Crystal Sunshine

Editor's Review by Jay
Strong songcraft! For fans of Tori Amos, Crystal Sunshine delivers on her influences. The song
Haunting is exactly that: Haunting. The constant, straight drumline drives you to bob your head, while
hearing Crystal's beautiful voice rise above the almost angrily played piano. And the lyrics speak of
pain, and heartache. Excellent! This is a must listen for any music fan.

- Jay

The album is melodically cool, sexy and very expressive.
The songs have nice melodies, with well written lyrics.
There is pain and sadness in her voice but it's not negative. - Gene McFatter

DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU FELT LIKE THE FIRST TIME YOU HEARD CRYSTAL SUNSHINE? I DO.I STILL HAVEN'T RECOVERED.IT WAS LIKE GETTING HIT BY A REALLY SEXY BOLT OF LIGHTNING.I RAN ACROSS HER PAGE ON HERE AND WAS GREETED WITH THE ABSOLUTELY MESMERIZING SOUNDS OF HER SONG "THE HAUNTING." I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I WAS HEARING.MAN, I WILL SIT HERE ,SOMETIMES FOR HOURS, AND CRUISE MUSIC PAGES HOPING TO FIND SOMETHING EVEN REMOTELY INTERESTING AND ORIGINAL.BOY, DID I GET WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR AND MORE.

ANYONE WHO REALLY KNOWS ME KNOWS THAT I AM THE MUSIC GUY.YOU KNOW THAT ONE GUY IN THE GROUP WHO IS ALWAYS CARRYING AROUND NEW SHIT THAT YOU HAVEN'T HEARD YET.THE GUY WHO IS ALWAYS TRYING TO GET YOU TO CHECK OUT THIS AMAZING NEW BAND.OF COURSE, MANY YEARS AND TOO MANY UNINSPIRING BANDS LATER I HAVE BEEN LEFT QUITE JADED TOWARD THE MUSIC SCENE.IT TAKES A WHOLE HELL OF A LOT TO IMPRESS ME AND THAT DAY "HAUNTS" ME STILL.SO, ALMOST A YEAR LATER HERE I AM LISTENING TO CRYSTAL'S VERY FIRST CD.

FIRST OFF, I MUST POINT OUT THAT THE ACTUAL CD IS NOT OFFICIALLY RELEASED IN STORES UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1ST.BUT, YOU CAN GO TO CRYSTAL'S PAGE AND BUY ALL THE TRACKS FROM ONE OF THOSE SNO-CAP JUKEBOX THINGIES IF YOU OPEN UP A ACCOUNT.SINCE I AM SUCH A MUSIC FAN I WILL STILL BUY THE CD ON SEPTEMBER 1ST BUT I WANTED TO HEAR WHAT I HAVE BEEN DYING TO HEAR ALL THIS TIME.THE COMPLETE UN-CUT SOUNDS OF SUNSHINE.

WHEN I REVIEW A CD I USUALLY HAVE TO LISTEN TO IT FOR ABOUT A WEEK OR SO TO REALLY FEEL WHAT I AM TRYING TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND AND START CHOOSING MY WORDS TO SHARE THAT EXPERIENCE WITH THE READER OVER A PERIOD OF DAYS.THE FACT THAT I STARTED WRITING THIS REVIEW ABOUT MID-WAY THROUGH MY SECOND LISTEN SAYS MANY THINGS.

CRYSTAL SUNSHINE HAS CREATED A MUSICAL MASTERPEACE FOR ALL TIME.YOU WILL NEVER HEAR ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN YOUR LIFE.HER GLOOMY AND SEXY MIX OF GOTHIC POP MIXED WITH A TINGE OF JAZZ IS UN-LIKE ANYTHING MY EARS HAVE EVER RAN ACROSS.LAYERS UPON LAYERS OF KEYBOARDS AND VOCALS AWASH YOUR EARS AND YOUR SENSES IN A GLORIOUS BATH OF SENSUOUS RHYTHMS AND EERIELY EVOKED MELODIES THAT PRACTICALLY FLOW OUT YOUR SPEAKERS AND CARESS YOUR VERY SOUL.

SOME OF THE SONGS WILL ALREADY BE FAMILIAR TO HER FANS."OH SEYMOUR", "SO SORRY" AND "THE HAUNTING" SOUND VERY MUCH LIKE THE VERSIONS THAT HAVE BEEN FLOATING AROUND FOR A WHILE.SURELY THEY HAVE BEEN TWEAKED A BIT BUT THESE SONGS WERE ALREADY AS NEAR TO MUSICAL PERFECTION AS IT CAN GET."ROAD KILL" AND "SWEET GOODBYE" ARE TOTALLY REWORKED FROM EARLIER DEMO VERSIONS.BOTH OF THESE SONGS SOUND MORE AMAZING THAN EVER.CRYSTAL DID ALL HER BACKGROUND VOCALS AND SHE REALLY PUSHED THE LIMITS AND SOUNDS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.HER VOCAL TALENTS ARE ESPECIALLY KIND TO ONE'S EARS WHILE LISTENING WITH HEADPHONES.IN FACT, WHAT SHE HAS MANAGED TO ULTIMATELY DO IS BRING BACK A LONG MISSED RELIC OF THE EARLY MUSIC DAYS.THE HEADPHONE ALBUM.I MEAN, I COULD CERTAINLY ENJOY THIS CD ANYTIME,ANY PLACE,ANY WHERE ....LISTENED TO UPON ANY MEDIUM.BUT, IF ONE TAKES THIS MUSICAL JOURNEY WHILE LISTENING TO IT WITH HEADPHONES CRYSTAL HAS CREATED AN ABSOLUTE GEM OF AURAL ECSTACY THAT WILL MAKE YOUR EARDRUMS FLUTTER AND YOUR SENSES TINGLE.

OF THE OLD SONGS THE ONE THAT REALLY GETS THE SPECIAL TREATEMENT IS THE TITLE TRACK"NEPHILIM BLOOD." I HAVE LONG CONFESSED TO CRYSTAL THIS IS SURELY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND CAPTIVATING PIECE OF MUSIC I HAVE EVER HEARD IN ALL OF MY EXISTANCE.THIS SONG REALLY GETS RE-DONE AND ALL THE VOCALS ARE BEYOND ANYTHING EVER COMMITTED TO TAPE.ABSOLUTE PERFECTION.

THERE IS NOT A DULL MOMENT TO BE FOUND ANYWHERE ON THIS ENTIRE DISC AS ITS 40 MINUTE DURATION LITERALLY RACES BY YOU IN NO TIME AND BEGS TO BE STARTED ALL OVER AND PLAYED AGAIN AND AGAIN.THE ALBUM CLOSER IS PARTICULARLY WONDERFUL."SCENT OF A MAN" IS A ROLLICKING AND JAZZY NUMBER THAT COULD ONLY BE DELIVERED THE WAY CRYSTAL SUNSHINE DELIVERS EVERYTHING ELSE.SHE BELTS OUT EVERY SONG AS IF IT WILL BE HER LAST AND HER VOCAL DELIVERY AND ABILITIES CAN BE BEAUTIFULLY CALMING YET AT THE SAME TIME HAVE THE FEROCITY OF A LION TEARING INTO YOUR ASS CAVITY.

THERE IS NOBODY ELSE IN THIS WORLD OR ON THIS MUSIC SCENE QUITE LIKE CRYSTAL SUNSHINE.SHE TAKES THE WHOLE PIANO PLAYING CHICK THING TO ANOTHER LEVEL.SHE SINGS MORE BEAUTIFULLY THAN A CHOIR OF ANGELS.SHE IS A TRULY GIFTED AND GENIUS SONG WRITER.THIS CD IS JUST THE FIRST CHAPTER IN WHAT I HOPE TO BE A LONG AND CAPTIVATING MUSICAL JOURNEY FROM A VERY SPECIAL LADY.CRYSTAL FUCKING SUNSHINE.THIS IS HER WORLD.WE JUST LIVE IN IT.
- "Mike Meroney"

Crystal Sunshine's new single release "Oh Seymour" is currently
racking up the spins,all in the first quarter of 2008.
If this trend continues she will soon be the owner of a number one hit song. - Gene McFatter

I woke to an early morning post on my Facebook page. The subject included two people who have appeared on the cover of ArtChix Magazine numerous times and it caught my attention.

Vocal artist Crystal Sunshine, who was named ArtChix Magazine’s ‘Artist of the Year’ in 2009, has been an avid fan and supporter of Los Angeles artist Will Griffith, Despite revelations of his past, she has been a steadfast and unwavering supporter of Griffith.

Will Griffith, for whatever he was or did, is an inspiring force among artists today. When he founded The Griffith Center, he did so with a mandate to help other artists and to provide them with attention they would otherwise not get. Even so, he also inspires others, like sexy songtress Crystal Sunshine to create. Her Facebook post this morning is a testament about how Griffith’s story inspires.

Her post read:


“I’m not sorry for who you are” (lyrics inspired by my friend Will Griffith)

Today at 4:50am

“So I often channel songs and have to write them down after I have sung them,thank goodness I always have a tape recorder around.
Anyways I was thinking of my friend Will and all the stuff that has come up in his life.

Lets just say,everyone makes mistakes, everyone is flawed and damaged in some way.
Mistakes and pain is what makes us better people.
The lyrics speak for themselves:-)”

Here is the lyrics and the song will be on my new album!



“I’m not sorry for who you are”

always saying we’re sorry for something
always saying sorry for who we are
well maybe if we could just forgive ourselves this time around
and we can’t fall down

and she’s spinning around
waiting for someone to make it worth her while
and she starts to smile
as the sun is shining down

all we are just waiting for someone
to except us for who we are
Sometimes I think we know each other better then we know ourselves

And we’re always saying sorry ,sorry for something
but I’m not sorry for who you are

and she’s spinning around
waiting for someone to make it worth her while
and she starts to smile
as the sun is going down

if you see me sitting on your door step just let me in
and I can tell you, I think god is really on our side

and I’m spinning around just spinning around

I think my brain fell out.

But that’s o.k. because I can still think with my heart
but that’s o.k. because I think with my heart


While there are those who find Griffith controversial, his erotic art providing plenty of shock to the social and political framework, he remains unabashed and rock solid in where his life is today. Crystal Sunshine has captured that in these new lyrics and is clearly sending a message that celebrates the inspiration of one artist to another, finding its way to music and song.

It just goes to show you that with “Will Power”, Griffith has certainly overcome his demons and inspires others to do the same. Crystal Sunshine intends to immortalize that in her next album.

- Samireh Samadi

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!
- Samireh Samadi

CRYSTAL SUNSHINE
Nephilim Blood

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 - Samireh Samadi

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 - Samireh Samadi