Spotlight: Crystal Kay

Crystal Kay may not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of mega successful J-Pop stars. But she should be the first name which comes to mind when you think of well produced Japanese music with a slice of Pop tinged R&B which puts many artist in the US to shame.

Crystal Kay's un-Japanese name and looks stem from her being born to a Korean mother and black father. A genetic make-up just like Amerie's. A a genetic make-up which not only renders both ladies equally stunning, but also seems to give them the talent to put out hot music which just gets ignored in favour of some lighter skinned chick with a blonder weave.

Crystal's music beginnings shares parallels to that of one of Japan's biggest selling artists: Hikaru Utada - although their careers could not have veered off any more differently. Crystal was born into music: her father a musician and her mother a singer - both of whom nurtured Crystal's musical talents at a very early age and secured her a record deal at the tender age of 12. (A similar career start to Hikaru Utada). Crystal debut shunned the soundscape which was being littered with generic pop and ventured into R&B territory with her debut single "Eternal memories". (Again, as was the case with Hikaru Utada's debut album). But this where the path diverge. Hikaru Utada went on to break records with her debut album and go down in music history due to shifting over 8 million units in Japan alone and being certified 32 times platinum. Crystal's debut wasn't so much as certified tofu.

Crystal is notably known for keeping her sound incredibly consistent. Her sound is so consistent in fact, that you could easily brand it as that Crystal sound: strongly defined by songs such as "Girl U love", "Konna ni chikaku de...", "One" and "Step by step". All of which despite being produced by entirely different producers, releasing over the course of 7 years and not featuring any songwriting or production from Crystal herself, are unmistakably Crystal Kay. Crystal began to depart from her signature style with her Flash and Spin the music releases, but this was not met with the warmest of receptions, and both of these albums could not have fallen out of the Oricon charts if somebody had pushed them.

Crystal is well known for her collaborations. Most famously those with M-Flo, whom she affectionately refers to as her "brothers". Over the past 10 years Crystal has collaborated with M-Flo numerous times - something which has always gone down well with fans, and has given her the rite of being as an honorary member of M-Flo.

Listen: Konna ni chikaku de...

© 2007 Epic records, Sony BMG music entertainment Japan

"Konna ni chikaku de..." acted as the closing theme song to the anime adaptation of Nodame cantabile. The song was one of Crystal's higher charting singles, which went onto to feature on Crystal's first ever album to debut at number 1 on the Oricon charts: All yours.

Despite enjoying a decade long career in Japan, Crystal hasn't managed to stack up the kind of achievements and mile stones that many of her peers have - something which continues to disgruntle fans. Crystal's albums do not push units. And in ten years she's had one album debut at number 1 on the Japanese Oricon album chart. Meanwhile the likes of Korean export BoA has had six in the space of seven years. Shit is clearly not right.

Sales figures are not indicative of an artists talent however (something which Crystal has in sheer excess). And if you take a chance on this woman, you'll instantly hear why I make fusses over her. Her sales figures may not always be on top form, but her music for the most part always is.

Crystal Kay covers Michael Jackson: Human nature | Happy
Album reviews: All yours | Color change! | Flash | Spin the music