Casii Stephan has no clue what song she’ll play first on the piano when she sits on the bench and rests her fingers on the keys at 12:10 p.m. May 6.
The Tulsa musician is back for another Tulsa PAC Brown Bag It concert inside the Westby Pavilion, and she plans to keep things loose by mixing in songs from her discography, including some new music. Plus, she’s open to requests from the audience.
“Maybe we could throw in some Leon Russell,” she said while lounging recently in the PAC’s LaFortune Studio. “If someone wants to request something, we can pivot easily. It’s just fun. I love that it’s just casual and about engaging with people.”
It’s a big year for the Minnesota-born, indie pop singer-songwriter who has called Tulsa home for many years. She recently wrapped recording her first full-length album, was named a showcase performer at Nashville’s AMERICANAFEST in September and will soon kick off the Summer’s Fifth Night season at Utica Square May 28.
Stephan took part in a Q&A to discuss what 2026 holds for her musically.
This is your second time to do a Brown Bag It show. What’s the draw for you and the fans?
I love the opportunity. It’s just people can bring their lunch, come from downtown, get a break from their day, maybe just get some art in, take their hour lunch break and then go back. It’s just a unique opportunity to connect with different people.
It was just announced you’re going to be a showcase artist at AMERICANAFEST this fall. You’ve played South by Southwest in Austin and Kansas City’s Folk Alliance. How is this one different?
I’ve showcased the South by Southwest and Folk Alliance, (AMERICANAFEST) is kind of this in between. It’s got the spread-outness of South by Southwest, where there’s venues all over Nashville that are doing showcases, but it’s got more of the close knit feel of Folk Alliance, because South by Southwest is like every music genre, a lot of music industry stuff, and it’s there’s just so much. So you do have a more focused Americana genre, which is the country-folk singer-songwriter. I think at this point it feels like Americana covers anybody that doesn’t play to tracks. It’s kind of acoustic, like American music.
I went there two years ago just to check it out and see what was going on, and my friends were showcasing, and I got to just walk around and just see other people. It’s really exciting to come back as a showcase artist.
I want to go in and be like, “I have this value to offer. It’s more about, “Look at me. You don’t want to miss out on this!”
I recently visited Church Studio as you recorded a track with Branjae that will be on your first album. Any updates on the LP?
It’s literally getting sent to mastering right now! I’m working on the release strategy with the label. There are 10 songs. I’ll start releasing singles in the fall and then it will come out in the new year.
At the end of this month, you’re kicking off this year’s Utica Square’s Summer’s Fifth Night, which is a longtime concert series and a big fan favorite. That’s quite the difference than a Brown Bag It show.
This will be my first time! It’s gonna be fun. I’ll have the full band for that one. We’re expecting a big crowd for that one. I’m excited!
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