, you don’t make any memories to write about.
Mike Harley: Every single producer and writer knows that exact dread, staring at a blank project file in Logic, wondering if the ideas have dried up. When Cas brought that theme to the table, it instantly resonated with me. The challenge as a producer was to take that heavy, vulnerable concept and contrast it with a driving, uplifting rhythm. There’s a beautiful irony in making a high-energy dance track about the fear of losing your spark; it turns a private anxiety into a shared, cathartic release on the dance floor.
Tehillah:
The title Blank Page immediately evokes both possibility and uncertainty. Beyond representing writer’s block, what does that blank page symbolize for you emotionally, and how does its meaning evolve by the time the song reaches its conclusion?
Cas du Pree:
Mike Harley: Emotionally, a blank page is terrifying but it’s also the ultimate freedom. It’s the moment before the first drum hit or the first synth line is recorded. By the time the track builds, peaks, and reaches its conclusion, that “blank page” isn’t an empty void anymore. It’s been completely filled with motion and sound. It represents overcoming the hesitation and just letting the music take over.
Cas du Pree: I don’t like the uncertainty at all. Although my music keeps evolving and I keep experimenting, I rather play it safe staying in my comfort zone a bit. I know that sounds so contradictory!
Tehillah:
One of the things that makes this release especially interesting is that it draws inspiration from Dua Lipa’s dance era, particularly her use of rhythm changes and memorable hooks, while still sounding distinctly like your own work. How did you approach honoring that influence without allowing it to overshadow your own artistic voice?
Cas du Pree:
All I had is my vision, and Mike really took on this challenge to be honest! I just sent him my inspiration, and he went for it.
Mike Harley: That Dua Lipa dance era is a masterclass in combining nostalgic basslines with modern, punchy pop production. The key was taking those sharp rhythm changes and infectious hooks, but filtering them through my own production style, keeping the bass heavy, the drums driving, and adding those distinct house textures. It’s a nod to that commercial dance-pop brilliance, but executed with an underground club edge that keeps it uniquely ours.
Tehillah:
Your lyrics often reveal personal emotions while your production leans into bold experimentation. When writing Blank Page, how did you find the balance between exposing genuine vulnerability and creating a song that listeners would immediately want to dance and sing along to?
Cas du Pree:
Mike Harley: That’s the ultimate tightrope walk. If the production is too dark, the vulnerability can feel heavy. If the beat is too generic, the emotional weight of the lyrics gets lost. I kept the groove hypnotic and the hooks massive so that on the surface, it’s a track you immediately want to dance to. But once you’re moving, the lyrics hit you, and you realize there’s a real story being told. It gives the track longevity.
Cas du Pree: I don’t know any other way to write to be honest. This is just how I work. Musically, I can do nothing but tell producers what I’d like to hear. They take all credit for it.
Tehillah:
The story of sending Mike what you considered only a demo vocal, only for him to fall in love with that performance, says a lot about how differently artists can hear the same recording. What did that unexpected reaction teach you about trusting your instincts and perhaps recognizing strengths in your own work that you hadn’t fully appreciated before?
Cas du Pree:
It’s not about instincts really. It is very lovely to hear that a demo is so valued and appreciated, and what is exactly loved bout it. But I feel like rehearsing is part of the proces. In this case I was able to keep what he loved while developing the delivery of the lyrics. He knew what was coming and what to expect. For me it’s all about Mike being able to keep working on the music while I took time to perfect the recordings.
Mike Harley: As a producer, sometimes the magic is in the raw, unpolished moments. Cas sent me what was meant to be a rough guide or demo vocal, but the second I dropped it into the session, I knew it was the take. It had this unforced, genuine emotion that you completely lose if you spend hours trying to make it “perfect.” It taught both of us that a flawless performance is rarely the most powerful one. You have to trust the feeling over the technical grid.
Tehillah:
Blank Page also marks the first recording created in your new home studio, a space you’ve described as feeling like “a home within a home.” Beyond the improved acoustics, how has having that environment influenced your creativity, your workflow, and even the emotional connection you have with the music you’re making?
Cas du Pree:
It Wasn’t the first recording in my new studio though! I recorded some alternate lines and even a song from my album that we wrote after the recoding sessions last year. But yes, I love my cosy cocoon of a studio. Being surrounded with great acoustics and all my accomplishments just feels right. It reminds me that anything can happen if you work for it.
Tehillah:
You’ve mentioned that before recording, you spend time rehearsing your vocal runs until they feel as clean and natural as possible. Could you walk us through your creative process from the first lyrical idea to the final vocal take, and explain how patience and preparation shape the performances people ultimately hear?
Cas du Pree:
It’s all about patience. Sometimes you have to let a melody or run settle down for a bit, only to look back at it after a few days or sometimes even months. If I’m still happy, great. If not, I’ll alter things. Also the music plays a part in this. If there’s other instrumentation added in the meanwhile, it can change a melody instantly. That is a collaboration to me and what makes a song ours instead of just one of us.
Mike Harley: While Cas handles that meticulous vocal preparation, my job is to prepare the canvas. I like to build a sonic framework that gives those rehearsed vocal runs a perfect pocket to sit in. Because Cas puts so much patience into getting those takes clean and natural, it makes the editing and production process a dream. We aren’t fixing things in the mix. We’re taking a brilliant, prepared performance and elevating it to a massive level.
Tehillah:
Working with Mike Harley, Erim Ahmet, and longtime mastering collaborator Ivo Statinski brought together creative voices from different backgrounds and experiences. How did each collaborator leave their own fingerprint on Blank Page, and what did you personally learn from trusting others with your artistic vision?
Cas du Pree:
Mike Harley: Bringing together this specific team was incredible. I focused on driving the core production, building the rhythm, and shaping the electronic landscape. Erim Ahmet brought an amazing perspective to the project, and Ivo Statinski is an absolute wizard on the master. He gave the low end that punch and clarity needed to absolutely destroy a club system. Trusting this team meant letting everyone do what they do best, resulting in a track that sounds massive but retains its intricate details.
Tehillah:
Since your debut in 2020, your music has continued to evolve while remaining rooted in honest storytelling and adventurous production. Looking back over that journey, what do you think are the biggest ways you’ve grown, not only as a songwriter and vocalist, but also as someone who understands their own creative identity much more clearly?
Cas du Pree:
I have tried and done so many different things in the last 6 years… I definitely know where I want to go and how I want to sound. I no longer have to keep thinking about the legal stuff either and can solely focus on my creativity. Having that extra energy going into a concept instead of all the background work feels relieving, even inspiring.
Tehillah:
You mentioned that this collaboration quickly expanded beyond a single song into remixes and several additional tracks, to the point where you jokingly felt like Mike’s muse. What was it about this partnership that unlocked such a natural flow of ideas, and how has it challenged you to think differently about collaboration going forward?
Cas du Pree:
It definitely changed my thoughts about collaborations! In the past I reached out to many different artists and it was always a drag to make people work with me. Sometimes we even felt during the proces it wasn’t quite a match and it wouldn’t work out as I envisioned. That’s totally ok, but not having to worry about this is total freedom!
Mike Harley: [Laughs] Well, when the workflow is that fluid, you just don’t stop! We hit a vein of pure creativity where every file we swapped sparked three new ideas. I’d finish a mix, Cas would get inspired to track a new topline, and suddenly we had remixes and extra tracks spinning off the original session. It completely redefined collaboration for me. It showed me how effortless it can be when you’re entirely on the same wavelength.
Tehillah:
Every listener will probably connect with Blank Page differently. Some may hear a catchy pop anthem, while others may recognize their own fears about creativity, purpose, or self-doubt within the lyrics. When someone finishes listening to the song, what do you hope stays with them long after the music ends?
Cas du Pree:
Make memories. That’s what you take with you for the rest of your life and what makes a great story to tell! And if listeners don’t hear it and just want to dance to a pop anthem, I am totally fine with that! You can’t tell people what to think or feel. Everyone’s their own individual after all.
Mike Harley: I want them to still feel the residual energy of the bassline, but with those lyrics echoing in their head. If a listener walks away feeling uplifted and energized to face whatever creative blocks or self-doubt they’re dealing with in their own life, then we’ve done our job perfectly. It’s a dance track with a soul.
Tehillah:
Blank Page feels like the beginning of an exciting new chapter rather than the destination itself. As you continue building this new era, exploring fresh collaborations, and refining your evolving sound, what artistic goals are inspiring you most, and what kind of legacy do you hope to build through the music you create in the years ahead?
Cas du Pree:
I have close to no goals and want to keep that bar as low as possible. I have dreams though! Headlining my own concert in the Royal Albert hall, or working with Max Martin for example. My only goals are to keep redefining and challenging myself and others on the way.
Mike Harley: Right now, I’m fully inspired by pushing the boundaries of my club releases and live impact. The goal is to keep releasing records that don’t compromise, tracks that get heavy club support but still tell real, authentic stories. I want to build a legacy as a producer who brought true musicality and emotional depth back to the center of the dance floor. This era is just getting started.
“What makes Blank Page so compelling isn’t simply its polished pop production or dancefloor appeal, but the honesty that sits beneath every beat. Cas du Pree reminds us that even the uncertainty every creative person experiences can become the very spark that inspires something meaningful, proving that vulnerability and infectious pop songwriting can thrive together without either losing its identity.”
~ Tehillah (DULAXI Team)
My Editorial Perspective
Speaking with Cas du Pree revealed an artist who is remarkably comfortable embracing uncertainty while continuing to evolve creatively. Blank Page balances introspective songwriting with vibrant pop production, allowing emotional honesty and danceable energy to coexist naturally. The collaboration with Mike Harley feels driven by genuine creative chemistry rather than convenience, resulting in a release that reflects artistic trust, thoughtful craftsmanship, and a clear vision for where this exciting new chapter is heading.
~ Tehillah (DULAXI Team)
Closing
As we come to the end of today’s conversation, I would like to sincerely thank Cas du Pree for taking the time to share the story behind Blank Page and for offering such thoughtful insight into his creative journey. It has been fascinating to hear how personal experiences, meaningful collaborations, and a willingness to embrace artistic evolution have shaped both this release and the exciting direction of his music.
I’d also like to thank Mike Harley for sharing his perspective throughout the conversation, offering readers a deeper understanding of the collaborative spirit that helped bring Blank Page to life.
To everyone reading, if you haven’t experienced Blank Page yet, this is the perfect opportunity to discover a release that blends infectious pop melodies with heartfelt storytelling. Whether you’re drawn to its uplifting energy, its emotional honesty, or the creative partnership behind it, there’s something here worth exploring.
Thank you for spending your time with us here at DULAXI. I’m Tehillah, and I look forward to bringing you many more conversations with inspiring artists from around the world. Until next time, keep discovering great music and supporting independent artists.