Crystal Tamar: The Long Road to Right Now
- Muzikscribe
- Jul 10
- 8 min read
Some artists spend years searching for their voice. Crystal Tamar has spent years building hers.
From Houston stages where young performers had to bring their absolute best, to the major-label experience with Sophia Fresh, to sharing creative spaces with some of the biggest names in music, Crystal’s journey has always been about evolution—not imitation.
Now, with “Whachoo Doin?!”—the lead single from her highly anticipated sophomore EP This Changes Everything—Crystal isn’t just releasing another song. She’s stepping fully into the driver’s seat and embracing the artist she’s been becoming all along.
Produced by Grammy-nominated powerhouse Kosine, “Whachoo Doin?!” is part R&B anthem, part summer soundtrack, and part unapologetic reminder that confidence comes with boundaries. Blending the soulful grit of her Houston roots with the progressive energy of Northern California, Crystal creates a record that feels familiar but impossible to box in.
It’s funny. It’s bold. It’s empowering. And most importantly—it sounds like Crystal.
But don’t mistake the humor for a lack of substance. Beneath the infectious hook and playful attitude is a bigger message about self-worth, knowing your value, and having the confidence to speak up when something—or someone—doesn’t belong in your space.
That same honesty runs through This Changes Everything, a project Crystal describes as “project soul.” Not just songs, but pieces of her growth, faith, relationships, challenges, and everything life has taught her along the way.
For Crystal, this chapter isn’t about recreating the past. It’s about bringing every version of herself into one complete picture—the Houston kid with big dreams, the dancer, the performer, the songwriter, the woman who has experienced the highs and lessons of the industry, and the artist who’s still hungry enough to keep pushing forward.
After years of proving she belonged in the room, Crystal Tamar is finally kicking the door open.
And her first question is simple:
“Whachoo Doin?!”
Q: Growing up in Houston, a city with such a deep musical identity, what parts of that culture—especially the soul, grit, and creativity—still show up in the artist you are today?
Such a great question. What immediately comes to mind is my childhood singing group, “Entouch.” The group was composed of my sisters, my cousin, and myself. We were kid protégés of En Vogue - shout out to Houston’s own Terry Ellis - performing all around the state in various capacities.
In fact, one of our first major accolades came from a prominent Houston competition known as The Houston Sammy Awards. We won Best Dance Group and Junior Talent of the Year the year following “Girl’s Tyme” [aka Destiny’s Child] winning in the ’90s.
There was a distinct hustle in the air during those days, especially for groups. From kids to adults, it was obvious that everyone was holding Jackson 5-level rehearsals at home because if you made it to that finale stage, you could truly rock with the best of them.
I remember my sisters and I sitting in that audience like sponges, soaking in the star power, drive, and energy of our fellow performers while waiting for our opportunity to step on that stage.
Having experienced that for so many years, I’m incredibly grateful because that raw energy—that ability to shift the atmosphere—is the same thing that carries me as a performer today.
Q: You’ve built a unique lane blending Houston’s chopped-and-screwed influence with Northern California’s progressive energy. When did you realize those two worlds could become your signature sound?
You know, I was really taken aback by how similar Houston and the Bay Area of California are. Both are big cities with small-town feels, their own dance styles, and unique production sounds that immediately identify where they come from.
Take “Function” or “Still Tippin’”—you hear those songs start, and you instantly know where they’re from.
We’ve both had these sounds for years, and we aren’t interested in changing them. Hometown folks aren’t concerned whether you’re rocking with it or not—now move so I can bust this move real quick. Laughs
When I moved to Oakland in 2012, my first night there was spent with KMEL DJs and a club full of locals. It felt like home. They were jamming to some of my records from my time in Sophia Fresh while also introducing me to their local records.
The energy was infectious, and I was hooked.
Q: Before the solo journey, you were part of Sophia Fresh with T-Pain and experienced the major-label world through Atlantic Records. What did that chapter teach you about the music business, artistry, and finding your own voice?
My chapter with Sophia Fresh, Pain, and Atlantic really taught me that the worlds of artists and executives don’t always naturally coexist.
The label believed in the vision of who we were as a group. They believed Pain was the perfect executive producer for our project, but they didn’t trust our collective opinion of what made a great record.
So after three years, nine moves across the country, and hundreds of timeless records recorded, we never actually released an album—just singles and mixtapes.
When I finally decided to pursue a solo project, it became important that I had creative and executive control over my decisions.
Ain’t nobody got time to waste beautiful compositions of work.
Q: Working alongside artists and creatives like Kanye West, Akon, Marsha Ambrosius, and CeeLo Green, what lessons from those experiences still influence how you approach music today?
You know what? Confidence can carry you a long way. That’s been a huge takeaway then and even more so now.
All of those gifted people you mentioned have very unique sounds and approaches to their craft. There is room for your particular approach to vocals, lyrics, and concepts.
If you aren’t pushing forward to advocate for yourself, I promise you no one else will.
What if CeeLo said, “They’ll never take a hip-hop group like Goodie Mob seriously with me carrying these soulful vocals alongside these bars”? It was actually brilliant.
So I’ll take a page out of Kanye’s book and say:
“Now I could let these dream killers kill my self-esteem or use my arrogance as the steam to power my dreams.”
But let’s substitute arrogance for confidence—because we know where too much of the former can eventually get you.
Q: “Whachoo Doin?!” feels like more than a song—it’s a whole attitude and a woman’s summer battle cry. What inspired you to turn that everyday moment of setting boundaries into an anthem?
Bruh, I’m TIRED! Laughs
It’s safe to say all women are.
Every whack encounter I’ve had with the opposite sex over the years has helped create this anthem. I just kept thinking, “Do they know? Has someone told them that these pickup lines and approaches aren’t working?”
Somebody HAS to tell them.
Le-le-lemme tell ’em.
Q: The record blends humor, confidence, and empowerment while still bringing that R&B flavor. How important was it to create something that makes people laugh, move, and feel represented at the same time?
I knew the concept would be a little comical. I knew having a track that slaps was imperative, and I knew it would be relatable.
But the impact this record had in the studio once everything came together was much bigger than we imagined.
It was like, “Oh wait… not only did I want this for the people—the people NEED this.”
Can we keke it up, bop, AND check somebody all at once?
It’s so important for music to do all the things.
Q: Working with Kosine, a producer behind records for artists like Rihanna, Kelly Rowland, Tamar Braxton, and Justin Bieber, what was the chemistry like creating this next chapter of your sound?
I think the chemistry was something both Kosine and I didn’t see coming.
You kind of get accustomed to not expecting too much in this industry. It’s sad but true—it becomes a defense mechanism against disappointment.
We were brought together by a mutual friend who thought we’d be great together, and she was absolutely right.
Kosine and I connected through faith, humor, and a childlike excitement before we even made a track.
Once he came in with those game-changing 808s he’s known for, the rest was easy.
It also helped that he didn’t insist on having everything his way. He gave me space to create my sound and tell my story exactly how I wanted.
He was humble enough to just be a Swiss Army knife in my pink toolkit. Laughs
Q: You describe your upcoming EP This Changes Everything as “project soul.” What does that term mean to you, and what separates this era of Crystal Tamar from your debut project?
I recently heard the term “soul” described as your mind, your will, and your emotions.
Those are three things that have grown significantly since my debut project.
Life was lifing. I faced challenges that forced me to honestly evaluate how I think, my motivations, and my feelings.
They say when trials come, you don’t have time for superficial prayers—and the same is true for how I wanted to express myself moving forward.
I wanted this album to be my soul stripped down. No sugarcoating. Nothing superficial. Just authentically Crystal.
Q: Your influences range from Ari Lennox’s soulful approach to Rihanna’s island energy and Michael Jackson’s rhythmic precision. How do you take inspiration from legends while making sure the final product still sounds like you?
I think the key to paying homage to a legend versus mimicking them is being a fan of their essence, not a thief of their skills.
I started performing covers at nine years old and didn’t begin recording original music until my twenties.
Those are two completely different skills: being a performance artist versus being a recording artist.
For years, I struggled to break free from learning someone else’s riffs and runs and creating my own. It makes for a frustrating recording experience when you aren’t bringing yourself to the table. It makes for a lifeless performance when you have no natural ad-libs.
There’s no fruit. No creativity. You become a robot. Once I experienced the freedom of creating something that was truly mine, I never wanted to be anything less than myself again.
Q: Beyond music, you’ve been a dancer, NFL cheerleader, voice-over artist, and performer across multiple platforms. How have those different forms of expression shaped your confidence and storytelling as a singer?
Being a dancer taught me to trust my instincts. It’s an instant-gratification art form that creates a high of its own. You’re always chasing that feeling, so trusting yourself is a must.
Voice-over work requires so much confidence. My coaches always say, “Overperform your VO work and let the director tell you to pull back.”
That advice has never failed me.
You have to be the girl willing to take chances.
That’s what I tell myself when I walk into an audition.
Having found success in those areas reminds me, “You know what, Crystal? You’re still the girl you think you are,” especially on the days when things aren’t going your way.
I thank God for His faithfulness and how He causes everything to work together.
Q: After the years of growth, from Houston roots to Sophia Fresh to your solo evolution, what part of your journey do you feel people still haven’t discovered about Crystal Tamar?
One thing I know for sure: I may be introverted on any given day, but I’m a powerhouse on stage.
Crystal is an entertainer with a stage presence and energy that is unmatched.
In my solo journey, I haven’t fully displayed everything I can do when I combine the highest level of dance with my full vocal range at the same time.
It’s always been one or the other.
I’m confident this body of work will finally allow me to show that complete picture.
Q: With This Changes Everything on the horizon, what do you hope listeners take away from this new chapter—the music, the message, and the woman behind the voice?
I hope listeners get to see the “wears her shoulder on her sleeve” side of me.
They’ll hear these songs and be able to picture me at home at the end of the day, with my head on my husband’s shoulder, wrapped in my Snuggie.
I hope those old-school ’90s R&B fans feel seen and know someone is out here fighting for real R&B to stay alive.
It’s a very lovey-dovey album, so it’s important for people looking for love to know that the knock-your-socks-off, forever kind of love still exists—and it’s often just around the corner.
This new sound, these stories, this version of Crystal…
This Changes Everything.
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