CASEY CONROY SHARES “LONG DRIVE”

Singer-songwriter and alt-pop artist Casey Conroy captures the delicate tension between reason and desire on her highly anticipated new single, “Long Drive”, out now via APOLLO Distribution. With shimmering alt-pop production and tender lyricism, the track unfolds like a late-night road trip — atmospheric guitars, glowing synths, and soft percussion building into a sweeping chorus.

Written during a period of personal and creative transition, “Long Drive” is a moment of clarity for Conroy: reclaiming trust in herself, learning to follow instinct over expectation, and exploring the quiet defiance of choosing what feels right in a world full of noise. A story about freedom, self-discovery, and growth, the song marks the next chapter leading into her forthcoming EP, The Mess I’ve Made, slated for February 2026.We spoke with Casey about the inspiration behind “Long Drive,” her creative process, and the lessons she’s learning along the way.

1. “Long Drive” feels like a song about reclaiming instinct — choosing what feels right over what makes sense. Was there a specific moment or experience that pushed you to start trusting your intuition again?

Casey Conroy: This is definitely an ongoing process. It’s actually less so a realization that I’ve started to trust my intuition and more an awakening that I don’t do it enough. I’d actually like to be more like the girl I write about in “Long Drive” and think it’s why I wrote her story in the first place.

2. You describe “Long Drive” as sounding like a late-night road trip. When you’re writing, how do you translate that kind of physical or emotional movement into sound and production choices?

Casey Conroy: Funny enough, I think that’s something that you don’t realize until after the fact. Whenever I’m writing, the first priority is always how do I best support the story that’s being told in the melody and lyrics. In “Long Drive”, the lyrics were about letting go and freedom and the space of the open road ahead of you. I think the vibe of the moment translates into whatever is happening sonically. And then when it’s all said and done you sit back and listen and are like “hey this kinda feels like a song you’d play on a late night road trip”.

3. You’ve said coming of age isn’t something that happens once. How do you think your definition of ‘growing up’ has changed since you first started releasing music?

Casey Conroy: I’m starting to understand that it’s just never ending. And that actually feels very freeing to me. As someone who has sometimes fallen into the trap of “should” or “should nots”, I’ve loved realizing that we pretty much never have everything figured out all at once. There’s always time for change and reinvention. I think when you take that pressure off yourself, there’s so much more room for enjoying the process.

4. Your songs often balance emotional intimacy with cinematic polish. Do you consciously think about that blend of honesty and atmosphere, or does it come naturally as part of your writing style?

Casey Conroy: One of my favorite things about art in general is it often makes things larger than life. Whether it’s our favorite shows or movies or books, art observes the smallest nuances of human experiences and puts it on display. When I’m writing, I think that romanticization comes into play. No matter how intimate or general the experience you’re writing about is, there’s always a little bit of magic in how you frame it. I love when a song feels like a movie scene, something deeply personal but also big enough for anyone to step into.

5. You mention that your father’s DIY record shaped how you see songwriting — as a way to hold emotion and memory. What do you think he’d hear or recognise in “Long Drive”?

Casey Conroy: I think he’d recognize my love for storytelling. Growing up, we were constantly dissecting lyrics together and he always used songwriting to process life. Not just his own life but what he recognized and observed about the world around him. It’s my favorite thing I learned from him that I carry with me in everything I create.