Crys Matthews profile picture

Crys Matthews

About Me

Offering an eclectic blend of funk, blues and jazz singer/songwriter, Crys Matthews brings a refreshing new sub-genre to Neo-Soul. With influences ranging from Otis Redding all the way to Ani DiFranco and having been compared to artists as diverse in sound and style as Jill Scott and Tracey Chapman it's no wonder there isn't a box large enough to encompass what she likes to call FuBlueJazz.

A self-proclaimed old soul, the southeastern North Carolina native first popped onto the local music scene in Boone, NC in 1999 as a vocalist/keyboardist with the band Half & Half before breaking out with her own solo career. Since then she has been a permanent fixture at venues like Caribbean Cafe, Jimmy's Java, Cafe Portofino, and Higher Grounds.

"Music has always been a part of my life -- even before I actually took my first breath," she says. The daughter of a preacher, Crys admits that gospel music was her first love. "I'm always amazed at how much true soul music sounds like what I grew up listening to in church when I was a little girl," she says. That gospel influence is very evident throughout her own music, especially in the track she often refers to as, 'a love-letter for any one who has ever had to leave someone,' 2,000 Miles.

The rest of the album is as diverse as her influences. "Cant Run Away from Love" shows off her jazz influence and simultaneously introduces her audience to her skill level on the keys. The title track for her debut album, "This is No Poem," offers an intimate look at what is a quintessential element in the blues -- living hard and loving harder. That Bohemian naivety, the notion that love will always make everything OK, is what a lot of the record is about. "My mom always said, it doesnt matter what you're going through or how bad you think things are -- as long as you know somebody somewhere loves you, chances are everything is going to be just fine."

With a fan base that continues to widen and two albums slated for release in 2009, it seems that things are indeed going to be more than fine for this artist.


My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 12/04/2006
Band Website: reverbnation.com/crysmatthews
Band Members: Crys Matthews - Vocals, keys, arrangements, composition, lyrics... every thing

View Crys Matthews's EPK
Influences: Jill Scott, Otis Redding, Tracy Chapman, Ani DiFranco, India Arie, Musiq Soulchild, Leela James.... love and life

Sounds Like: "Imagine Jill Scott and Otis Redding had a daughter and Tracy Chapman was her god-mother... now imagine she spent summers teaching herself piano in Chicago and guitar in the mountains of North Carolina... that would probably sound something like the music I am fortunate enough to call my own." The music is an infusion of Americana/Blues/Bluegrass/Folk/Funk/Jazz, which, as eclectic as it sounds, is reaching people all around the country and causing them to stop and take notice.

Record Label: Unsigned

My Blog

Artemis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmbRyfZ0pHE Here's my newest song (complete with a brief explination of the title). The lyrics are included in the video "info". Please check them out and ...
Posted by on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:49:00 GMT

New song -- Missing You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9zarD4iEq8 If you like this song please pass this along to your friends. You can read the lyrics in the description. If you haven't signed up for the maili...
Posted by on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:52:00 GMT

Burning Bridges

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTV9GO9qIcw So this is me taking it easy on a Sunday singing a little Chris Pureka. If you haven't heard her music definitely check her Myspace page out.
Posted by on Sun, 07 Dec 2008 17:56:00 GMT

The Answer - a spoken word piece for/about Barack Obama

The Answer by Crys Matthews November 4, 2008  I must've cried twenty times that night. I kept thinking this must be what August 28, 1963 felt like. The first time was when you broke 270  that's whe...
Posted by on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:50:00 GMT

Help me pick...

I need your help deciding which photo to use for my next album cover! I have posted the photos on my Reverbnation page AND on Facebook. Look them over and cast your vote. You may pick just one or your...
Posted by on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 03:29:00 GMT

Crys Matthews in D.C., September 13, 2008

..TR>   Phasefest 2008 - LINE UP ANNOUNCED & TICKETS ON SALE! Phasefest is an annual Queer music and arts festival dedicated to the development, exposure and interaction of queer and quee...
Posted by on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:48:00 GMT

New Song

Here it is! This one means a lot to me. Also, if you haven't signed up for the email list yet, the widget below is interactive so just type your addie in and hit enter.Nice and easy!EnjoyLet Him GoBy ...
Posted by on Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:29:00 GMT

ALL my GREEKS (and non-Greeks) - VOTE FOR THIS

http://www.onegreekworld.com/contest-video-detail.... Check this video out and vote for it! Much love, Crys
Posted by on Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:33:00 GMT

I Define Me

As of this morning I completed a sponsorship deal with IDM Wear! This is an incredibly exciting moment for me because this relationship will afford me the opportunity to work closely with a company wh...
Posted by on Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:21:00 GMT

N.C. Governor's School under pressure from anti-gay group: Instructor not invited back this

http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3... All my GSE peeps, please read this. I couldn't believe it.
Posted by on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 10:13:00 GMT