Crystal Kay is very much a versatile musician. From singing to songwriting, and even acting, she has had a vibrant career in Japanese music. With numerous songs for anime and games, Crystal’s background is a fascinating one.
Starting out, I wanted to know more about how Crystal had gotten into music and what she liked to do as a kid.
“I grew up on a naval base in Yokohama, Japan. I went to an American school on the base, which is why I don’t have an accent when I speak English. I only mention that because people always ask, and I always have to explain myself.
“I loved my time on the base. It was a like an “America” within the base gates, with green grass, big yards, and housing like you see in the US suburbs. It was such a beautiful little utopia and tight knit community where everyone looked out for each other. Mom and I had to move off the base after my parents split up, but I was still able to finish up to high school at my American school. Yokohama is the best city, forever an 045 girl. It’s such a beautiful port town and I love the fact that it has a mix of the East and the West in the historical buildings, since it was one of the first ports to open to the Western world. It is so relaxed and calm with its own color.
“My mother sang at clubs and was signed to major record label when I was a child. My father was a serviceman and played the bass in a band. So, there was always music playing in the house when we weren’t at a gig or show. I was always my parents’ plus one to all the concerts they attended, from Diana Ross to Bobby Brown to Michael Jackson.
“So as a child, I loved to entertain. I also loved to sing and dance. I was always the family entertainer whenever there were get-togethers and pool parties. I was also really into coloring and had so many coloring books. I was a pretty good colorist. Mom would always keep me in the dressing room during her gigs so I would just sit there and color. I always outlined my drawings before coloring them in, very neatly.”
This then segued into how Crystal started out professionally in terms of her musical career.
“My first job was a commercial jingle for the game, PC Engine Duo. My mother’s friend owned a production company that produced jingles for commercials. One day, he said he needed a kid’s voice and asked my mother, “Can I borrow Crystal?” And that’s how it all started.
“After that, I sang a lot of jingles for various games, shampoo/makeup products, and other popular brands like All Nippon Airways. One jingle I sang was for Vitamin Water, a drink commercial, produced by Yoko Kanno. We got so many calls inquiring about the singer and jingle that we decided to extend it into a full-length song. This ended up becoming my debut single, Eternal Memories and it is still my favorite song till this day.
“I actually stopped watching anime after Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball so to be honest, I didn’t really follow the ones I sang the themes for. After seeing people’s reactions to the anime and because of their love for it, including their connection with my songs, I started to notice how powerful anime was. Now I feel very grateful and proud that I have the opportunity to sing all of these theme songs for iconic anime.
“Sometimes we would write for the anime or film, and other times the label would pitch my original song or they’d choose our songs. All the songs were on a case-by-case basis, but it’s fun because we would write the lyrics incorporating the emotions or relationships of the characters in the actual anime, like in Nodame Cantabile, which I sang like Konnani Chikakude singing about a one-sided love. Recording One was also so fun and rare because I have a version featuring Pikachu. He would be ‘pika pika-ing’ throughout the song like an adlib and it was so cute. I remember I couldn’t stop laughing when we were in the studio. We also had a Pikachu version of the artwork for my single, which is such a collector’s item if you think about it.
“Moving back gaming, I did sing a song for Bust a Groove I was around 8 or 9 (or maybe younger) and this was to my debut, so I was not credited, but I remember this being produced by a family friend and he wanted me to sing. I really enjoyed doing studio work, so it was pretty smooth but I do remember being directed to sing with energy and to have fun.
“Eyes on Me was an experience. I felt a lot of pressure actually, since it is such a huge song in the gaming world, and the original by Faye Wong is so iconic. Working with Square Enix producers was a pleasure and I remember telling them I wanted to do it justice, but also add my flavor to it. I enjoy being directed as well, so I would go back and forth with them during the recording session, making sure I was conveying the lyrics with proper emotion. I will never forget when I had the chance to perform this at the Royal Albert Hall for their 25th anniversary world tour with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Singing with a full orchestra is such a privilege and an experience, because everything is alive and raw, and just so beautiful. This was also in my top 3 nerve wrecking moments along with my performance with Namie Amuro.”
Crystal then talked more about her work with Yoko Kanno and Namie Amuro.
“Working with Yoko Kanno was fun. Being the amazing composer she is, she does not compromise. I remember doing take after take and feeling sleepy recording the background harmonies. I was 11, hence I was so sleepy because we had gone till pretty late.
“I added the English parts in the song because one of the producers asked me if I could add words in that post verse section. I felt that, as young as I was, this song was about a person’s growth and finding themselves through life, so I thought a direct “gotta find myself” lyric would be fitting. Damn, go 11-year-old me. It felt like my aunt was vocally directing me the whole time because she would be so loving and gentle especially because I was still a child, trying to sing a very mature song.
“It’s also still hard to believe that I worked with Namie Amuro. I’m still pinching myself today. I grew up buying her singles and copying her fashion style, as did the entire country. When it was confirmed she was down to do a collaboration, I was ecstatic. Plus, a joint music video on top of that!? I couldn’t believe it. I asked if we could dance together, and she agreed to that too. I set a goal for myself to get as fit as I can for when I stand next to her the day of the music video shoot. I am glad I did as I am very proud of the outcome, film lasts forever after all.
“We didn’t get to record the song together as she was such a busy person, but Namie did have me as a super surprise guest on her tour. This was one of my top three most nervous moments in my career. Singing with my idol since elementary school, and performing with her right before she left the limelight. I felt super lucky, and I will never forget that amazing experience.
“M-Flo are my brothers. Even before singing with them on their Loves project, I worked with Taku first in producing my single, Boyfriend Part 2. I dug Taku’s style because he made tracks that were very Western influenced and unapologetic. It was always innovative what he was doing with sound, while mixing the West and the East in a beautifully sonic way. After that single, I had a single called Ex-Boyfriend which was my very first collaboration with a rapper, and that was Verbal. I remember we recorded separately because he only could record late at night and I had school. I had to record my parts in the afternoon because I needed to do homework, and get back home after the studio before getting up for my school at 4:50 am, every single morning.
“I feel they are pioneers of innovative western influenced J-Pop, with a lot of English lyrics. M-Flo gave me confidence that I could use more English if I wanted to, it was an art form. At that time, there was an unspoken rule that mainstream songs in Japan couldn’t be in English. I lived with that most of my career up until then, but when I heard M-flo used almost 50% Japanese, 50% English in their songs, I was like, “Hey! So I can do that if I felt it sounded better or cooler!” M-flo gave me hope. They are such a brilliant team.
“BoA is my sister. I believe she is the pioneer of K-pop in Japan. It was her and Tohoshinki that came into the J-pop scene that really paved the way for the rest that followed. I loved what BoA was doing and the fact that the girl can dance. I was a fan. It turned out we shared the same choreographer, so one day she set up a dinner date for BoA and I to meet. It was so cute, like a first date, we were just two kids, becoming friends and finding familiarity in each other in this industry. I think it’s so special to have peers you can share this journey together with, because being an artist or a performer can be very lonely sometimes.
“I cherish all my friendships I have with fellow artists, especially females. We all have to be each other’s cheerleaders. I am so happy we are still very good friends and sisters who can collaborate and perform together. I had the privilege to join BoA on her 20th anniversary show last year in Tokyo. We performed Universe, of which Verbal and I were the features on. The three on stage again, it was like a family reunion. I respect the hell out of her and her legacy as an artist, a pioneer, and a performer. BoA will always be family to me.”
Finishing up, I wanted to know what Crystal had planned for the future.
“I plan to release an album and do an anniversary tour in Japan. I also really want to do a tour in the US. I’m going to make it happen, especially after my two recent shows in LA. There has been an outpour of comments wanting me to perform in multiple cities in the US, and even the UK. So many of those comments were from the East Coast, so I know where my next stop is.
“I have always seen myself as an international artist and want to perform for more people around the globe.”
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