Upcoming New Zealand alternative-pop artist CRYSTAL turns fear into empowerment with her latest single ‘Perplexed’. Following on from her previous releases including 'The Chase’ which landed on Spotify's 'New Music Friday AU & NZ', 'Pop n Fresh', and ‘EQUAL AU & NZ’ playlists, her newest single finds her coming to terms with big life changes which are soon to come.
Self-written and co-produced alongside her university classmate Alex McMillan in 2019, ‘Perplexed’ explores CRYSTAL’s inner thoughts where she imagines what life might be like once Uni is over, and the overwhelming feeling of growing up, leaving your friends and moving away to follow your dreams.
Of ‘Perplexed’, CRYSTAL explains” I wrote this song in my last year of uni, during the mid-year break. We had 6 weeks off, so I took up extra shifts at the restaurant I worked at. During this period, a few of my good friends had all gone home or on holiday and I had this realisation that in 6 months we would all go off on separate paths, move to different cities and I’d be left to figure out my next chapter on my own. I’d never left home before so the thought of everyone closest to me leaving and me moving away felt very overwhelming and scary. Making this song gave me so much comfort during such a tough transition in my life. I know change can be really hard to deal with but ultimately we have to do things which are completely out of our comfort zone in order to grow and achieve the things we most desire”.
The accompanying music video, shot and directed by Ben Dickens (Eli Superflyy, ZÖ), was filmed in Wellington and features locations of significance to CRYSTAL’s music making and upbringing. Perplexed is taken off of her debut EP, ‘Garlic Ice Cream’ releasing in August.
‘Perplexed’ is available on all streaming platforms now.