The Almas: Insights from Crystal on Music, Tours, and Personal Experiences

Brian** ((00:01:04)) - - Crystal. You're very welcome to concerts that made us.

Crystal** ((00:01:08)) - - Well, thank you for having me.

Brian** ((00:01:10)) - - It's great to have you. Now, I feel like we've a lot to talk about over the next bit. First off, last month you guys dropped a lifeline. Hell of a song. And the video. Oh, my God, I don't know what to even say about it. It's unbelievable. Take us deeper into it.

Crystal** ((00:01:28)) - - Yes, A lifeline was the very first song that we recorded, that we wrote and recorded in the studio, with our new producer, Kyle O'Dell. And this was the one that we were the most excited to release.

Crystal** ((00:01:42)) - - So hearing good, positive feedback on it, the song as well as the video, means so much to us. It's a song about mental health and knowing that you don't have to fight the battles, that you are struggling alone. You don't have to fight them alone. and to reach out for help. And we wanted to take that and make a kind of badass music video for it that's showing that it's not a sappy, sad situation sometimes. It really is a war that you have to fight and that it's it's worth reaching out and getting the help you need.

Brian** ((00:02:14)) - - Definitely, definitely. Where did the idea come for from the video. I mean, it makes Top Gun look like a low budget movie almost, you know?

Crystal** ((00:02:22)) - - And what's funny is, so that was all Frank, our lead guitarist, the founder of the band, actually. And, we neither him or I prior to the music video actually watched Top Gun. We only are well aware of like, the famous, like, walk up scenes and like some of that stuff where he's, like, holding the helmet and he's looking all cool with the aviators.

Crystal** ((00:02:44)) - - And, so we happened upon a, an airplane hangar that had fighter jets in it, and we ended up not being able to use that location because the dates didn't work out. But that's kind of what spun the idea. the first music video we released for the EP was cage, and we used a lot of water elements, and then the next one was burnout, and we used a lot of fire elements, but it was still out in like a freezing cold field. And so our, our music video director asked us if the next video could be some warmer location instead of what the last two were. So by his request, we decided to do it in July. And then we found a military museum that would have us and we kind of took over the place and we used, their, their fighter jet. We used their actual helicopter that was, used in Vietnam, that they have a part of the place and the cabins kind of cut off, and so is the back end. So we put tarps up and mind you, I said it was in July, so that metal tube got very hot.

Crystal** ((00:03:57)) - - so he's gonna he's he said he's not going to ask us to change temperatures anymore because it's one drastic change to another. But so yeah, we we just kind of happened upon, what we had for that music video and it's very DIY. We built up all that we could for the sets, and we had a local, hangar that a friend of ours was able to secure for us the literally like 12 hours prior to using it. And so it all kind of just like came together. And it was initially not supposed to be this way, but we were going to use planes regardless, because we wanted to go with like the, you know, from water to fire. And we were like, oh, maybe we'll do something in the air like skydive or something. And, we, we did not get our license to skydive for the music video, so we did not skydive.

Brian** ((00:04:47)) - - All right, all right. Maybe in the future.

Crystal** ((00:04:51)) - - Maybe the future, maybe the next one.

Brian** ((00:04:53)) - - Yeah, yeah.

Brian** ((00:04:55)) - - Was there any challenges or maybe memorable moments that happened during production or recording?

Crystal** ((00:05:01)) - - Yes. Like I said, it was all built by us. And so having to go around town and find different memorabilia pieces to kind of make it look like we're actually a part of, x, y, Z military location or whatever. And we were like, okay, well, let's find these like pins and the patches we had to create, like the helmet. And so a lot of it was just the behind the scenes work to find the pieces to make it all happen. and kind of, like, piece it together seamlessly. so that was a lot of fun. we like doing stuff ourselves. If we can, we will. And it just makes it all the better when it turns out great. We know it's because of all the effort that was put into it.

Brian** ((00:05:49)) - - True, true. How has the, reaction been since the song dropped? I'm sure people have been blown away by you have the.

Crystal** ((00:05:56)) - - Yeah, a lot of people actually thought Frank was flying the helicopter and the jet.

Crystal** ((00:06:02)) - - that is our, VFX editors, job to make it look that way. And he did it incredibly. So. Kudos to him for that. But, no, it was it was a great, great experience. And we've had incredible feedback for it. And, a lot of people were joking with us and you're like, you guys made like a mini movie. And so I'm absolutely loving all the feedback for it.

Brian** ((00:06:27)) - - Right? Right. You guys have to enter it into some sort of movie awards ceremony or something and see if you two. Yeah, I'm sure it definitely would win.

Crystal** ((00:06:37)) - - Yeah. We're a part of the Jose Awards again this year, and unfortunately that one was released after the cutoff, so we'll have to definitely put it in for next year's Jose Awards.

Brian** ((00:06:48)) - - Definitely, definitely. Now something I'm very excited about is under 21st of June. You guys are kicking off your US tour, hitting a lot of places up until the 12th of July. Tell us, tell us more about it.

Crystal** ((00:07:02)) - - Yeah. So are you as portion of the lifeline tour is taking us from Wisconsin and Illinois to Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Ohio and Pennsylvania. so we're doing like kind of a scrunched up, like kind of like a expanded Midwest run for this, this tour. And so we're really excited we don't play the Midwest too much. we just got off a tour with Silver Tongue that we kind of did a little more western portion of the Midwest, but, we're excited to be going out to some of these places. Brand new. Half of them are to us that we've never been to these venues before, but some are return venues that just feel like home to us.

Brian** ((00:07:48)) - - Yeah, I'd say so. What are you most looking forward to about about going on tour?

Crystal** ((00:07:54)) - - I'm just the new energy and new vibe that we're going to be able to provide to people because we we just got a new bus and, Frank and I have been staying over at my parent's place because I've got a bigger parking lot to destroy than we do.

Crystal** ((00:08:07)) - - so they we've been taking the bus over there and staying in. My mom and dad are incredible with their hands. They built their own house and laid their own concrete and did all of that thing. So this is their third bus build that they've done. This is our first, but our second vehicle that we've died. So we're using their their knowledge and their skills mixed with what we've done before. And it's turning out beautifully. So we've we've got bus instead of a van on tour this time. So between that, new bus, we've got a new drummer that's hitting the road with us, and he's just got such a positive and charismatic energy about him. So we're excited to see what our fans knew. And, established are going to think of him as well, because he's a really incredible guy and he's so talented. Massive talent in this man. but yeah, so between those two things, it's just it feels like a brand new experience to us. Even though, like I said, half of these venues, we've already played all of these states we have played before, but it's it's a whole new energy about it.

Crystal** ((00:09:16)) - - So that's that's going to be really refreshing and really nice to go out. Experience.

Brian** ((00:09:21)) - - Yeah, definitely. It sounds and I know I said I was excited about the US tour. Something I'm even more excited about is the UK tour. You guys are coming over this side of the world, the 19th of July. It starts. Tell us all the details.

Crystal** ((00:09:37)) - - So I don't have too many details other than mostly because I've kind of blocked them out after I heard we are officially playing in the UK. it's our first time being out of the country, other than our one festival that we played in Canada. So we're officially going overseas for the first time and we have our flights booked. We are all ready to go. We've got the first Airbnb that we're doing over there, but we're playing Huddersfield, Cambridge, London at the troubadour, which is insane to me. we're playing, and correct me if I'm saying any of these improperly because I am I am a terrible American on this, but, Gillingham, I believe, is one of them.

Crystal** ((00:10:22)) - - Sheffield we just added and, we're playing Glasgow as well, so I'm so stoked. And, Sheffield that we're playing is, the Fringe at Tramlines Festival. So we're really excited about that new addition to it as well. So we've got six dates over there and we're just pumped to see a have a whole whole new experience that we've never done. And I believe it's as all of our first time in the UK ever. so we're we're very excited.

Brian** ((00:10:53)) - - Nice, nice. I know how hard it can be for a band to finally get to go over to the UK. How did us kind of come about for you guys?

Crystal** ((00:11:02)) - - huge shout out to our label Pepper for that. wake up music rocks. It's an incredible team. And we outsourced with CSS music as well. so they are helping us with booking. it's, it's a, it's a great team that has kind of like been built together, but peppers leading the ship on that. So, she's an absolute incredible woman to work with. And she has never taken a band on her roster to the UK.

Crystal** ((00:11:32)) - - And we're just a band that is, eager for new experiences and we're way willing to do it. So she was like, well, you're going to be my my first test band to go over there. So we're excited to test the waters for her and for ourselves as well.

Brian** ((00:11:49)) - - Yeah, definitely. Definitely. You know, you've got a very busy month ahead of you. So starting at the end of the week, what does this time look like for the band? What will you guys be doing for the week? Will it be chilling out preparing?

Crystal** ((00:12:03)) - - well I wish we are practicing. So when it comes to fun, we are playing the music, together with our new drummer, to make sure that we're all super comfortable. in the downtime that we've been together, we really haven't practiced. but granted, we've been on the road consistently for the last like two plus years. So it's not that we don't know the music, but, just it'll be nice to play the music that we've been preparing our behind the scenes to get on the road to play the music finally, after all this time.

Crystal** ((00:12:36)) - - So. But, this week looks like a lot of practice. we have a lot left to build on the bus. And so for that, we still have planning to do and we still have one more Airbnb that we have to secure for the UK dates. So we've got some of that stuff to still be planning. But yeah, for the most part we're we're so stoked and ready to go on to play all of these shows. And yeah, I think most of our time will be practicing however.

Crystal** ((00:13:03)) - - So rush, right.

Brian** ((00:13:06)) - - You know, as you mentioned, you guys are practically veterans when it comes to being on the road. What's your favorite thing about being on the road?

Crystal** ((00:13:14)) - - It's just the places that we get to see. especially like with this upcoming tour in the UK. Like, I don't think I would have ever. I mean, I probably would have gone on, like a vacation maybe with my family over to the UK at some point, you know, but I don't think I would be able to experience half the things that I have experienced, just even myself, or like the whole group, to go out to coast to coast of the US to, you know, to Canada, and even, you know, all four corners, like we're going on a cruise this year as well.

Crystal** ((00:13:50)) - - And that's something that's incredible that we get to look forward to, that our music brought us there. So it's very, very cool when your job enables you to see places and view things that you never would have, and especially to learn and grow just as an individual out on the road. So as a musician, we're fulfilled. But as people were also learning and growing and just becoming better for ourselves and for our surrounding people.

Brian** ((00:14:19)) - - Yeah, yeah, I kind of I feel like this is probably the last year where it's going to be kind of normal for you guys. I feel like next year it's going to be like, if someone wants in an interview, it would be like getting an interview with Metallica or something, you know?

Crystal** ((00:14:36)) - - Well, that would be very cool if we could get to a level like that. But, I think we're we're looking just small goals right now, and if that can be an eventual goal, then we would be beyond blessed to be there.

Crystal** ((00:14:50)) - - Definitely, definitely.

Brian** ((00:14:52)) - - Now the podcast is called Concerts That Made Us.

Brian** ((00:14:55)) - - So I'm gonna have to ask you some concert related questions, if you don't mind.

Crystal** ((00:15:00)) - - First off.

Brian** ((00:15:01)) - - First off, as a concert core, what concerts do you think have made you?

Crystal** ((00:15:07)) - - Ooh. Concerts that made me. That's such a good question. There's so obviously we've played a lot of concerts, but when it comes to just attending concerts, some of the ones that really stick out is, we did a VIP experience with, Cheap Trick and Bad Company when they were in green Bay. and, Red, Red Rock productions, put on the whole event and, we were working with them on a side thing that they were doing. And so they ended up gifting us, some passes to the show that we were able to go. And that was really cool, just to see behind the scenes on, like a band of that, that scale, that caliber, and how they do things in their VIP experience and talking with some of those musicians as well from the bands. And it was it was a really good time.

Crystal** ((00:16:03)) - - It was definitely a rock star experience, for that. But, one show, that we played that will forever stick out in my head is, we have a song called reflection that we wrote a few years back, and it was not a song that we performed at this particular show in Michigan, but there was a person that came out, and our set is very heavily based on if you need help, please reach out and talk to somebody and get the help that you need. if you can help yourself, even better. But don't be afraid to reach out. And that message connected really heavily with this individual. And they lost their sister, to suicide. They, you know, were struggling with thoughts about it themselves and hearing that message. they were just like, you know, they came up and talked and we we sat off to the side and she was crying. And I showed her our song that we just wrote, and it was a really bad recording on my phone, but she was trying to sing along to the words of that song, and that's kind of when it clicked for me that this is why I do what I do, and why the band itself, needs to keep going with the same message that it has.

Crystal** ((00:17:20)) - - And so that's something that really spoke to me that really made me rethink, you know what I'm out here for? it's not money, it's not fame. It's not, you know, glitz and glam. It's it's to be there for anybody that needs a positive message. And so that right there probably made my entire career, a different outlook.

Brian** ((00:17:43)) - - I get you, I got you that. You're right, though, that is worse. More than anything else in the music business. You know, changing people's lives and helping them. It makes it all worth it.

Crystal** ((00:17:54)) - - Absolutely no. I can't think of anything more important than to sit and just talk with somebody. And if it can help them off a ledge that they might find themselves on, or just make them rethink differently or have a better positive outlook on something, or even if they're just going through a bad day to kind of hit pause on that and live in the moment while they're the 45 minutes that we're playing and, you know, kind of make them just forget about their problems for a while, that then that means the world to us.

Brian** ((00:18:23)) - - Yeah, definitely. Definitely. You know, jump back to when you were growing up. Then how did your local music scene affect your your future sound, would you say?

Crystal** ((00:18:34)) - - I would say are. It wasn't necessarily like for me as a vocalist that the local scene, did too much, other than one band in particular, which was Frank's old band. there's a huge backstory with Frank when he, joined or started this project, the Almas. He was in a different band prior to that, and that's when I met him. I was on a local TV show, station to our area, and we would, like bring on local bands, interview them and promote their shows. And so I even took it one step further, and I would do full promotion on shows, and I would do interviews on my own show, later on with that. But we would, we would get together and we'd hang out. I'd go to shows and, the first show that I ever went to see, his prior band, I brought my mom because I wasn't old enough to go by myself.

Crystal** ((00:19:33)) - - so I was like, hey, mom, I need you to come with me. It's I think, I might have been Sue. I was in high school by this point still, but, anyway, I needed I needed my mom. And so she came, and she met the band, and we were talking, and out of nowhere, she offered to manage that. And so, she she offered to manage them, have them practice in our garage. I'm over here. I'm like, we should probably run this by dad, if that's okay. so a couple months later that it ended up actually coming all together where she managed that, old band of his. And so we became close. And same with the rest of the band there. And the vocalist had such a beautiful voice. It was a female fronted band as well, and I really took a liking to her sound and her style, and I wouldn't say that I sound anything like her, but I definitely loved the the vibe of what she, her voice was on stage and what it sounded like and how she just was so confident with her voice.

Crystal** ((00:20:39)) - - It was awesome. But, I would say that band definitely, impacted how, you know, I view bands, plus being in a band with Frank now, it just continues. So I, I owe a lot of my music career to him and his prior band. So absolutely on that.

Brian** ((00:21:00)) - - That's right. And, you know, the moment we're all waiting for, I'm sure a lot of viewers and listeners will love this question. Your own shows for people that haven't caught them, what can we expect? Give us the full experience if you can.

Crystal** ((00:21:14)) - - Well, a positive message, a fun, entertaining experience. Something that you can just, be in the moment and experience, what we are on, on the stage. We want to give you our energy. We're not a band that our energy is based on the crowd. We're here to energize the crowd. And so that is our huge goal is positivity. And, you know, an energizing, high octane live performance. we're not up there so that we can just sit and play our guitars and I'll stay at the mic, stand with my mic and look at my iPad, you know, for the lyrics and stuff.

Crystal** ((00:21:54)) - - It's, we want to put on a full performance. And, I am absolutely in awe when people compare us that we, we move around so much more than even like big, big bands out there. And so that makes me feel really good because I want it to be a moving moment. The 45 minutes that we're on stage, I want it to be like a cool, 90s throwback movie where there's like a band playing in the background, but they're moving around all crazy and stuff. That's what I want us to be, and I think that we, we definitely do our best to bring that forth.

Brian** ((00:22:28)) - - Sounds like one hell of a concert. And, you know, out of all the gigs that you've played, is there one that you would say is a highlight or a high point, one that couldn't have got any better?

Crystal** ((00:22:41)) - - When I couldn't have got any better. I mean, I would definitely say it would be at a specific venue that even even though I would say it couldn't get better every time we play there, it does get better.

Crystal** ((00:22:55)) - - is Alabama Montgomery, Alabama at the warehouse? 231 the they became family to us and absolutely adored everybody involved, the husband and wife that run the place and just every everybody there is incredible. But the people that come out to shows are full on concert goers, like they're there to be at a concert and to hang out and have fun. And it's not a venue with a bar or anything. It's like a big warehouse, as the name states, that has a huge stage, huge lighting and sound, and the people come and if they want to bring a beverage, then they do, but they're just there for the music and it's an incredible experience. So the first time we were there, it was a huge attendance and it was awesome. The next time we were there, same thing. And this last time there was just a massive amount of people in this room. They're rocking out with us and all of the other bands performing. And so I would say definitely our shows at the warehouse are ones that can only top themselves.

Crystal** ((00:24:07)) - - But, the last time we played there, it's gonna I'm excited to see if it can get topped, but, it was it was definitely a beautiful time there.

Crystal** ((00:24:16)) - - Right?

Brian** ((00:24:16)) - - Right, I like it. I like us. Now to flip that around without mentioning names, is there a gig that you would consider the worst? Everything went wrong and how did you overcome it?

Crystal** ((00:24:27)) - - So I. We have, a system that we like to say is pretty indestructible. unless there are certain factors. And those being like, you know, people not willing to work with the system. So if we have to not use our system, that's when chaos is easier to come into the picture. And so there was a venue that we played, and this particular sound engineer who was running the show didn't even want to introduce himself or talk to us because he was too busy initially and we were the only band playing that night. So it was just us for a 45 minute set, and before our set was comedians that were going to be on the stage.

Crystal** ((00:25:15)) - - So we were told we weren't allowed to backline, we weren't allowed to do like anything, have our stuff in. We couldn't even set up our merchandise, which is our most of our living comes from that. And so we're like, okay, well, we're not going to be the difficult band when we're the only band. And so we just we went with it, we hung out, we sat, we watched all the comedians. We had our stuff. We at least talked him into letting us have our stuff in tucked in a corner, because they're all in cases, so they're stackable. It's all boxes that we can just put somewhere. And finally we get to set up the stage. And he doesn't want to use any of our mics. He didn't like that we were using In-ears. He didn't like any of that. And so we told him we're like, well, we at least mic everything up and we just have to tell you out some channels. But he was being ridiculous and the sound on the stage ended up being terrible because he was using basically the same mics that we had, but he was using like one mic in particular incorrectly, which is the kick drum mic.

Crystal** ((00:26:19)) - - It's supposed to be inside the kick drum so that the air doesn't blast over it. Well, he had it outside of the port, so the air was blowing on to the microphone and it made it all sound weird. Since we have in years. We wanted him to turn the wedgies off. He wanted the US to hear the kick drum, which we already do in our ears, but he put it upon himself to lift the kick drum in the wedge, every single wedge on the front of the stage, and the two that were by the drummer. So there's a weird bass frequency that's causing feedback on stage, and we have no control over any of this. We could tell people we're miserable in this, in the stands as well, and we're like, well, we don't have any control of this. But to make matters worse, at the very end of the end of the night, he came to settle up with us, and I was the one that was handling, the, the payment for the night.

Crystal** ((00:27:16)) - - He came up and he handed me the money, and then he tried to kiss me, right? And it was out of nowhere. He was rude the entire time. That it's not like anything would have provoked that kind of interaction. He just randomly was like, here's the money. And then went in to kiss me. And yeah, so I was like very shocked about that whole situation. I was I told the guys and like, you have to pack up by yourself. I'm going to stay in the van, where he's not going to be.

Crystal** ((00:27:46)) - - So yeah, it was.

Crystal** ((00:27:48)) - - So that was probably one of the worst, shows ever. Probably. It was not even a big, nice venue. It was a small bar that happened to have a small stage, and it looked like it seemed more like we were an inconvenience to everybody. And then that last interaction just kind of was the icing on the, on the cake of garbage that that event was so.

Crystal** ((00:28:13)) - - Oh my God, it was it was bad.

Crystal** ((00:28:16)) - - It was to say.

Brian** ((00:28:17)) - - You haven't gone back since, have you?

Crystal** ((00:28:19)) - - No, we have not played that venue. And, we even reached out to this, to the booking agent for the venue just to let them know, like, hey, this is an interaction that we had with this person, and they're like, oh, yeah. No, people have said that happened before.

Crystal** ((00:28:34)) - - Right.

Crystal** ((00:28:35)) - - But but then they made up some excuse for the person that they're like, well, you know, he has like this thing going on in his life. And so we can't it's excusable. I'm like, I don't think that's excusable. So we're like, if you if you're already aware there's a problem, then that just means that we just shouldn't be here.

Crystal** ((00:28:53)) - - So I but yeah. So that was.

Crystal** ((00:28:56)) - - That was a whole experience.

Brian** ((00:28:58)) - - Yeah. Yeah. Jeez. And when it comes to short time then what's your pre-show and your partial rituals. How do you psych yourself up then afterwards, how do you wind down?

Crystal** ((00:29:09)) - - So pre-show.

Crystal** ((00:29:11)) - - I have to warm up. I always warm up my vocals. I never used to like back in the day when I first started singing. but for me personally, I definitely have to take just at least a ten minute, step away from everybody kind of zone in on myself, do my warm ups, make sure that all of my body packs and my microphone is charged up, and all all of the those particular little nitpicky details for the set. otherwise, I like to hang out over at merch. I like to interact with the crowd, with the people that are in attendance, get to know them, let them get to know me. And, it's it's a very fun time to get personal with people. So I'll hang out over at the merch table, amongst my getting ready for the show. And then afterwards, we'll do the same thing. We'll go back to the merch, and all of us will be hanging out and signing stuff, taking pictures with anybody that wants photos with us. And, then the glorious packing up and loading into our trailer, is a heavy ritual that we absolutely just love to do.

Brian** ((00:30:22)) - - I can imagine you're racing to do it at the end of the night. You love it so much.

Crystal** ((00:30:26)) - - Oh yes.

Crystal** ((00:30:27)) - - I mean, sometimes we are just so we can get to bed faster, but it.

Brian** ((00:30:33)) - - Has to be done, so I suppose. Yeah. Now, before we dive into the last couple of questions, I normally ask for future plans. We've heard a lot of future plans. Is there anything else you can share with us? New music when it's coming or anything like that?

Crystal** ((00:30:49)) - - So we have one more single on that. We're due to release by the end of the year. so we're looking really forward to that. I'm hoping it will be out this fall. but that one, we're looking to compile a lot of live footage from our summer tour, in the US and the UK. our cruise that we're going on, a couple of the festival appearances that we're making this summer, and kind of putting that together as like a fun live performance music video. so that's something that's in the works right now.

Crystal** ((00:31:21)) - - The song is finished. but it's the music video portion that we kind of wanted to go on a, a much lower scale than our last music videos that we've put out, you know, the big production, the, you know, crazy themes and everything. This one, we wanted to be very, you know, low key kind of downhome vibe on this one. So we're looking forward to putting that song out. but right as soon as we get out of our tour from the UK, we actually have like a day to switch over our gear and drive to Nashville because we're going to spend another two weeks in the studio recording more new music. So there's going to be non-stop music being released from us yet again. as well as more tours. We're going to be out on tour, basically up until the beginning of November, end of October timeframe. So, once the summer tour is over, we head right back out on the road in September, and then, then we take a little break for some family time.

Brian** ((00:32:23)) - - And well-deserved break. By the sound of it, you guys, like, love being busy. Our love putting pressure on you yourselves. Don't just.

Crystal** ((00:32:32)) - - I mean, I don't love the pressure, but I feel we work well under pressure. So there's a there's a hard mix there.

Brian** ((00:32:39)) - - Yeah. Yeah, right. The, the last couple of questions, these are a few random fun ones. I'm looking forward to seeing your answers. First off, what are you currently obsessed with? It can be anything at all.

Crystal** ((00:32:52)) - - Oh.

Crystal** ((00:32:54)) - - Well. How's probably. I don't know what it is. I'm obsessed with cows. okay. If it has to be something like physical otherwise, like, I love binge watching Netflix. so that's a huge thing. mostly because I'm able to finally turn my brain off from all of the things I'm thinking about and all of the big to do list, that has to be done. So I like taking just a couple hours to, like, watch a, like Bridgerton on on Netflix or something like that.

Crystal** ((00:33:27)) - - but other than that, I don't really have too many, like, hobbies. It's just a lot of, like, we make our own jewelry for our merchandise, so, like, keychains and earrings, like, doing that kind of stuff, but, yeah, some, like, beaded bracelets I'll make as well, but, yeah, I like doing that kind of stuff, but most of my life is very band related. I'm also our booking agent. So for, like, our us, stuff. So I, I'm very preoccupied on that kind of stuff a lot, so.

Crystal** ((00:34:03)) - - Oh my.

Speaker 7** ((00:34:03)) - - God.

Brian** ((00:34:06)) - - And the next one, if you had to spend 24 hours locked in a room with any musician from history, who would it be?

Crystal** ((00:34:13)) - - Taylor swift.

Crystal** ((00:34:15)) - - Hi.

Crystal** ((00:34:16)) - - If if it has to be alive, if they have to be alive, Taylor Swift. If they don't have to be alive, I would probably say Freddie Mercury from Queen. I would love to just have a conversation with that man.

Crystal** ((00:34:32)) - - I yeah, I'm obsessed with Queen. So. So Freddie Mercury for sure would be my my non currently living person I would choose.

Crystal** ((00:34:43)) - - It's.

Brian** ((00:34:43)) - - It's obvious what you would love to learn from Freddie. He was the ultimate frontman. What would you like to learn from Taylor?

Crystal** ((00:34:51)) - - He is the ultimate business woman. And even just with her latest eras tour that she's been on for like over a year now, she's helped a lot of places, like just with their own economy and everything else. She is like, and she is a being. and so I would just love to pick her brain on business and songwriting and, like, how do you have a song that is so catchy and then you have like 30 of them on one album? so like that kind of stuff. And I, I always joke where we're in a hard rock band, but I love Taylor Swift, so. Right, I do, I love it, I love her so much that I've even gotten Frank involved with Taylor Swift.

Crystal** ((00:35:38)) - - So he only likes the reputation album and like a handful of the new songs from her latest one. But, But yeah, so I'm working on it, though. He's she's coming around.

Brian** ((00:35:50)) - - You'll have to keep us posted. And the, the final one. What's your goal to album? What's an album you constantly revisit?

Crystal** ((00:36:01)) - - Are constantly revisit. So that will be a Taylor Swift album. Right now it's her latest one. but a one album I have to revisit all the time is her debut album. it's when she was country, but it was. That was one of the really forming albums for me when I was growing up. was her earlier stuff, and that's where I would always sing it in the shower and everything else. So it kind of brings me back to the old days, but also makes me look at like how far I've come and how far I can still grow. So that's always something that's super inspirational.

Brian** ((00:36:38)) - - Great, brilliant. I like it, I like it. Listen Crystal, thanks a million.

Brian** ((00:36:42)) - - This has been an absolute blast now.

Crystal** ((00:36:44)) - - Yeah.

Crystal** ((00:36:44)) - - Thank you so much for having me.