William Cas comes from a long history of musicians. “My father and grandfather were both drummers,” he says, “and they started me off drumming when I was still a baby.” After a decade touring as a drummer and musical director for an eclectic mix of artists, from Dawn Richard to Spiritbox, Cas decided to focus on his own music, crafting the quiet collection of piano-based pieces that make up his forthcoming album Cycles. The switch from drumming to piano was natural for Cas. “To me, piano is just a big percussion instrument,” he says. “Hammers hitting strings.” The album was inspired by a trip to Redwood National Forest. “Those trees are endless and ancient. You’re looking at time in an object.” To record Cycles, every morning for a month, Cas would wake up at four a.m., go to the studio, meditate, and begin to improvise on piano. This early-morning ritual was as much practical as it was spiritual. “I play so softly I had to work when it was still dark outside,” says Cas, “otherwise the microphones would pick up the traffic, sirens, and helicopters from the city outside. If I played a little harder, I would probably be able to work during the day. But that vibe isn’t what I’m trying to capture.” It’s music for early mornings and late nights, invoking the quiet hours between the business of daily life. It plays like a memory of the Redwoods in the midst of the city, an escape that’s always available to you any time you reach for your headphones.