Well now. I started this post a whole 24 hours ago, the pic, the heading, making sure it went to the correct page on the Flash-Trax website – then mamma Nature intervened with a delightful storm, and that was, as they say, that.

And so back to it!

Wellington girl turned Auckland resident Crystal brings us her new single Make It Up To You. Pop music can deliver such diversity, and Crystal has packaged up a whole heap here. I do like the imaginative orchestration to accompany the nifty composition. We have a subtle sound that almost belies the complexity of the instrumentation. Kudos to Crystal, and co-writers Sarah McManus and Xavier Dunn. Credit also there for the initial production prior to handing over to Harry Charles – who’s own stuff I reviewed the other day – to finish off the studio wizardry.

There’s a neat melody, complimented by a commercially savvy and extremely ear-worm inducing chorus. You’ll be singing or humming it after one listen, I promise. I enjoyed Crystal‘s timbre. Soprano, clear and confident. yet exuding an undercurrent of waif-like vulnerability. That really goes with this song too, so well matched indeed.

The music vid allows me to see Crystal‘s style. Very cool indeed, says this judgmental old Gen Xer. I won’t post spoilers for the vid but it’s got pink in it, and some great bits of humour as well as existential dread imagery we can all smile in recognition at. You will enjoy – and it is guaranteed some air on Juice and the like.

What’s it about? I’ll let Crystal explain. From the EPK:

“I couldn’t stop thinking about this one friendship I had been neglecting because I had slowly become obsessed with my music priorities in an all-consuming toxic way. I wrote this song to apologise for being a shitty friend and ever since then I’ve put a lot more effort into my friendships and I’ve been a lot happier. Tell your friends you love them! Make time! Life’s too short to be on a miserable, solo pursuit” “It reflects my love for storytelling and delves into my own real-life problems and situations which are important for me to address – as they are universal and part of growing up,” says CRYSTAL.

This is going to be on the commercial pop stations, and all streaming platforms, from Friday 20th February. If lighthearted but deceptively complex pop music is your thing, you will enjoy this. Listen to it in any number of places, during any number of activities or circumstances.

This will be a chart hit. You heard that here. Nice work Crystal. I’m a fan.