Crystal Kay appeared at Anime Weekend Atlanta as a special guest this past weekend, where she greeted fans and performed at her first-ever anime convention. With a remarkable 25-year career in the pop music industry, Crystal began as a young artist in Japan at just 13 years old, debuting with a commercial jingle that turned into her first single Eternal Memories. Since then, she has released several standout albums, including her Oricon chart-topping hit All Yours.

In addition to her success as a solo artist, Crystal has collaborated with a diverse array of artists, such as m-flo, BoA, and Namie Amuro. Most recently, she released her latest single, That Girl. Taking time out of her busy convention schedule, Crystal sat down with me to discuss her journey as a singer, her transformative time in New York, and how the music industry has evolved over the past 25 years.

Crystal Kay: Iconic singer crafting universal hits with Japanese roots

LastLooks: So you’re celebrating 25 years of your career this year, which is crazy!

Crystal Kay: It is crazy!

LastLooks: I have so many questions of course, but first I want to start by going back to the beginning of your career. What was it that first made you fall in love with music, and specifically performing?

Crystal Kay: Well, I grew up in a very musical household. My mother sang before I was born, and my father—he was in the military—was also in a band playing the bass. So we would always be performing, or they would be performing, or we would be at someone’s show and I’d be backstage coloring. So I’ve always been exposed to that, but I think when I was about two, I vividly remember watching Michael and Janet Jackson’s music videos. They were so visually captivating—pioneers with those long, cinematic videos—and I thought, “I want to be like them when I grow up.” At family gatherings or barbecues, I am always singing and dancing in front of everyone and I enjoy seeing everyone enjoy that. So from a very young age, it really made me happy to see other people happy and have fun watching me perform. [Laughs]

LastLooks: That makes sense, especially since you started so young. It’s funny to think there were two paths this could’ve gone—you could’ve had a family band! But you were like, “No, Mom and Dad, I’m going solo.”

Crystal Kay: [Laughs] I don’t think a family band was ever in my head. I was just like, “I’m going to be like Michael and Janet.” I think I’ve always been a solo act.

LastLooks: It’s funny you say that, because I also feel you’re really generous of your time too. For instance, I know you love collaborating with other artists as you’ve had a lot of creative collaborations over the years. Just this year, you worked again with Taku Takahashi. What is it you feel you get out of collaborating with other artists?

Crystal Kay: I think you gain so many things. It’s basically like two worlds colliding—it’s like a good chemical reaction. There’s always something to pull from or gain or learn from watching other artists work or perform, and it’s like a lovely exchange of energy, information, and knowledge, and just good vibes overall. I think it’s always really nice to be able to grow and become a better performer or artist because of the other collaborators. Your world just kind of expands.

LastLooks: Speaking of growth, when you work with artists repeatedly, like m-flo, do you notice an evolution over time of both yourself and your collaborators skills? Like you come back to work together, and maybe you’re like, “Wow, they’ve leveled up”?

Crystal Kay: That’s an interesting question. I’m sure it’s not just because of the collaborations they do, because I think we’re all constantly growing. But I actually really felt that…I forgot when it was, but like when I get to see old fellow musicians or artists after a long time at the same event, and for one, it’s amazing that we’re still doing our thing, but also you notice that all of us have leveled up together and we’re on this next stage together. So I did feel a growth in that sense, like we’re all constantly growing. The view’s different—and not in a ‘I’m up here’ kind of sense. But in interviews, when people ask me, ‘How did the 25 years feel? Did it feel short or long?’ I think I was just like, ‘You know, I feel really grateful that I got to experience all of this, but more so, I get to see a different view. I’m at a different vantage point.’ And that kind of shows that when I see other artists, it’s a really nice feeling that we’re all growing together.

LastLooks: Are there younger artists you see now who you can see your self in?

Crystal Kay: There’s a lot of developing young groups—boy and girl groups—within my management in LDH. So just seeing them at the gym or at an event and seeing how young they are, I definitely see myself in them. Also, I see a lot of mixed-race artists now, even in the States. Joyce Rice—she’s half-American, half-Japanese—does very feel-good, nostalgic 90s, early 00s Y2K R&B. I definitely see myself in her too, and it’s really nice that she actually mentioned that she listens to me and she listened to me growing up. That’s a really nice sort of thing.

LastLooks: That’s truly amazing and a testament to your incredible career and musical legacy, which I know you’re continuing to grow and evolve.

Crystal Kay: Thank you!

LastLooks: You have spoken before about how your first single Eternal Memories is still your favorite. On the theme of memories, are there any specific memories or highlights you recall from recording that track?

Crystal Kay: Oh my gosh, I was so sleepy! I think I was 12, and that song was a commercial jingle at first, and because we got so many calls we turned it into a full single. I think I was in 7th? No, I was in 6th grade, and I would have to go to Tokyo and be in the studio and [do] take after take and I’m getting sleepy. I remember the client sitting right up in front looking so bored—an older man in a suit, like, “Are you done yet?” I’m like damn I’m 12. [Laughs] I still really remember that. I was half-asleep when I was recording the background vocals.

LastLooks: Was that the client when it was still just a jingle?

Crystal Kay: Yeah, I think it was the client of the brand. They always want to come in and check and see if they want to chime in.

LastLooks: Yeah brand management. I can understand. I imagine they had to be happy when it did so well to make it as a single?

Crystal Kay: I don’t think the [corporate representatives] were even thinking about that. The creative team though they were amazing, and they went on to produce my first album. Sonically everyone was on point. I really love that team.

LastLooks: Was there a point in your career that you felt like you’d “made it”, or perhaps more specifically was there a single or album that solidified that for you?

Crystal Kay: Interestingly, I don’t think I ever felt that way, because I was always just more focused on if I’m making good music or not. But what really made a difference was Koi ni Ochitara—when I was maybe 18? That was my biggest single. That sound was really different from when I first started out, ’cause I was more R&B and hip-hop oriented, and that song was very J-Pop. But because of that song, the masses knew who Crystal Kay was. From there, the fame kind of—people would notice me. So I guess it was that single.

LastLooks: You strike me as someone who likes to challenge yourself and strive for more. I know as part of your life you went to New York for a time, and that sounded like a soul searching venture.

Crystal Kay: It was! I’m so glad I did it though.

LastLooks: Yeah New York’s such a cool city. Was there something you felt you were looking for and perhaps that you eventually found while there?

Crystal Kay: I think originally the goal was to get a contract or a record deal, but you know, that’s been my dream—to do music abroad globally. But there’s no way you can make something happen just popping over [to America] for 3 months, 6 months, or a year, and I was by myself. So it was a struggle. As a result, there was no deal or record, but I think the most important thing I got from that trip is I got a better look at who I was. Being born and raised in Japan, it’s hard to kind of see myself from an outside perspective, so I learned that I was very Japanese culturally and personality-wise. All the things that were necessary in the U.S. and abroad—being self-pitching or being pretty ballsy—I didn’t have that. There were moments where it just kind of slapped me in my face, and I was so down about it. But that also made me appreciate just talking with my friends in the States.  That was 11 years ago, so I was hitting almost my 20-year mark, and they would say, ‘You have a near 20-year career. You’re singing in Japanese and English. You should be more proud of yourself.’ I had never thought of it like that, so that too helped me gain more confidence and clarity on my identity. I probably never would’ve been able to come to that if I had just stayed in Japan. Japan is such a bubble.

LastLooks: The music world has evolved, especially thanks to the internet and social media. I’ve been impressed by your TikToks in particular.

Crystal Kay: Thanks. [Laughter] I’m trying.

LastLooks: We’re around the same age so I get it. [Laughter] So how have you worked to evolve and adapt to this new digital landscape for music and musicians?

Crystal Kay: I think I definitely see the struggle of not only the artists but also labels and everyone trying to adapt and stay on top of all that’s changing and evolving, but I think that’s a constant challenge. Even as a child, music [to me] equaled the world, and it was hard for me to come to terms naively with ‘I’m singing. I’m now singing. So my songs are all over the world!’ But that wasn’t the case, and I was like, ‘I’m still not on the Billboard chart.’ But I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I’m a Japanese singer.’ So that’s why when I was creating [even then], I always had the world in mind, and now I’m like, the releases aren’t just for Japan. Thanks to streaming, it’s directed to the world. So personally, I don’t feel a struggle because I’ve always strived to make music for everyone to enjoy, but I think there’s still this weird wall of Japan being the only place with a market for physical media, while the whole world is all about streaming. So I’m like, let’s just focus more on streaming and being more outward. So I think it’s just a balance. Other than that, I’m pretty tech-savvy, and I use my phone a lot, but I do really think it’s important to have the younger generation that are really good at all of this. So just having someone on your team [of that generation], or bringing in someone that’s good at social media aspect of everything.

@crystalkayofficial 本日リリース🍒 “That Girl” out now🫰🏾 振り付けしてくれた@marina__tanaka と #thatgirldance #踊ってみた #tutuチャレンジ #つっつチャレンジ #クリスタルケイ #CrystalKay #ThatGirl #tutuchallenge ♬ original sound – クリスタル ケイ