Krystal, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve been singing, dancing, acting and creating since as far back as my first memories. It was natural and if I think back, I can truly say that it defined me. But, like a lot of other creatives, unfortunately, I put my aspirations of being in the performing arts on the shelf and took the “safer” route. Not that my parents discouraged me from pursuing the arts, but they didn’t necessarily encourage it either. I graduated from Syracuse University and moved to South Florida with my degree in tow, and hoped to find success in Corporate America. Life happens, as they say, and I did find incredible success in my career as a marketing director and business owner.
But the arts always remained in my bloodstream. Always. I continued to write throughout the years and I also formed a female group, but I honestly never thought that it would materialize into anything. You know, I heard Stevie Nicks once said that she didn’t find her true voice until she teamed up with Lindsey Buckingham. I bet it was the same way for legends such as Chaka Khan & Rufus or dare I say Beyonce & Jay-Z, who are all some of my faves. Such is the tremendous magic of life. I know that without a doubt, I would have never believed in my voice or my music or the tangibility of it all if I’d never met Jean Phoenix Le Grand, who we describe as the glue and the nucleus of our team. He inspired me, in many, many ways, including finding my voice and having the courage to tap into the craft that was always inside of me.
Fast forward to today and into the place we call the studio “the Dojo,” at 12 Tribes Musik. We have been working on my first album, which we hope to release by the end of 2020 or beginning of 2021. Even with the unpredictability of the pandemic happening, 1st wave, 2nd wave and who knows what’s next, we stay workin’!
My very first release dropped on June 19th, aka Juneteenth, called “War 2020,” featuring the legendary Light from Da Bush Babees (now available on Spotify, iTunes, etc.) Ironically and maybe not so ironically, it wasn’t supposed to be my first release but after the tragic death of George Floyd by the hands of police officers on May 25th, we felt a sense of urgency, responsibility and duty to speak out and speak LOUD. It’s not enough to just say, “oh, we all agree that what happened was terrible, but can we move past it and get back to normal?” Sure, until the next Black and/or person of color is murdered by police officers that seek to do it with no impunity. I think we all can agree that social and racial reform is necessary in this country. I don’t profess to have the answer on how we achieve it, but I do know that it must be done. “War 2020” expresses that anger and that defiance, and we hope that listeners will understand where we’re coming from instead of condemning us for our outrage.
My second release is a song called “Ride,” which was supposed to be my first release (also on Spotify, iTunes, etc.) “Ride” is a very sexy song and is definitely for the uninhibited. Dropping next is a dope, Latin-inspired collaboration with the up and coming phenom, Luckii Havana, called “The Showdown.” Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, video production on both songs have been slightly setback. As conditions improve, we hope to get back on schedule so we can continue to share our vision and our sound with viewers and fans!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
You know, my life has been a pretty smooth road in terms of how I was raised, my experiences growing up, getting a great education and then being able to go out into the world and be self-sufficient. My parents taught me never to depend on anyone and they gave me the foundation and the tools to be able to do just that. I’m proud that I can say that. My biggest challenges have come just within the last five years of my life, ironically. I’ve always been on “my journey,” as we all have, but it’s this deeply personal journey of self-discovery that has been extremely challenging. I woke up one morning and realized that I was not living authentically, in any sense of the word. It was like I’d been going through life with blurred vision. Well, I changed everything – my environment, my job, my relationships, my ideas, my spiritual beliefs. I had what they call “a tower moment,” and I surrendered to the process. It’s a deeply personal journey that produced some of my darkest, darkest moments. But I am happy to say that things have become “Krystal Klear” for me, and this music that I am creating is my means of self-expression and so much growth and expansion as a woman.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
I record and perform under the name Krystal Klear. I am a multi-genre singer/songwriter on the 12 Tribes Musik label. I don’t fit into any one box and that’s because I can fluidly write and sing any genre: R&Bb/soul, Rock, Hip-Hop, Latin, Jazz, Indie, Alternative, Pop, Ballads, and some sounds that can’t even be classified! My producer at 12 Tribes, Jean Phoenix Le Grand, aka Juice Da Witch Docta, is my match in a lot of ways, but also in that he creates all genres of music fluidly. Together with our team, we are creating a defining sound and an identity for Krystal Klear that will appeal to all.
But it’s not just about the sound. It’s also about the things that I am expressing in my songs, which are a direct reflection of who I am and who I’ve come to be. I have many different sides and I’m not afraid to show them anymore. And now that I am able to live more authentically, what better way to share all of these sides and emotions with the world through my art? When you listen to Krystal Klear, you’re going to hear songs about pure love, pain, revolution, liberation, karmic justice, sex, lust, divination, self-acceptance, self-love, female empowerment, of course, oh and FUN! Right? I know that some will say I’m a walking contradiction. But it’s not a contradiction. If we’re true to ourselves, it’s who we all are.
I do want to take a moment to give shouts to my limitless, boundless, uber-talented and dynamic team at 12 Tribes Musik and THE NEX-US! We are a group of artists, producers, and multi-media creators who found pure magic in one another. We are an in-house team who writes, produces, records, engineers and masters all of our music. We have the sickest team of music executives, producers, writers, singers and rappers on the roster. We have the best photog in the game on the team. Myself I am also a content creator through my marketing company Tiger Shark Media so we write our own video treatments and create our own promotional and marketing assets. We have the most prolific filmmakers and directors on the team. There’s nothing we can’t do and we do it so well.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Well, as you reach certain goals or attain certain levels of success in life, the way you define it naturally evolves and, for me, it all coincides with how close I am to actually living in harmony with my life purpose. But it’s not just about living my life purpose. It’s also about being able to sustain myself from it and have it provide me with the resources I need to live a complete and satisfying life. For me, I can’t objectify success with cars or money or material things, because I’ve had that and it never made me feel complete. I wish I could have the mindset that my “day job” is just that… something I do to earn income during the day and then go home at night and do whatever I do to be happy. But that is not my mindset anymore. As I move further and further away from that idea, the more suffocating that way of being feels to me. I am learning that I have to be doing something that aligns with my purpose in this Universe, and it has to be something that I can share with others that touches their lives and creates value. That value equates to sustenance and resources for me – and that, in turn, defines my success. I hope to create this brand of success through my music and my other creative endeavors in the very near future. So STAY TUNED!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.krystalklearmusik.com
- Email: krystalklearmusik@gmail.com
- Instagram: @krystalklearmusik
- Facebook: Krystal Klear Musik
- Twitter: @krysklearmusik
- Other: Listen to Krystal Klear on iTunes, Apple Musik, Spotify, Soundcloud, Deezer
Image Credit:
Dave Arjune AKA Shake Stillz, Chris Barbu
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