In today’s fast-moving pop landscape, collaborations often happen by chance, but the partnership between Cas du Pree and Mike Harley feels like a meeting of two artists with a shared creative vision. Their latest single, “Blank Page,” blends polished dance-pop with club-ready electronic production while exploring one of the most relatable challenges for any creative: the fear of running out of inspiration. Rather than dwelling on uncertainty, the song transforms creative anxiety into an uplifting anthem about embracing new beginnings and trusting the creative process.
Cas, a Dutch singer-songwriter known for his deeply personal lyricism and his independent pop radio show Banging Sarcasm, joins forces with London-based producer Mike Harley, whose signature “Cake House” sound merges infectious pop melodies with the driving energy of house music. Together, they’ve created a record that is both emotionally honest and irresistibly danceable, proving that vulnerability and euphoria can exist in the same space.
We caught up with Cas du Pree and Mike Harley to discuss the inspiration behind Blank Page, their creative chemistry, overcoming self-doubt, their musical influences, and what the future holds for this exciting collaboration.
For readers discovering your music for the first time, can you introduce yourself and share your journey into music? What inspired you to become an artist?
Cas: I am Cas from The Netherlands, and I have been doing musical things for quite some years now. It wasn’t until 2020 when I started to work as a recording artist and write original songs. It took me a while to start because I always thought I wasn’t good enough.
In the last couple of years I have been building a catalogue and changing towards a more dance-pop/hyperpop style of music. On wednesdays I have a radioshow (Banging Sarcasm) on XRPRadio showcasing polished independent pop music from allover the world. I started this in 2023 and it’s still going strong!
Mike: Hey everyone! I’m Mike Harley, a London-based electronic music producer and songwriter, and the architect behind a sound I like to call “Cake House”—which essentially takes the driving, deep grooves of Tech House and Deep House and mixes them with infectious, massive Dance Pop hooks.
My journey really caught fire back in 2021 when I co-founded the duo Beat Bakery. We had an incredible run, landing 33 BBC Introducing “Track of the Day” features and doing a Live Lounge performance. That whole era taught me so much about the mechanics of a great pop song. Eventually, I knew it was time to step out on my own to fully realize this Cake House vision. What inspires me as an artist is the energy of the dancefloor—taking raw, vulnerable human emotions and turning them into something you can absolutely lose yourself to under the lights.
2. Congratulations on your new single, “Blank Page.” What inspired the song, and what message do you hope listeners take away from it?
Mike: Thank you so much! “Blank Page” was really born out of that universal moment of staring into the void—whether that’s a blank screen, a quiet studio, or a fresh start in life—and feeling the weight of what comes next. Working on it with Cas du Pree brought this incredible, vibrant energy to the table. Ultimately, I want listeners to dance through the uncertainty. The message is that a blank page shouldn’t paralyze you; it’s an open invitation to reinvent yourself and write a completely new chapter.
Cas: For me it’s really scary sometimes to start a new song. Seeing that blank page, with no inspiration anymore to fill it up. My lyrics are always personal, so I need memories or thoughts to write a song. What if I no longer have something to say? I don’t exactly live a popstar life. It can be even boring for some people. And to create memories you have to go out and do things, while I can definitely enjoy staying at home having some quiet time.
“Blank Page” explores the fear of losing creative inspiration. How personal is this song to you, and did writing it change the way you view creativity?
Cas: Every single song of mine is born out of inspiration and actual experiences. So personal is kind of my trademark! It did challenge me creatively because I didn’t want it to be negative or heavy. You can still create personal tracks while keeping it light and danceable.
Mike: It’s incredibly personal. Coming off the back of a successful duo career and stepping into the spotlight as a solo artist, you definitely have those late-night moments where you wonder, “Do I still have the magic? What if the ideas dry up?” Writing this song was actually the cure for that fear. It made me realize that creativity isn’t a limited reservoir you run out of; it’s a muscle. The moment you stop overthinking and just start creating, the page isn’t blank anymore.
This release marks your first major collaboration with Mike Harley. How did the collaboration come about, and what made your creative chemistry work so well?
Mike: Cas actually gave my previous work some incredible support on his Banging Sarcasm show, and we just clicked instantly over a shared love for heavy basslines and sharp, polished pop melodies. When the idea for “Blank Page” started brewing, it felt like the perfect bridge between our worlds. The creative chemistry worked so well because there were zero egos in the studio. I brought the foundational Cake House production wheels, Cas brought his brilliant musical instincts, and we just pushed each other to make the track as massive and energetic as possible.
Cas: Well said Mike! I don’t have much to add to this. It just clicked!
The song was inspired by Dua Lipa’s dance era and its infectious pop sound. How did those influences shape “Blank Page” while still allowing you to stay true to your own artistic identity?
Mike and Cas: We are both massive fans of that modern, high-gloss disco-pop revival—that punchy, baseline-driven groove that Dua Lipa masterclass-ed on Future Nostalgia. For “Blank Page,” we wanted to capture that exact same relentless, infectious rhythmic energy but anchor it with the heavier, club-ready elements of Tech House. It’s got that glossy pop sheen on top, but the foundation is pure, authentic Cake House. It’s the perfect hybrid.
Sometimes a song works better when it’s not the traditional pop structure and we were both comfortable letting all of that go and flow naturally.
Since releasing your debut single in 2020, how would you describe your growth as both a songwriter and a performer?
Cas: My style has evolved so much, multiple times. I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go just yet and had to learn every single part of the music business and legislations involved. Right now I feel like I’m arriving to a point in my career where I know what I want and what I like to do. Without having to stress about everything boring related in the background haha. That means I’m having way more space to let creativity flow. The best part of music creation if you ask me.
Mike: The growth has been massive. Back in 2020, I was still figuring out how all the pieces fit together. Earning my Master’s in Songwriting and Production gave me the technical toolkit, but the real growth happened in the trenches—writing track after track, analyzing what moves a crowd, and learning how to strip away the clutter to let a melody breathe. Today, I’m much more confident in my vision. I don’t second-guess my instincts anymore; I know exactly what a Mike Harley record needs to sound like.
Your music often draws from personal experiences and emotions. When writing a new song, do you usually begin with the lyrics, the melody, or a specific feeling you want to express?
Mike: It almost always starts with a feeling or a specific groove. Because I’m a producer at heart, I’ll usually sit at the keys or start tweaking a bass synth to capture a mood—whether that’s heartbreak, euphoria, or tension. Once the sonic atmosphere feels right, the melodies start to present themselves, and the lyrics naturally follow to tell the story that the music is already playing.
Cas: I have no structure when it comes to writing a song. Sometimes I start with a core memory, some sentences, or even words. Sometimes I have a part of a melody stuck in my head, or I laid some chords that really resonate with the feeling at that time. So I can be really versatile actually!
Every artist faces challenges throughout their career. What has been the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome, and what did it teach you about yourself?
Mike: The biggest obstacle was making the definitive transition from the safety of a established duo to launching my solo career. It’s terrifying to step out from behind a brand and say, “This is me, this is my sound.” But signing with East London Recordings earlier this year was a massive validation of that risk. It taught me that growth only happens when you’re willing to leave your comfort zone. If you don’t bet on yourself, nobody else will.
Cas: Yes, leaving your comfort zone was my biggest challenge. I am really introvert and my video’s are quite out there. For my last video I even danced! And people that know me really well know I don’t dance or workout ever. So I like to challenge myself and surprise people. It didn’t taught me that much, because I always knew I could do anything. As long as you go for it and make it your goal.
If you could collaborate with any artist or producer in the world, who would it be, and why do you think that partnership would work?
Cas: That’s an easy one! I would love, love, LOVE to work with the producer Max Martin haha. Max, if you read this. Hit me up 😉 As an artist, I think working with Adele would be hilarious and fun. Her and my voice are opposites so I think that would be kind of interesting as well.
Mike: I would love to get into the studio with Stuart Price or SG Lewis. Stuart is an absolute legend at blending electronic club culture with massive pop icons (his work with Madonna and Dua Lipa is flawless), and SG Lewis has an incredible ear for modern disco-house grooves. I think a partnership like that would work beautifully because we speak the exact same language: making sophisticated, emotional dance music that slaps in a club but sticks in your head all day.
Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future? Are there any upcoming projects, goals, or surprises that fans can look forward to after “Blank Page”?
Mike: Honestly, the sky is the limit right now and I’m incredibly excited. Following up on the success of “Heart Beat” with Holly Berry, “Blank Page” feels like the next gear turning. We’ve got some incredible momentum with East London Recordings, so fans can definitely look forward to more singles, some brilliant new vocal collaborations, and plenty of physical releases on Bandcamp. We are building the Cake House brick by brick, and the dancefloor is only getting bigger!
Cas: Definitely! I am excited about some upcoming collabs, and more tracks with Mike. We have a remix of Mike out soon, and another original track coming. And… We have a few more tracks in the works together! 😉
