[EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW] Spreading Her Positive, Timeless Music to the World

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Celebrating 25 years since her debut, Crystal Kay recently released her best-of album ALL TIME BEST 25th Anniversary. Now, she’s embarking on her North America tour—visiting seven cities including Atlanta, Washington D.C., New York, Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Dallas.
We caught up with her just before she hits the road.

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Turning Point: Facing Herself in New York

“I spent a year and a half in New York starting in 2013, wanting to pursue music in the U.S. I met many producers, wrote and recorded lots of songs, found inspiration in musicals, practiced dance, and trained my voice.”

“As a child, there weren’t many biracial people like me—Black and Korean—around, and I never saw anyone like me on TV. Living in Japan, I didn’t have the opportunity to question that much, even though I felt complex feelings about it. Japan has this ‘the nail that sticks out gets hammered down’ culture, so I often tried not to stand out.”

“When I had a chance in New York, I wasn’t able to assert myself. People took it the wrong way, saying, ‘Oh, she thinks she’ll make it here just because she’s a success in Japan?’ It was a huge shock.”
“While I was struggling with doubt, someone my age in New York said to me: ‘Crystal, you sing in both Japanese and English. You’ve had a 20-year career in Japan. Your music has reached so many people. That’s something to be proud of.’ That woke me up. It changed my mindset. My time in New York helped me face myself and better understand who I was.”

“Before returning to Japan, I decided to do my first live show in the U.S. I found the venue myself, planned everything, and promoted it on Instagram—it sold out immediately. I went back to basics and gave it my all, and the show was amazing. I even met American fans who told me, ‘We’ve been waiting over ten years!’ I was so surprised and also felt a bit of regret—‘I could’ve done this sooner.’ But it gave me confidence.
I broke through some personal barriers and returned to Japan knowing I needed to use my music to empower others.”

Message to Readers

“I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has listened to my music so far. I perform mixing both English and Japanese, but I always aim to create music that anyone, anywhere in the world, can feel uplifted by. Timeless and positive.” “I want my songs to keep reaching people no matter where they are. I’ll keep singing to lift people up, so I hope you’ll continue supporting me. Please listen to ALL TIME BEST 25th Anniversary—and come see me live!”

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