NTERVIEW WITH A GLAMPIRE: Crystal Sunshine by
Her eyes are penetrating. When you look into them they have a crystal-like quality to them. They are loving, soothing and dark all at once. Her porcelain-esque skin adds a near gothic quality to her, while it is alluring, seductive and with a hint of something vampirical to her. Then her voice. She begins to sing and the light and darkness come together as one element. Her music resonates beyond this world and somewhere into the next. Her music is dreamy, passionate and otherworldy and takes us to another dimension where she is the guide. Take her hand and don’t let go because she is the only one who knows the way in and and the way out of that world. It is a journey one never forgets.
Crystal Sunshine may not be a ‘glampire’ in the traditional definition of the word, but she redfines her own place as one. She is related to Marilyn Manson, formerly Brian Warner. She is a fan of Los Angeles erotic artist Will Griffith (who attended Heritage Christian School with Warner in the 1980s, where both artists served on the yearbook staff. Griffith was yearbook manager. Warner a photographer.) Crystal’s world seems to be like that. Points of light meeting to connect the world around her, no matter how distant those points were originally. There is a light, bright side to her and a dark one as well. We all have them. She celebrates them. Her influences in music are as diverse as this artist herself and on the eve of a new album, Crystal Sunshine talks with ArtChix Magazine. She’s fun, sexy, vibrant. She seems to enjoy life and relishes love in the purest form. Here are some excerpts from our conversation with our glampire songtress, Crystal Sunshine:
Q: First of all, you have just an amazing voice. Your sound is original and you seem to combine various types of music into your own. How do you see your music?
I see or hear my music as an amplified version of myself. I’m a super shy person in person. But with my music I feel bold and free I tap into my inner self and me and the music become one. Sometimes we dance on each others graves but the best part is with music or art it digs us out of those graves and paints a picture of life.
So in a way I see my music as a painting with sound.
Q: When did you first emerge as a singer for audiences?
Probably 15 years ago. I remember the first time I was on stage, I was in a blue little dress shaking in my shiny black boots absolutely terrified! I still get pretty nervous but that’s what is exciting.
Q: Who are your greatest musical influences?
Growing up I was a huge Pink Floyd and Guns and Roses fan then as I got older in high school it was all about Nine Inch Nails , Marilyn Manson , Faith No More ,Jeff Buckley and Mrs. Tori Amos.
Still to this day my main fav’s are Tori, anything Mike Patton. Jeff Buckley and of course family Marilyn Manson.
Q: Tell us a little about your album Nephlim Blood. How did that album come to be?
The Title ‘Nephilim Blood’ and the first song to the album are about a dream I had of Marilyn Manson and myself. ‘Nephilims’ are offspring of angels and humans there are theory’s that the Nephilim giants built the pyramids that RH Blood is angel blood…ECT. ect.
Well anyways, in this dream I dream of this dark navy book called ‘the book of nephilim’s’ letters writing in gold on the cover. My name, my mother’s maiden name Paulette Warner and Brian Hugh Warner’s name are in this book.
Also in this dream Marilyn Manson (Brian Warner) rips out his tongue and gives it to me and I swallow it. (If you listen to the songs lyrics you will understand) It was a time when I had lost my own voice, afraid to speak up, afraid to make a sound. It was as if he had let me borrow his voice, I wonder if he wants his tongue back? lol. So that’s what the song is about and also thought ‘Nephilim Blood’ would make a killer title of an album.
Q: Tell us about your new album coming out.
My new album, (still unnamed at this time) is just about me letting go and letting the music flow. I’m much more confident with the new music. It’s much more about experimenting with different layers of sounds and feelings.
Hopefully it will be out by the end of 2010 you know us musicians we like to take our time to do it right!
Q: You are also a visual artist. Your portraits of Marilyn Manson and Tori Amos are some of my personal favorites. Tell us about your painting.
When I was in middle and high school I was a horrible artist, I still to this day can’t draw for shit, I paint better then I can draw. In art class I sucked, the more someone tried to teach me the more I messed up, when I teach myself is when I learn better. I’m a very artistic dyslexic! (Laughing)
I paint to unwind because it gets my mind off of things, I do mainly faces, and I’m really glad you like my dyslexic art. (laughing)
Q: Do you have any contemporary artists who you admire?
Good god I love so many artists, from well known artists to ones you have never heard of. I’m a fairly new fan of Will Griffith, will is ‘da bomb digga diggity’! I’m his biggest fan and stalker. (Laughing) (I’m in your attic Will) He’s also a dear friend who has helped me in sooo many ways. I even have family members who I’m a big fan of, my older brother Paul Patterson is an amazing artist, who I hope show’s the world his art soon! Marilyn Manson is also a gifted artist…man the list go’s on and on.
Q: Is there a love interest in the life of Crystal Sunshine?
Currently I am married to my music, hopefully we will never divorce! (She laughs)
Q: How do you see yourself in five years?
If the world doesn’t end in 2012 I guess I’ll be in your ipod or if they still make them your CD player. Amazing how my whole soul can fit into a ipod and you can play it back. My soul better not be on fast forward, you better replay me over and over. (Laughing)
Q: What do you think is the most important thing in life to you?
The most important thing in life to me is learning how to love fully and unconditionaly and also to teach others to evolve into this kind of unselfish love! Love is actually to me the hardest lesson to learn.
Also, I think God is really on our side.
Q: Thank you Crystal. You are just amazing.
Thank you ,you are amazing as well and I love you. (Laughing)
(I’m just oozing with sappy love!) It’s all about the love baby!
ArtChix Magazine Artist of the Year by
The music of Crystal Sunshine is artistic intercourse. It is an experience both sensual and spiritual, tapping the heart and soul of the listener and opening the door to a new realm where we feel as though we are rising above the world below us.Her album, ‘Nephilim Blood’, crosses the lines of genre and fuses them together. The sound of blues and goth come together to create a signature style. The heart and soul of the artist is projected through song, but also through a poetry all her own. She is an up and comer, standing before us as an original. The angelic-looking singer has a Celtic quality to her and her music a deep spiritual influence. It touches the soul in a way only a certain artist can do and Crystal Sunshine has the magic, the originality and the voice to make her listener her willing captive. She is wonderfully talented and our ArtChix Magazine Artist of the Year for 2009.To hear more of Crystal’s music CLICK HEREBy Samireh Samadi, Art Critic, ArtChix Magazine
CRYSTAL SUNSHINE Nephilim Blood review by
A REVIEW by Samireh Samadi
Singer Crystal Sunshine is influencing an inter-generational demographic with her album ‘Nephilim Blood’. This unbelievable album from Showtime Records features songs like ‘Love is a Tomb’, ‘Road Kill’, ‘The Haunting’, and ‘Bleed’. ‘Scent of a Man’ and ‘Just Like You Said’ are two of my personal favorites from this dazzling vocal artist, her voice crossing gender, age and our preconceived notions what what kind of music we like to listen to. Utterly ageless, this music resonates in us. Poetry and music, with the misty presence of something otherworldly all come together in this album with an originality belonging to the artist alone. Her influences, whether Tori Amos or Guns and Roses, are elements that contribute to her voice, but in no way dominate it. She has found a sound that is her own and her voice is one that when you hear it…you will never forget it.
If you love music and you haven’t heard Crystal Sunshine, this album should be on your list of acquisitions. You will be unable to get her voice out of your mind long after you have turned-off the cd player. You’ll find yourself singing along with her long after you have put her album back into the case. She has a magical quality and she shares it with us willingly, spreading her magic among us.
ORDER YOUR COPY OF ‘NEPHILIM BLOOD’ HERE
-By Samireh samadi, Art Critic, ArtChix Magazin
CRYSTAL SUNSHINE INTERVIEW by:music equalz orgasm by
the first time I heard crystal sunshine I felt like I had heard something amazing and special.mostly because I just had.her gothic tinged jazzy music is unlike anything I had ever heard then, and is still to this day.there is no one or nothing else quite like her on the music scene.
signed to showtime records, she released her debut cd "nephilim blood" in late 2008, and is currently working on the follow up.
she has the beauty of a goddess.....the voice of an angel ....and she loves kitty cats,coffee, and mike patton.I have no doubt that she is ready to take over the world.....but, is the world ready to be overtaken by this piano playing chick?
MUSICEQUALZORGASM - Tell us a little about yourself.
CRYSTAL - Oh do I have too? lol
I'm Crystal Sunshine. yes that is my real name. Sunshine is my middle name. I’m from somewhere in Texas (I'm hiding) j/k
I had a horrible childhood and I’m trying not to have a horrible grown up hood. In all that and this, pain has created me. I’m a musical being.without music I am nothing.
I’m just striving to find my joy.my reason for continuing on this crazy train.
MEO - How did you start playing music?
CRYSTAL - I saw other musicians doing it. I got jealous and wanted to do it also.
I never thought I would even be able to do it at all.
I have never had any training in music, so I’m pretty sure the trained ears will think my music is shit. Well my music is the shit! (laughing)
MEO - who do you think is the shit?
CRYSTAL - Mike Patton!
MEO - when and how did you first make your music available to the public?
CRYSTAL - I have a very doggy memory...years ago I put my music on MySpace. Demo stuff I did in my bed-room on an analog 4 track.
MEO - In addition to being a musician, you're a huge music fan.who was the first artist/band that made you fall in love with music?
CRYSTAL - It’s a tie when I was young...Fucking “Faith No More” and “Guns 'N' Roses”
MEO - being a huge g 'n' r fan, what do you think of "chinese democracy"?
CRYSTAL - I thought it was alright.it's not " use your illusion" 1 and 2 , which is my favorite g 'n' r album
MEO - if you could say anything to axl right now, what would it be?
CRYSTAL - I would tell Axl how I would pray for him when I was 12,because I was told he was going to go to hell by grown-ups,I would pray he would not go to hell.
Obviously he's already been to hell and back.(laughing)
MEO - you have done a few covers.is there a song you would really like to cover? maybe next?
CRYSTAL - I would love to cover one of my new favorite bands Swallow the Sun's songs called "New Moon" or "hope". swallow the sun is a Finnish melodic death metal band.
MEO - Tell us about the very first song you ever wrote.
CRYSTAL - Man, I was young, probably 15. I wish I could remember the words...All I know is it was called “wash me away.”
I did not think I would ever be able to play piano and sing at once. Now I can’t live without one or the other. They are soul-mates.
MEO - do you have a specific song writing process? for instance, words first ...or music first? or does it vary?
CRYSTAL - It varies.I also channel songs,like I said they can just come as I'm playing random notes on a piano or keyboard.
MEO - Tell us about the first time you played live?
CRYSTAL - I was scared shitless. It was for some talent search shit. Those kinds that just want your money.
I could not afford to rent a keyboard or piano, so I sang along to my own fucking song on a tape that I recorded on a boom box. It was a really sad song and people just looked at me like “What the fuck?”. I just kept my head down most of the time while trying to sing along to my own crappy tape Because all these other people just sang other peoples music. Damn it! I sang my own song! (laughing)
MEO - where does your inspiration to write come from?
CRYSTAL - Usually pain, pain, and more pain..... Or others, pain..
Or sometimes the songs just come.
MEO - Is there a song of yours that is more personal to you than any others? if so, why?
CRYSTAL - Shit, all my songs seem personal. I don’t always like to tell people what they are about. I do sometimes. It’s like my love life,my songs are.you don’t always want to go and tell strangers how and when you have sex.
MEO - music videos used to play such a huge part in an artists success.nowadays, I think its kind of give or take.but, if you could go back in time and do a big production video for one of your songs to represent your music to the entire world on mtv when it actually played music videos, what song would it be,and what would be the concept of the video?
CRYSTAL - If you could see inside my head It would be one big long messed up music video! lol
I'm not sure I could even begin to write down all the shit I have in my head sometimes for videos.
I still would love to do a video for"Sweet Goodbye" or "Nephilim blood". I would have all kinds of crazy shit for "Nephilim Blood" with angels with broken bleeding wings and shit.just crazy shit. man I can't even type fast enough to tell U. My thoughts are faster then my fingers.
MEO - you just played a jeff buckley tribute concert.tell us about that.
CRYSTAL -
I was the first one to play.The songs I played are
Hallelujah"
I know We could be so happy baby (if we wanted to be)"
Satisfied mind"
and the song I wrote for Jeff Buckley "Sweet Goodbye."
Got to hear a lot of wonderfully talented people.
next to play was Tina Rodriguez ,and Nick Garcia and the last band I got to see was Ryan Holley and his band, which thanks to Ryan for helping me out that night with the sound, since I did not have a sound-man on hand.
I did not get to see the other band, since I had to leave a bit early.but I met a lot of great people.
It was a great experience and I hope to play again next year... with more Jeff Buckley songs to learn:-)
MEO - if you could play any tribute concert that you wanted, who would it be and why?
CRYSTAL - Fucking "Faith No More." Why? because I have taken down all my alters but Mike Patton's (laughing)
MEO - so, what have you been doing recently?
CRYSTAL - What Have I been doing? Very Very bad things..j/k
just been recording my new album still. coming up with even more songs,my being is alive now.it just won't stop. At this point ,I could be coming out with 5 albums if this keeps up. (lauging)
MEO - when do you think the album will come out?
CRYSTAL - Hopefully my new album or albums will be out sometime this year. If not then make it a quick and painless death.
MEO - what can the world expect from crystal sunshine in the future?
CRYSTAL - Well, I was going to take over the world and spike the water system with love potion.
But I'll stick to haunting your houses with my music.
MEO - do you have anything you want to say to your fans and anybody else reading this interview?
CRYSTAL - your all fucking mad but I love you....wait I think that was Ozzy Osbournes words.
This world is bullshit and you should not model your life ..you should model your brains into clay..wait that was Fiona Apple..well the first part. hehe
All I can simply say is "I love you."
you can check out crystal on her myspace page
http://www.myspace.com/cry..stalsunshinemusic
and her website
http://www.crystalsunshine..music.com/
and her debut cd " nephilim blood" can be purchased here from cdbaby.com
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/c..rystalsunshine