Crystal Clayton

Crystal Clayton: 3:AM EP Review
Posted by MR C on MARCH 18, 2019
Coming all the way from Kansas City you have the extremely talented Crystal Clayton, now residing in Los Angeles she is back with yet another impeccable slice of perfection. 3:AM dropped on 15th March 2019 and it’s in fact her 3rd EP of exquisite material. Clayton emerged onto the scene in 2016 with the self titled, a year later this independent songstress followed it up with sensational sophomore Too Human. Also Crystal is responsible for sublime songs such as Mind Games, Blinding Lights, Too Human, Remedy, Something About The Way and Be Da One.

Produced by Bam Keith of The Grammy Museum, the sensational 3:AM EP is an infectious concoction of R&B meets pop. Now I have listened to this exhilarating EP multiple times and I have to say I’m extremely impressed with the end product. It’s been perfectly produced and Clayton’s songwriting skills are out of this world. If I was compare her sound to any other artist it would have to be Rihanna hands down.

3:AM kicked off with Mine and this being a majestic number which packed a fierce punch. That melody was upbeat, Crystal’s vocals were super sassy whist those lyrics were super sweet. I found these sensual words to be relatable as they paint the picture of unrequited love and Clayton is doing everything she can to have her feelings reciprocated “Baby love me cause you’re fine so fine/ All I can do is make you Mine/ All Mine, all Mine”. Meshed to the ending it was then onto the lead single and this being Is It Me?. I found this gem to be a refreshing anthem aided by thumping synth beats and luscious lyrics which hit me head on. Here is what Crystal had to say regarding this tune “It’s a moment you never want to leave. Having everything going well in your life, all these new achievements happening, and you have someone there who is sharing it with you. You both are on the same wavelength and sharing the adventure together”. This refreshing slice of sheer bliss could quite easily be the conclusion to Mine. Here Crystal has got the guy and they are in the stage of getting to know one another better, they then find out their personalities are similar “Is it you/ Is It Me?/ Or are we vibing on the same kind of energy”. Track 3 was Falter and this featured producer Bam Keith. Anyways the fantastic Falter was an ear pleasing cut aided by Clayton’s enchanting/ upbeat tones and hypnotic which lyrics resulted in one slick jam. Title track 3 AM was a real game changer, I found it to be a soft/ mesmeric tune which left me utterly spellbound. You had those pulsating beats whilst Crystal’s tantalising tones were sumptuously sweet. Smothered in plenty of R&B goodness this magical number hit me like a full on force. The perfectly penned content pointed to the end of the relationship “You and me baby/ We ain’t ever gonna to last”. Things were wrapped up with Pieces and this being a beautiful piano ballad which radiated soulful vibes. Just listening to this charming stripped back song put me in an utter daze, it was Clayton’s crisp vocal tones which were at the forefront. This pristine track sent shivers up my spine. I actually found this intriguing tune to be rather heartbreaking as you begin to realise Crystal really loved this guy and how she is holding the pieces together “Inside I’m breaking down/ For what seems like the 4th time this week/ What do I do/ Where do I go/ Scream voices loud, I cant think”.

All in all 3:AM was an impeccable collection which has me craving the future of Crystal Clayton. Her songwriting skills were sublime and her whimsical vocal tones were out of this world. The one thing I especially liked, was the fact that 3:AM told a story of a relationship from the start to the very end. Now I adored each track featured but the one which had the slight edge was Pieces.. - MR C

Los Angeles-based alt-pop singer-songwriter Crystal Clayton unveiled her third EP “3:am” on March 15, 2019. It is her first EP in two years.
Produced by American rapper Bam Keith, who also performed on the third track "Falter". She told Vents Magazine. “I wrote some of the songs on 3:AM at home and brought them into the studio to work on with Bam Keith. One of the songs we wrote together in studio and worked the music around.”
The EP comprises of 5-track and features R&B, pop and hip-hop music. Also it reminds us of Rihanna.
“3:AM is the name of one of the songs on the project,” she said where the EP title comes from. “It made sense because often, when I can’t sleep late at night, I will just start writing and coming up with ideas. I have a lot of song ideas while I’m asleep, and there have been times I’ve woken up from being fast asleep with the chorus of a song in my head! I grab my phone and have to record it real quick before I forget it.” - PM Studio

“Crystal Clayton (Kansas City, MO) Kansas City native Crystal Clayton released her first EP a little less than a year ago, and has another release planned for summer 2017. If it’s anything like her single, “Blinding Lights”, she has some enormous potential to make this year her breakout. Rooted in a big, layered mainstream pop beat, there are minimal effects and touch-ups on her voice, unlike some of what you hear on the radio today. Clayton is a natural talent, with the components to make a name for herself in the coming months. Get your introduction with “Blinding Lights”:”

Allen Halas - Breaking And Entering - Breaking and Entering

"She has the voice. She has the moves. She has the look. Her name is Crystal Clayton and she is the future of pop music."

"Crystal Clayton is phenomenal! She has 'once in a generation' talent. After just one listen you'll realize that you are hearing the future of pop music."

"The Future of pop music has arrived!"


-- Shawn Edwards, FOX-TV - FOX-TV (Shawn Edwards)

"Crystal has such a unique voice and a polished sound. Her songs will stick with you after just one listen. Take note... this girl is going places!"


-- Bryan Truta, KC102.1 - KC 102.1 (Bryan Truta)

"Her voice! You will remember her voice. Crystal Clayton is the real deal!"


-- Theresa O'Leary, Movie Trip TV - Movie Trip TV (Theresa O'Leary)

““Don’t let her playful nature and her fun sense of humor fool you, because when she opens her mouth, for a moment, everything stops. Her voice is powerful and controlled while her songs are honest and heartfelt.” - Flashymics Blog”

Flashymics Blog - Flashymics Blog

Following the release of her latest single “Is It Me?” and EP 3AM earlier this month and with her hit song “Blinding Lights” having already been streamed more than 50,000 times on Spotify, there’s no doubt that Crystal Clayton is certainly well on the way to making quite a name for herself. As she looks to a bright future, ThisIsTheLatest caught up with her to chat artistic inspirations, the power of social media and what, many years from now, she’d most like to be remembered for.

TITL: Please introduce yourself in a few words.

Crystal Clayton: My name is Crystal Clayton and I am an independent pop music recording artist/ songwriter

TITL: Has music always been the career goal for you or did you have other ambitions before embarking on this journey?

CC: I’ve wanted to be a singer since I was a kid. When I was young, I was constantly dancing and singing around the house. I wanted to have a voice like Celine Dion. As I grew up, I started taking voice lessons and performing in theaters and shows. I began writing songs when I was a teenager and I was hooked. There has never been a plan B. I’ve always wanted a career in music.

TITL: Which artists and bands are you most inspired and influenced by, and what is it about the music they make that you like so much?

CC: I try to be unique and true to myself, but there are several artists I’m very much influenced by. Growing up, like I said, I was obsessed with Celine Dion and also Mariah Carey. I just loved powerful voices and I tried to emulate that. Over recent years I have been heavily influenced by Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Beyonce. Right now I’m listening to a lot of SZA and Banks! I think I take bits and pieces of what I listen to and create my own version of the music I love.

TITL: Is there one particular artist you might say you’re in any way similar to?

CC: I had a gentlemen with Music Is My Radar review my new project and he said the most relatable artist he could think of would be Rihanna. But I think this project is definitely more R&B/pop than some of my previous material that has been much more strait forward pop. I really can’t pin-point one specific artist that I’m like.

TITL: If you had to give one reason as to why you stand out among your artistic counterparts, what would you say?

CC: What I love about the music I create is that it is catchy and it is pop music, but I give the lyrics life and authenticity. My lyrics are emotionally driven because I am a very emotional person. I like to infuse my love of R&B with my love of pop music.

TITL: Who or what is your biggest inspiration when it comes to music and song-writing? With that in mind, could you choose what you feel is the greatest song ever written?

CC: Growing up my parents had me listening to a lot of classic rock. I loved Boston, Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Eagles… I believe hands down that “Bohemian Rhapsody” is the best song ever written. The range of emotions in intonation, vocally and instrumentally is one of a kind. There is a lot of current music that I often think to myself “I wish I had written that song”. Rihanna’s 2016 album, ‘Anti’ is a masterpiece. I also really love Kehlani’s new album ‘While We Wait’ as well as ‘CTRL’ by SZA. I like to think that my musical taste is well rounded…I just love music. I’m influenced by oldies and also current music.

I’m also very much influenced by my own life experiences. I can easily look back on situations from my past and draw from those experiences. Even if it’s been a while since the relationship or event took place, my empathy and ability to feed on those emotions helps me write.

TITL: What made you choose “Is It Me?” to be your lead single? Is there a particular story behind the song?

CC: “Is It Me?” was actually a very easy song for me to write. It’s about that excited feeling you get when you believe in what you’re doing and you know that good things are in the future. It’s just a feel good song with feel good vibes. I was able to share that excitement with my producer and team and we just made a happy song.

I think I chose “Is It Me?” because it resonated well with a lot of friends I shared it with. They liked the energy of the song and it’s also a bit more pop than some of the other songs on this project.

TITL: This is also your first release since moving from Kansas City to LA. Why did you decide that now was the right time to do so and how have you found the transition?

CC: I was actually hoping to put the project out before I left Kansas City, but things were not coming together quickly enough, and I wanted to wait until after the holidays. I just figured, this is a new beginning for me, so why not release a new project that somewhat re-brands what I’ve done so far.

I found myself very stagnant in the Kansas City music scene. I was born in LA and brought to the Midwest when I was very young, and I had always dreamed of moving back out here. I got to the point where it was like, ‘just take that risk! Just follow that dream, what do you have to lose?’ The transition has been an adventure! I still haven’t fully immersed myself into the LA music scene, but it’s coming along. I’m still the new kid trying to get the hang of things around here.

TITL: “Is It Me?” features on your new EP 3AM which came out earlier this month. For those who haven’t heard it yet, how would you sum it up?

CC: 3:AM has many different layers to it. I think it’s an extension of myself, as a young woman, coming into her own. There is a common element in a lot of my music that has this sense of reaching towards aspirations, and big dreams that you can’t seem to let go of. I think that some elements of 3:AM also have that. There’s the confidence of ‘Is It Me?’, the sexiness of “Mine” and “Falter”, the heartbreak of “3:AM”, and then there is “Pieces” that show’s my vulnerability. In that song I’m really just saying, sometimes I’m not okay and really I’m just barely keeping this all together, but I HAVE to keep going. I think that a lot of people can relate to this project and that’s what I strive for.

TITL: Do you have a favourite track on the collection and if so, which is it and why?

CC: It’s hard for me to pick a favorite because each one is special to me in its own way. Each song captures a different moment and experience. I think, for me, “3:AM” is one that really resonates well. I think that song is my best work lyrically, and that a lot of people can relate to it. We’ve all been in relationships that we know in the back of our minds will not last, but we continue on because we’re in love.

TITL: Will you be/are you touring/performing in support of the EP and if so, where can people come and see you?

CC: I haven’t started planning a tour yet. I have been focusing on promotion of the project and performing around my new city, LA. You can keep updated with performances and music by following me on social media and my website; @criddleclayton and www.crystalclayton.com.

TITL: Given that your hit song “Blinding Lights” has so far been streamed more than 60,000 times and your audience online is growing considerably, how do you feel about social media? Do you think society and the music industry is perhaps too reliant on the likes of Twitter and Facebook, or do you believe such platforms are now vital tools, given the technology-obsessed world we live in?

I’m really proud of how well “Blinding Lights” has done. I think that social media and streaming helped ‘Blinding Lights’ get the attention that it has. I do believe as a society we spend too much time on our phones and on social media. The internet completely lost it when Instagram went down for a day a couple weeks ago. But, it is the way of the future and it’s not going anywhere. I think as a business person – and music is a business – it’s smart to find ways to use these tools to your advantage and engage with people through social media. It’s such a huge market and you can reach people you probably never could have before. It’s vital to a music career in 2019.

TITL: What does the rest of the year have in store for you?

CC: The rest of this year I’m hoping to release some music videos, perform at some awesome shows here in LA, release some more new music later this year, and hopefully do a small tour run!

TITL: Finally then, as you continue to make your mark on the industry, looking many years down the line, what’s the one thing you’d like people to remember or recall when they think about you and your music? What message or legacy do you want to leave for the current and future generations?

CC: I just hope that people will remember authenticity from me. My music is vulnerable and real. I write music for myself, and what I like; and I hope that people can relate and resonate with it. - Rebecca Haslam

Hi Crystal, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
Hey! I’m doing great. I’m excited to share my new project with you.
Can you talk to us more about your latest single “Is It Me?”?
“Is it Me?” is a feel good song. It’s about that excited feeling you get in your stomach when you know good things are happening and you can feel the change in energy.
Did any event in particular inspire you to write this song?
I think I was really happy about some new music I was writing and I was able to share that energy and excitement with my producer and my team. It was a moment of thinking “I know where I’m going with this and I know how to get where I want to be.” That moment was really special and I didn’t want it to end.
Any plans to release a video for the single?
I released a little teaser video for the song on Instagram and Youtube, but I am still working on some ideas for a full music video. Stay tuned!
The single comes off your new EP 3:AM – what’s the story behind the title?
3:AM is the name of one of the songs on the project. The music producer of the project, Bam Keith, started referring to the song by that name, and it stuck. It made sense because often, when I can’t sleep late at night, I will just start writing and coming up with ideas. I have a lot of song ideas while I’m asleep, and there have been times I’ve woken up from being fast asleep with the chorus of a song in my head! I grab my phone and have to record it real quick before I forget it.
How was the recording and writing process?
I wrote some of the songs on 3:AM at home and brought them into the studio to work on with Bam Keith. One of the songs we wrote together in studio and worked the music around. It was kinda difficult because Bam was travelling out of state quite a bit for the Grammy Museum. At one point I would send him clips of song ideas I had come up with and he would send back ideas for the track. The process was a lot of fun and I feel like I was able to expand on my creativity and create a sound.
What was it like to work with Bam Keith and how did that relationship develop?
Bam Keith and I are both from Kansas City, we met through mutual musician friends. I was a fan of his work and he had reached out to me showing interest in working together. When I was ready to start another project I hit him up and he really understood the vision I was going for. Being able to be creative in the studio and bounce ideas off of one another was so much fun for me.
How much did he get to influence the album?
He is crazy talented at creating beats. He started out playing drums and then piano, so the project has some really cool beats and keys in the production. It was cool for me because I wanted to make a sound that was different from your typical pop/R&B. I think it turned out pretty unique.
What role does LA play in your music?
I just moved to LA from Kansas City at the beginning of this year. It’s been an adventure so far and I’ve already written a couple songs that are influenced by the struggle of LA artist life. Breaking into the music scene out here has a different energy and it’s really inspiring.
What aspect of your life did you get to explore on this record?
I think with this project i really didn’t let anything hold me back. I challenged myself as a songwriter because I created some content that I typically wouldn’t feel too comfortable writing about. But that’s been something I’ve realized throughout this journey moving halfway across the country; you can’t grow when you’re comfortable. My music has always been personal, but I think with this project there is another level of intimacy that I reveal with the listener.
Where else did you find the inspiration for the songs and lyrics?
I really just get my inspiration from where I’m at in my life or past events where I experienced strong, raw emotions. I’m a pretty emotional/empathetic person so It’s somewhat easy for me to mentally go back to situations and draw from those feelings. This project has a range of highs, when I’m so excited about life and blissfully in that moment; to incredible lows, when I just feel like things are falling apart and I’m trying to hold everything together.
Any plans to hit the road?
I would love to tour hopefully later this year! Right now my main focus is releasing and promoting this project, as well as gigging around my new city.
What else is happening next in Crystal Clayton’s world?
I’m working on creating some music video content and I’m always writing and working on new music. I’ve been cooking up some songs that are heavily inspired by my new life in LA so I am excited to get those out hopefully over the summer. Also, not related to music, I am super passionate about the environment and being eco-friendly as well as wildlife conservation. I’m hoping to partner with organizations in the future to help preserve this beautiful planet we live on as well as all the critters we share it with! - RJ Frometa- VENTS Magazine