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The last site update took place on: DISCLAIMER: I don't know KRYStAL, but I wish I did. I did get the chance to meet her the concerts I have attended. All I can say is WOW! All the fanfic is mine, unless otherwise stated. So KRYStAL, if you're reading this, please don't sue me! I hardly have anything other than this computer and mac & cheese! |
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:: Home :: BSB: 5 Star Salute :: KRYStAL World :: Musings of a Fanatic :: Lyrical Journey :: Becca's Stories :: Tales of a BK Employee :: **Web Site Articles** Untitled, From: GetMusic Source: GetMusic.com Albums/films/books that changed your life: Best make-out music: CDs in your stereo right now: If you weren't a musician you'd be... If you could spend a day with anyone past or present, who would it be? What is your most treasured belonging? Your vices: Favorite way to get away from it all: If someone gave you $100 that you had to spend right now, what would you buy? What songs make you think about school days? Personal motto: Who are your role models? Favorite memory on tour with BSB: Any new instruments youre trying to learn? Biggest lesson youve learned in the past six months: Sometimes we do things or things happen that we just dont quite understand. Dont worry, let it happen. Thats God!" -- Jonathan Mook" Morant I think Im still learnin'this lesson! * * * Source: Vteens.com Krystal Goes Country Imagine this: A rock band made of bears has disbanded, falling victim to deceit, jealousy, and too much honey. No, no one has spiked your drink, nor do you need to get your eyes checked. Dear reader, this is all within the makings of a plot for Disney's newest film, "The Country Bears," based on the Disney attraction "The Bear Jamboree," endearing to millions, fearful to some. Where does Krystal come in to play, you ask? Keep reading, and you shall be informed. Since we last left off with Krystal, she was on tour with the Backstreet Boys, spreading her "Supergirl" anthem to cities nationwide. Now she's made a national debut courtesy of the American Music Awards, and is ready to make her debut on the big screen. "I've been doing alot of acting and modeling recently," Krystal confides, "and something really great has a come of that. I've been asked to be apart of the film "The Country Bears," Ill actually be appearing as myself in a cameo role." Don't fret Krystal fans; she'll also be providing music for the soundtrack, which will be out in stores early this summer. Krystal's delve into the world of acting is nothing new to the singer, who's been going on auditions since early June, and admits acting can be unnerving. "My least favorite part of the whole acting process is when you're prepared for the audition, and you go in, and you sit down in a chair in this white room, and it's just NERVEWRACKING!" says Krystal, "My friend Elijah Wood, he hates the auditioning process too, he says it makes him nauseous, " Krystal exclaims with a laugh, "but honestly, I think it's good for everybody." In January, Krystal left an impression on millions, when she was officially introduced by Backstreet Boys Kevin Richardson and Nick Carter, belting out a gospel ditty to show the world and the artists in attendance what she was made of. Amen, sister. Krystal gives a first hand account of the moment: "Your first award show you can always feel some kind of nerves. Having Kevin and Nick there just totally knocked it out, it was like sitting in my living room, it was really, really cool." Summing it up, Krystal says, "One word to describe it would be 'church.' I take church everywhere with me." Speaking of spiritual, Krystal describes what it was like seeing her idol, Michael Jackson, in person at the AMAs: "I think I had an outer body experience! I thought, 'Man, I always wanted to see him in person, and I could be really cool right now, and make everyone proud of me, but then I thought 'No way!!!' I love him and there is no way I would just let myself not react," gushes Krystal, "The only thing I can honestly remember about that was him walking on stage, after that I can't remember a thing!" "While I was in high school, I actually was given a title: Most likely to be rich before Im 30," says Krystal, "Im not exactly there now, but I still have some time to prove them right, I think!" Looking at what lies ahead for Krystal, there seems to be a valid chance. Future projects aside, Krystal confides about what she hopes for most of all. "What I really hope is that people will recognize me as a nice person. I just try and think of what will make me better and what I can do to reach the people, and hopefully, someday they will really connect with me and my music." After thinking for a moment, she adds, "Fearlessness is something that I have and that Im destined for, and I hope its an encouragement to all girls out there. I just want to do my thing and be real, and I guess I have to wait and see where that takes me." * * * Source: PopMusicFan.com Krystal: The Super Girl Returns! What do you think defines a super girl? Do you have a favorite song off the album? What were you doing before you got signed? What something you can't leave home without? Who do you miss most when you're on the road? Have you had any crazy fan experiences yet? What do you like to do in your spare time? Did you have a vocal coach? If you were to be on Survivor with all the boy bands, who would you want to vote off first and who would you want to keep on the longest? Have you heard yourself being compared to other singers a lot lately? Have you had any embarrassing moments recently? Can you describe yourself in five words? Did you have any embarrasing teen obsessions or anything? Do you have any current crushes on celebs? Backstreet fans have been known to become a little jealous when females get close to their favorite guys... Mandy Moore once said that people came up to her and just flat out said, "I hate you," because she was rumored to be dating Nick Carter. Has anything like that ever happened to you? It's nothing to look forward to! Do you get to hang out with the boys a lot? I'm envious of your connection with AJ... What's the best and worst parts about being in the music business? Have you heard your song on the radio yet? * * * Source: CMCentral.com Krystal Harris Interview 06/05/02 Two days before I left for Gospel Music Week in Nashville, I received an email from a publicist stating that mainstream pop artist Krystal Harris would be attending GMA and very much wanted to share her faith with the Christian Media. Harris, of course, was the first signing to a new label, started by the Backstreet Boys, and was also featured as the opening act for the band's highly successful 2001 world tour. She also scored a major hit with "Supergirl," which became a staple on MTV's TRL and was the standout track on the Gold-selling soundtrack to Disney's hit motion picture, The Princess Diaries. The entire interview was taped for possible inclusion on the Bravo Channel's highest rated program, The It Factor. Harris will be spotlighted on the program in the fall, and by all accounts, she may very well be entertainment's next "it" girl. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Greg: First off, I'd like to hear a little about your background, and your testimony. Krystal: Alright, well, I was born into a family of ministers and singers and musicians and speakers (laughs), and what-not, and actually, even just, for example, on my mom's side of the family, her grandfather and [his family] founded the Church of God in the midwest and Michigan. So, I had a church background, and when I turned 2 years old, I went on the road with my family and started singing with them and started ministering with them. I started playing piano when I was 3. I started playing drums when I was 7, and just continued to learn instruments... in 6th grade started playing the flute. Around that 6th grade time is when I can remember really... you know... cuttin' the doo-doo and saying "Okayay. This is the time. It's time to leave all of the things behind and start to press on to that higher calling so I can reach people. Take the focus off myself, and go with God [Southern-preacher voice]." (Laughs.) That's cool. How did you end up working with the Backstreet Boys? Well, that was, again, of course, a God-thing. I met him [referring to manager/producer Jonathan "Mook" Morant], is how it happened, actually. I met Mook and he's my partner. He and I got together just through a guy in Indianapolis who happened to hear about me, I sang for them. And then, however many months later, ended up hooking he and I up for some reason and we sat down and we had a three hour conversation, mostly about Christ and just how our vision for people and what God wanted in us was the same. It blew me away and changed my life, in a Christ way too, ya know? So, it was awesome. He was really about to leave the music business at that point. Mook: Uh-huh. That's true. He was like, Okay, I'm going to go live on a mountain, praise God, and make music for Him and just grow hair all over my body and be a maniac, a mad-man. [Laughs and nods his head in agreement.] I'll show you my picture. Which sounds great, you know what I'm saying, but I remember him saying something to me when I sat with him. I remember him saying, "Uh, okay, I think I've been waiting on this. I think you're what I've been waiting for. So, let's do this thang." So, that's how it happened. He ended up calling Kevin [Richardson, of the Backstreet Boys], because he had been producing for lots of people. He called him up, and said "Hey, Kev" -- Kev was in Germany -- "Hey, Kev, whassup, we've been going around shopping Krystal to all these record companies and everybody's interested and all this, but, we wanna know what your deal is." So, we spewed it out to him. Kevin said, "Hey, listen, Mook, our management company and us, we've been wanting to start a record label. Let's do it! Let's do it with Krystal. We just want her to be herself, let her do her thing, let you do your thing." And that was that. So, your new CD, is it finished or are you still working on it? Umm... it's... in the works. We're at kinda the last song. I just got done doing a song with Mary Mary actually. Awesome. Yeah. We'll be doing a few more with them. So, we're finishing it up. Will this one be more Urban-leaning?
Oh yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yes! You got Mary Mary on there... Oh yeah! Absolutely.
More her. I was about to say... it's gonna be really more me.
That's cool.
[That's] the one that we're doing regardless of the record company. We're just gonna do what God says to do and there you go. Yes. Right. Exactly.
I remember seeing you on an awards show with the Backstreet Boys.
Yeah, the American Music Awards.
That was incredible. You just kinda busted out some acappella there.
(Everyone laughs.)
Yeah!
Stay tuned for the Doves! But we're not saying anything! (Mook and Krystal both laugh.)
Oh yeah, you're a presenter for the Doves.
Yeah!
But you can't say anything yet, huh?
Oh, we're gonna read the script exactly like they give it to us. [Winks.] Oh yeah. Absolutely. (Laughs.)
You were at Worship on Sunday night, right? I saw you up in the choir.
Yes I was!
Wasn't that incredible?
Let me tell you what. I have to say, first of all, that we are thankful for Michael W. Smith. We're thankful for what he's done... paved the way for us. And we're thankful for him as a person. He's, like, filled with Jesus and he just really wants to love on people and help artists to become closer to Him. And that's doing what we're supposed to be doing. Ya know?
Yeah.
It was awesome. And the worship was just incredible. He was on his face in the front row [referring to Mook.] I was, you know, slobbering all over. (Laughs.)
My pants are all skinned up. (Everyone laughs.)
We wake up the next morning, our eyes are all puffy.
I'm serious. But, it was real and it was right. This week has turned our lives around and it ain't even over yet!
That's awesome. Do you see yourself more in the vein of like, Amy Grant, P.O.D., Lifehouse... Christians who are in the mainstream culture and not necessarily making "Christian" music? Or, do you want to become more ministry-oriented as your career progresses?
All of that. I mean... alright, here's what our vision is... taking what's here [Gospel Music Week], taking the Gospel to the people, like Amy Grant. I talked to Amy last night, and she was like... she was... whew... I mean, I never thought.
Amy Grant, what a precious soul. She was sweet. And, again, she's paved the way for people like us to do what we do. But, I wanna, you know, take the Gospel to the people and take what's out there [and bring it here.]
How about that?! We got to break all the labels. We don't want labels on music. We are people in Christ and what we do...
Like the guy we worship, Jesus Christ. Right.
Like what he does. He said be like Him. So, we'll do that instead. How about that? Yep.
Cool. That's awesome. I'm really enjoying this conversation!
(Everyone laughs.)
Jesus is real. Where would you like to see yourself in 10-20 years? Ministry-wise, career-wise, or both.
Still building the Kingdom in whatever way possible, you know. I might be... who knows... I might still be making music. I'd like to be helping other people do their thing. Really. Because that's what it is all about. You know... continuing the rock that rolls down the hill and just gets bigger and bigger as it goes. I don't know what God has in store. I'm unknown to tomorrow. Only He knows. So, we'll see what happens.
Good answer.
(Everyone laughs.)
A more light-hearted question: What music is in your CD player right now? Who are you listening to?
Kirk Franklin!
(Echoes Krystal:) KIRK FRANKLIN! (They both laugh.)
We love him.
That's a good CD.
His new one is just...
Wow! Nothing but tears, as soon as you turn it on. Seriously! That's right. Um, Fred Hammond, Carlton Pearson, Shirley Caesar, Mary J. Blige...
Mary Mary! ...Faith Evans, Mary Mary...
Cool. So what's next for you?
Well, other than just the music stuff, which is coming. There's also some tv and film things that are happening. I just got one done... you remember the movie Save the Last Dance, right?
Yes.
Well, Fox is doing a one-hour drama series called Save the Last Dance, after the movie. And I am "Diggy" in the cast of Save the Last Dance. I'll be starting to film that in July and it'll start running on Fox in October or November.
Wow. That's exciting.
That's just awesome, isn't it? And, man, the cast members that are like Christ-filled. Which was just like... whoa! We are everywhere! Don't even think we aren't.
Don't trip! We are everywhere. That's right.
We're not just in the four walls with the triangle on the top. (Krystal laughs.)
We're everywhere. We're in the pit. That's right! And I just got done doing a movie with Disney, called Country Bears. It's like a big Jim Henson/Disney production and it's set in a world where, actually, bears and humans live together (laughs) and there's a famous band called Country Bears, a rock & roll band, like, famous. They created this whole world. But, it's cool. Elton John's in the movie, Queen Latifah, Wyclef Jean, and I actually play myself in the movie. But, I also perform in the movie.
Is that a cartoon, or live-action?
Oh no. It's like animatronics. Like these bears are talking. I used to get mistaken while we were filming it and keep talking to them... and I'm going, "Oops. You're a guy in a suit and there's somebody else operating your face."
(Laughs.)
You know, you just don't remember that because they look so real. But it was a blessing to work on that project. It's gonna be a great summer... it comes out this summer, in July. It's a family movie. The soundtrack will be out in June and the song that I perform in the movie is the theme song. And if you're watching previews, you'll start seeing it. People have already started to see the previews.
Will that be a single?
Not from my album, but it is the lead single from the film. What's the name of that?
The name of the single is "Kid In You."
What's your favorite Scripture verse... or maybe a verse that you could say is your "motto?"
There's so many different ones. It's so hard, and I stink at remembering. I always remember the saying but I never remember the [verse number]. I need some minister out there to come and help me and give me a technique of how to remember the book and chapter. 'Cause I never can. Um, but I would say that there are two that are my favorites, that I quote to myself a lot. One of them is I Peter 5, 6, 7, and on through the rest of the chapter. Which is, you know, "humble yourselves therefore in the mighty hand of God," which even when I say that, I feel convicted already.
Because that's something we have to strive for every day. You know? "And He may exalt you in due time... casting all your care on Him, for He cares for you." And then it gets better, so keep reading! And, then, there's another one, 'There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus and are called according to His purposes." You know... everybody... it just seems like there's always condemnation. In your brain, even to yourself, like self-condemnation. I know I deal with that, cause I'm a perfectionist. And it's just like, you have to stop, and go, "I see myself as Christ sees me."
Right.
And you have to commit so much to Him. I think, almost, those two verses go together. Casting your cares... no condemnation... humble yourself. Aaaghh! You know. But with Christ it's possible.
Well, that's all my questions.
Wait! I have to sing, of course.
(Krystal sings an incredible acapella hymn for use on my radio show.)
Source: ClickOnDetroit.com 'Princess Diaries' Singer Moves From Music To Movies Most young adults only begin to think about what they might want to do with their lives after high school. But for 20-year-old hip-hop singer Krystal Harris, her future is already, for the lack of a better word, "Krystal" clear.
Known to the music industry by her first name only, Krystal was discovered by Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson through her manager four years ago, and she's been on a whirlwind ride ever since.
In addition to making Krystal the opening act on their Black & Blue world tour in 2001, the Backstreet Boys honored the singer by making her the first artist signed to their new record label, KBNHA records. Backed by the star power, the singer and multi-instrumentalist's debut album "Me & My Piano" sold 200,000 units, an astonishing amount considering the album had virtually no radio airplay.
"To me, it's just a blessing to think somebody with that kind of industry credibility would just reach out and say 'I believe and want to support you and what you are,'" Krystal told me during a recent interview. "As artists, they understand where I'm coming from."
And the Boys, as Krystal affectionately refers to the group, aren't the only ones who have spotted the talents of the up-and-coming performer. Walt Disney Pictures brought her on board to sing "SuperGirl," which would become the theme song for "The Princess Diaries."
But there was more to come. The movie became a smash hit and the soundtrack went gold, and her music video for "SuperGirl" is featured on the "Diaries" DVD, where she appears in it with the film's star, Anne Hathaway.
Obviously impressed with what Krystal had to offer, Disney's diary on Krystal remained wide open. And just over one year to the day after the soundtrack from "Diaries" was released, the performer will make her film debut in the family comedy "The Country Bears" on July 26.
"It was awesome to think another huge opportunity would come from 'The Princess Diaries,' since it was already such of a blessing," Krystal said.
Based on the company's popular theme park attraction, "The Country Bear Jamboree," the movie finds us in a world where humans and talking bears co-exist. Not only do they talk, eat, and dress like us, they also know how to rock and roll.
"The Country Bears," in question, are actually members of a once-famous band, who may find their glory once again if they can put their differences aside and reunite. The movie features real-life rock and roll legends like Elton John, Don Henley and Bonnie Raitt.
Playing herself, Miss Krystal (as she's known in the movie) has a scene that takes place on the set of one of her video shoots. "Some interesting things happen and I end up meeting some legendary folk, and as a result I end up inviting them to jam with me," Krystal said. "I can't tell you everything, but I do perform in the movie."
And as in "The Princess Diaries," Krystal's song, "The Kid in You," will be the theme of the movie. It's really another dream come true for her, considering she was a fan of Disney movies growing up. Her personal favorite, by the way, is "Alice in Wonderland."
"Disney was a big deal to me as a kid," said Krystal, who grew up in Indiana. "They always bring light and smiles to people. That's always important."
"The Country Bears," she said, is no different. Like its live action and animated predecessors, this Disney movie has a message.
"The whole motto of the movie is that you're never too old or young to foresee your opportunities and to fulfill your dreams," Krystal explained. "Don't think that you're played out because you already did something, because there's always hope and there's always a place."
And while Disney movies can inform as well as entertain, Krystal hopes that her music does the same for people. Yes, it makes you move, but while people are grooving, she wants them to listen to what the song has to say, too.
"One of the things I hope when people hear my music is that they hear what I'm saying," said Krystal, who began singing when she was only 18 months old. "If I've gone through something and I'm explaining it in song, you always know that you're not alone because somebody else has experienced that and they can relate to it. Music is a really dope way for them to cope like you had to cope. It's very cool."
And while the written word can be powerful in its own way, Krystal well knows that it's the way she interprets lyrics through song is how she will ultimately touch people's souls.
She hopes that's the case with her new album this summer, "Miss Krystal Presents Hip-Hop Soul, Vol. 1," in which she infuses into her sound the soul and gospel music that influenced her as a child.
"Music is very spirited," Krystal explained. "Music is a gift from God and he created it to really minister to our hearts and help us through life. That's why it's a blessing to be a part of this industry and do it for a living. Who would have thought?"
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