Interview: Cristale
Brixton artist Cristale has come up real quick, since uploading her first freestyles onto social media in early 2020. Releasing music videos on platforms such as Mixtape Madness & P110, Cristale has built a buzz as one of the UK’s rawest female emcee’s, despite still being set to unleash her debut project. Having recently made waves alongside Leeds rapper Temz, Leicester’s Trillary Banks and with more collaborations in store, Cristale reveals insights into her fast musical rise and upcoming exclusives.
Cristale was a keen writer from nursery school, beginning to spit rhymes by her primary years. When she moved into secondary, her English teacher convinced her to apply for a poetry competition. “He saw something in me that I didn't even see in myself at the time,” recalled Cristale. “He put me into a competition against everyone in the school against older kids, Year 11’s, everyone.” Despite only being in Year 7, Cristale won the competition and then won again the year after. She lost in Year 9, but only because her teachers said, ‘we couldn't give it to you again.' Years down the line, Cristale continued practising poetry as a passion. “I stayed at my secondary school for Sixth Form,” continued Cristale. “I was like, the voice for poetry - anything poetry related, they would come to me to sort out.” When she turned 18, Cristale decided to try rhyming over music, uploading her first freestyles onto Instagram which received a big reception. “My first freestyle got like, more views than anything on my page,” added Cristale. “I was just like, rah, maybe I should do this then - maybe I should start rapping.”
Getting noticed through her freestyle uploads, Cristale got shouted at by The Rap Game, a television show which hosts a rap competition. Although she worked through the process, Cristale unfortunately didn’t make the final cut, however this didn’t deter her. Afterwards, Cristale’s Father took her to a studio to record rhymes she hadn’t released yet. “Then we did videos for them,” said Cristale. “My Dad helped me release some videos and then directed me to who is now my manager, Corey.” Corey is a relative of Cristale, which means the team promoting her is truly family, not just friends. “The way that we run things, it is more of a business partnership rather than management,” continued Cristale. “We speak about what is ethical and what makes sense, then we move it forward and he lets me discuss my own business - he doesn't keep me in the dark.” Although Cristale is yet to release a debut project, she has made waves across the UK since uploading her first video. “It has only been a year,” added Cristale. “I released my first song last year in March, the Opp Thot Freestyle.
Temz & Cristale. Photographer: Reef Rounding aka @camera.papi
Recently, Cristale caught our attention with her heated single, Scores alongside Leeds emcee Temz. Recorded on the first day they met, Temz travelled to meet Cristale in London, then she took him to Corey’s studio in Lewisham to record. “We made sure he was looked after and that,” said Cristale, reminiscing Temz’s visit. “We played each other some music we had, we hyped each other up and stuff - it was a very comfortable and welcoming environment for the both of us, that is why the magic was made.” Other than Temz, Cristale has recently been in the booth alongside PS and Sha Simone. Cristale also appeared on a Hot Gyal Cypher, alongside Queen Millz and Trillary Banks. “Trillary is such a humble person,” said Cristale. “Don't get it twisted - she is on crud, she is a hard barrer but she is such a nice person.”
On a production tip, Cristale has been impressed by the likes of Cee Beats, M1onthebeat, Kazza Prod & more. “I also love Prod By Zel, he is hard,” added Cristale. “If you are going to shout out anybody yeah, shout out GBRF - those are my first guys that I proper worked with.” Although Cristale sounds hard on drill beats, she doesn’t view herself as a drill rapper, but as an artist capable of more. “One thing I don't like is to categorise myself,” continued Cristale. “Because then I feel like the music is less fluid. I can do drill, I can sing, I can do Afroswing - there’s a whole body of work just sitting there in the safe waiting to get released - I am very excited about it.”
Over the past year, Cristale has received viral recognition across the UK. Despite her success Cristale remains humble, appreciative for the people offering to promote her. “We are getting approached by people saying 'we want to be involved, we want to help, we don't want money, we just want to help and make sure she gets up',” said Cristale, revealing where her motivation stems from. “I can only thank God for that, the fact that people are coming to me and approaching me, offering to help just out of the kindness of their heart because they believe in me, that is just one thing that I can't take for granted - that is why I grind everyday, why I write music everyday.” As well as treating music like a daytime job, Cristale also studies Illustration full time at university. “That's why I call myself an artist,” laughed Cristale. “Because I do all types of art.” Taking this all into account, Cristale clearly has a unique passion propelling her forward.
Having dropped mostly freestyle videos for a year, Cristale built a buzz that eventually put her in the spotlight. Although it is well deserved, Cristale doesn’t believe she has done anything other than stay true to herself. “That is the only plan I can have,” claimed Cristale. “The thing with this music thing is, it's trends and it's what people like, the audience - it is not about the artist.” Cristale soon realised that the way forward was to meet fans in the middle, however she understands that the moment she stops making music for herself is when she becomes like everybody else. “I feel like that is why people are so willing to offer help and so willing to support the situation,” continued Cristale. “Because I am making music for me and wider people can relate, because more time they have been through something or they know somebody that has been through something that I have been through.” Ultimately, Cristale uses music for healing and inflicting her emotions. So far her reception has been positive, with the exception of a few troll comments. “I find them low-key funny, I can't even lie,” laughed Cristale. “Those are like, proper Twitter responses that make me laugh. But when I do my Twitter and Instagram freestyles, people just re-tweet them and show me love.”
The next video Cristale is set to release is called ‘Marylands’ - a tune without a hook where Cristale reveals more insight into her life, over a drill beat produced by Zel. “I have been in the booth with Tana from Brum as well,” confirmed Cristale. “All the collaborations that I have done have been at Corey's studio, big up Corey 150 times.” Currently Cristale is based in Loughborough, down the road from Angell Town. “Tookie and them lot there are going hard,” claimed Cristale. “JBoy, all them man are hard.” Cristale’s final shout out was for her Mother, her biggest supporter. “Big up my Mum,” added Cristale. “She does my hair and my make-up, she has supported me from the beginning and without her I don’t know where I would be.”
Cristale, thank you for your time.
Words by Evo
Photography by Shane Anthony Sinclair