Beginning formal instruction at eight years old, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Casey Stratton, an Interlochen Arts Academy alumnus, first immersed himself in rigorous classical study. Over time he broadened his listening to embrace popular artists such as Joni Mitchell and Peter Gabriel while simultaneously cultivating a deep engagement with the writings of T.S. Eliot and Joseph Campbell, influences that would later shape his creative output. Departing his native Michigan, Stratton relocated to Los Angeles and there encountered producer Patrick Leonard, known for his work with Elton John and Jewel; the same year, 2002, Music Connection magazine named him among its Top 100 Artists of the Future. Leonard subsequently mentored Stratton’s growth as a stage performer and connected him with local players before helming the artist’s debut Odyssey release, Standing at the Edge—a dozen original ballads and contemporary pop tracks reflecting the songs of Stratton’s own musical touchstones.
