We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Crystal Tamar a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Crystal Tamar, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
When I was about 9 years old my father recognized the love and enjoyment my sisters and I had for singing and dancing.In the summertime we’d always watched tons of music video shows like “video soul” on BET back to back and record the ones we liked like Envogue, Ex-girlfriend and B Angie B for example (I’m aging myself here lol). We’d learn those dances and be doing them around the house all the time.My parents, who met in a band themselves, had a lightbulb go off and my dad took us to the local beach to perform and record them.After sending them off to various local club owners and talent competition organizers birthed the girl group we still revere and treasure as “Entouch.” The rest was history; we’d perform all over the state of Texas until my eldest sister left for college.My parents not only valued the natural gifts we had but they invested resources like time, finances and even the family RV as a tour bus into their kids.I’m forever indebted to them.
Crystal Tamar, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Crystal Tamar.I’m a musical recording artist; I’m also a voiceover artist. I started singing and performing at the age of 9, professionally since about 20 years old and went full time signing with a major label with my singing group in 2008.I am now a solo independent artist. Fame is not the end goal for me; the goal is to steward the gifts I’ve been given to the best of my ability and let God bring the audience it’s meant for.That’s what sets me apart, is the motivation and heart behind what I do.I’m most proud of my efforts to attempt a solo independent career.Though there is much freedom in having creative control vs a label dictating major decisions, it requires much more leg work, capital and the wearing many hats of expertise in order to navigate.It also requires a certain level of vulnerability as there is a call to be much more of an open book in order for the public to connect to your art.I’m proud of the ability to evolve in such ways after having done this so long.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
I believe that from an outside perspective, non-creatives may see what creatives do as liberating and easy because the gift itself is so apparent; that just taking the step of sharing your art is all there is. You hear things like… you should just go try out for american idol. Anybody can record a song and find a DSP to release it through, but to creative a high quality work of art, the confidence to not only share but convince the world why you think it’s the best thing ever and then (wait for it)…. get a return on that investment (impactfully, fiscally, with opportunities to continue to share it with the masses) is the kicker. If there is an art that you love/enjoy… stream it, buy it, share it with someone, tell that artist how it impacted you (MINUS the unsolicited advice of what you would do if you had it).
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I’m seriously having to unlearn perfectionism.When I started learning how to sing and dance on a big stage as a kid,a high level of performance is something my dad pushed me towards.I’m grateful for it and it’s served me well to try and present the best version of myself; but I’m finding such freedom now in just laughing at myself every now and then.Perfectionism is a blocker; it’s paralyzing and merely an illusion of the reality of situations.Had I not spent so much time beating myself up after a performance mishap, I would have enjoyed the journey more.There are so many things outside of our control in life and particularly in the music industry.Why add unneccesary frustration to that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.crystaltamar.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsclearascrystal/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrystalTamar
- Twitter: https://x.com/crystaltamar
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyIU46QkV4Who-VMxiHaUWQ
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/crystaltamar
- Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crystaltamar
Image Credits
Photographer: Olha Photography
Cover art photographer: Epic Ryan Photos
Cover art designer: Matt Kohn