Crystal Kay

Crystal Kay Williams was born in Yokohama on February 26, 1986; she was musically influenced by her parents. Her African American father, a bassist from New Jersey, and her Korean mother, a professional singer, gave her an understanding of music already at a young age. It isn't surprising that she made her musical debut already at the age of six. She already sang for TV CF -- she provided voice over work for a television commercial -- her mothers connections were a large help to her. At the age of twelve, she signed to the label Epic Records (Sony) and one year later, in 1999, her first single, Eternal Memories, was published. Despite her multi-cultural origin, the artist grew up in Japan, by now she goes to Sophia University, an eminently respectable private university in Japan (Yotsuya). Famous colleagues such as the pop singer Emyli and her friend Beni Arashiro study or have studied there.

Because of her time at Kinnick High School and university, she speaks English and Japanese fluently; furthermore she learned French. Crystal Kay's music is evidence for her bilingual language skills; she published some songs which are completely sung in English, and of course various songs in her first language.

Although her career started uncommonly early, she didn't get the public's attention until she did a cooperation with the popular duo m-flo. Rap-artist VERBAL discovered her early. The single Ex-Boyfriend, was published in 2001 by Crystal Kay feat. VERBAL, but it wasn't a big success. Though a real rewarding cooperation started in 2003.

On the June 18, 2003, the song I LIKE IT was published under the pseudonym Crystal Kay loves m-flo, on the same day they published a revised version of the same song with the name "REEEWIND!" under the pseudonym m-flo loves Crystal Kay. I LIKE IT was published on Crystal Kay's album 4REAL, which was released in November 2003, while REEEWIND! was on m-flo's album ASTROMANTIC Both singles managed to enter the charts on a top ten position. Although her albums had some success, her singles never had a breakthrough, which changed with this one.

Anyhow it took some more time until Crystal Kay established herself with some singles such as Candy achieved, while other songs such as Can't be Stopped were completely ignored by the public. As recently as her first own top ten hit Motherland was released in May 2004, the eternal swaying were history and Crystal Kay finally had a confirmed place in the Japanese music industry. It's incidentally easy to explain Motherland's success, while once m-flo provided her the audience's attention, it was the famous anime Fullmetal Alchemist when her song was used as the ending theme for the series in 2004.

Her most successful single to date, reaching number two on the charts, and one of the best selling singles of 2005, is Koi ni Ochitara, the title track was played in the drama Koi ni Ochitara: Boku no Seikō no Himitsu. Also her 2006 released single Kirakuni/Together was a success and next to shadows of Desire the second single completely sung in English. In May 2007 m-flo and Crystal Kay got together again and recorded the song LOVE DON'T CRY for m-flo‘s fifth album COSMICOLOR. Crystal was the first person with whom m-flo recorded a m-flo loves... track, and she is in their last album of this kind, because m-flo stopped this series after that.

At last her first mini album shining was released in late November 2007, which featured Christmas songs. Since then Crystal Kay keeps rather quiet concerning her releases, instead she became a liked advertising-icon and appears regularly in several TV shows.

In 2008 she will sing the song One - the theme song for the 11th Pokémon movie Pokémon Diamond & Pearl the Movie: Giratina and the Sky's Bouquet: Shaymin.