Kat Harlton
Photos: Provided via artist/PR Team
JUNO Award-winning powerhouse Crystal Shawanda recently released her new single “Would You Know Love” on January 10th via New Sun Records on all streaming platforms.
Produced by Crystal’s husband and long-time collaborator Dewayne Strobel, the song is a heartfelt ballad that beautifully explores the depths of love. The track features Crystal’s unmatched raspy vocals and strikes a perfect balance between old and new, blending the raw emotion of the blues with the storytelling soul of country.
Crystal was the first Indigenous woman to win a Canadian Country Music Award for Female Artist of the Year (2009) and the first to win a JUNO Award for Blues Album of the Year (2020).
She became the first full blood Indigenous woman to appear in the Top 20 on the American Billboard Country chart, sell over 300k records and to sing at the Grand Ole Opry.
Her album Midnight Blues debuted at #8 on the American Billboard Blues chart in 2022, making her the first Indigenous woman to appear in the Top 10.
Her debut single “You Can Let Go” (2008), was the fastest climbing single on the Canadian Country Singles Chart since Carolyn Dawn Johnson’s “Georgia” (2000) and reached the Top 10 in only five weeks.
Born and raised in Wikwemikong First Nation on Manitoulin Island in Northern Ontario, Crystal discovered her love for blues music through her brother and old-time country from her parents. Her professional music career began in country music, signing with RCA Nashville in her early 20s. Her debut, Dawn of a New Day (2008), topped Canadian country charts and set a record for a Canadian Indigenous country artist. After leaving the label, she launched New Sun Records, and made the change to the blues with 2014’s The Whole World’s Got The Blues.
I had the opportunity to chat with Crystal about her new single, her musical journey so far, and what’s next.
Kat: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your musical journey so far?
Crystal: Music saved my life, to put it lightly. I am an Indigenous woman, and grew up on the Wiikwemkoong Unceded First Nation, on Manitoulin Island, in the thick of inter generational trauma, and music was what healed me. I jumped on stage when I was 6, started getting paid to do it when I was 10, and recorded my first album in Nashville when I was 13. I started my career in country music and moved to Nashville when I was 16 and went back and forth a few times, before I made the move permanent. I signed my first publishing deal when I was 23, and signed my first major record deal with RCA records shortly after, my first release became the first #1 single on American and Canadian country music radio, by an Indigenous person. My album debuted at #16 on the American Billboard country music sales chart, and became the first Indigenous woman to win a CCMA Female artist of the year, and the first to perform on the Grand Ole Opry. I parted ways with RCA and after seeing and experiencing first hand the lack of representation of Indigenous people in the music business on the stage and within the industry, I started my own record company “New Sun Music”, in 2010. Which is the first record label owned by a full blooded Indigenous woman. Shortly after I switched to Blues music, and while keeping my company active, I began working with True North Records, as I had so much to learn venturing into a whole new genre. I became the first Indigenous person to win a Juno award for “Blues album of the year” and my most recent blues album “Midnight blues “ debuted at #8 on the American Billboard Blues sales chart, the first by an Indigenous artist. There is a pattern in my journey with a lot of firsts, and it wasn’t a coincidence. Representation has always been so important to me, because I grew up not seeing anyone like me on the TV and radio, and I absolutely noticed it, and it hurt. I wanted to be a part of changing that, to open doors, for generations to come. So with all the new knowledge I’ve collected, I will be releasing my new album “Sing pretty blues” back on my own label this year.
Kat: What was the inspiration behind your new single, “Would You Know Love”?
Crystal: My new single “Would You Know Love” was written by Sonny Tackett, and it sounds somewhere in between, where old meets new, and the blues meets country. It’s honest, vulnerable and soulful. When I sing it I get emotional thinking about who wouldn’t be in my life, if I had let love slip on by. I think sometimes people walk away from love too easily when it gets tough, but that’s what makes it love. It endures.
Kat: What was the creative process like for this single? Any unique challenges or memorable moments you can share with us?
Crystal: I recorded the vocals for the single and then went on the road for the summer. When I came back to it, I wasn’t happy with it. Technically it was perfect, but almost too sterile, it lacked true emotion. The day I was to re-sing it, I was warming up my vocals, and was just about to head up to our home studio to lay it down, when we received the call that my long-time (14 years) manager/agent Rob Pattee passed away, after a long battle with cancer. I was devastated and cried in my husband’s arms. While comforting me my husband who is also my producer, said we can do the vocals another day and I agreed. But after a few minutes I said no, I’ll be right up, let’s do the vocals now. I walked up to the mic and thought about how when Rob came into my life I had major trust issues. After being screwed in the music business by managers, agents, and even experiencing my own “me too moment”, I had my walls up high. However he was patient, and believed in me in such a big way, even when others didn’t, and he always led with his heart. He was a true friend, and watched out for my little family. So while I was singing I thought about how I would’ve missed out on knowing a truly good person, if I let love slip on by, because there are all kinds of love. He wasn’t just my manager/agent, he was someone to dream with, as he mentored my husband and I through it all. So I think all these emotions came out in the final vocal, and it makes it more special, raw and real.
Kat: What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away from your music?
Crystal: I hope listeners feel like they have a friend through my music, a shoulder to lean on. And that if I can make it through everything I’m singing about and I’m okay, then they can make it through and they’re gonna be okay too.
Kat: As an artist with incredible accomplishments, what has been the most rewarding moment of your career so far?
Crystal: My greatest accomplishment in my career was having my 7 year old daughter join us on stage this year, singing backgrounds, playing percussion, and even joining me for a duet. To have her there with my husband/guitarist and I, performing not as a novelty, but officially part of the show, was such an incredible experience. To watch little kids get inspired by seeing her on stage, and to have her own little fans, passing on the love of music that she has grown up with, is the best feeling ever.
Kat: What else can fans expect from you this year, both in terms of new music and live performances?
Crystal: This year fans can expect a full celebration of my whole music journey. After switching from country to blues, and then trying to hold on to my country fans, and then trying to prove how blues I am, I am done with trying to fit in a box. This year I will be unapologetically me, a country blues artist, a product of my environment and the amazing music I grew up listening to. With a new live show, featuring music from my new album, and selections from both my country and blues career. With my daughter by my side and my husband on guitar, we hope to inspire other families to chase their dreams together.
Connect With Crystal
Instagram: @crystalshawanda
Facebook: @crystalshawandaofficial
X/Twitter: @crystalshawanda
Website: www.crystalshawanda.co