Local Nuxalkmc performer/hip hop artist Crystal J has been nominated for an Aboriginal People’s Choice award for ‘Best Pop CD.’
Crystal J found her love for music at a young age. Her parents being Church Minsters, she has always been surrounded by musicians. Crystal had taken the stage with her father by her side at the age of five.
She never had a fear for being in the lime light. While in high school, she had joined various groups from school choirs to acting and team spirit dance groups. She continued to be inspired at her family’s church and found her voice by singing the Gospel. While keeping balance at church, she also grew up with love and respect for first nations culture. She joined a drum group and sang and danced pow wow.
At the age of 15, she moved to Vancouver with her biological mother where she had met other First Nations performers and had decided that Singing was her dreams. Her biological mom had introduced her to new but yet familiar music by artists like Lauren Hill and Alicia Keys.
These phenomenal singers had become Crystal J's biggest inspiration to her style of singing. She recorded with various artists in the Vancouver area from being featured on albums to recording her own mix tape material. While moving ahead with her music she had then joined the woman's hip hop based group the First Ladies Crew, which was founded by Jb the First Lady and the group continues to be a strong threshold and representation for Native Woman in performance.
Crystal J has just released her Debut album titled “Love” The entire album has eight full tracks of soulful music and ranges from upbeat dance song to soft and romantic and is enjoyable for all ages.
The Aboriginal People’s Choice Awards are set to take place August 17 and 18 and include recent Bella Coola Music Festival performers Derek Miller and George Leach.