BILFPOD - They Said She Couldn’t Do It — Then Gypsy Woman Dropped

Episode Date: November 20, 2025

BILFPod x Crystal WatersCrystal Waters isn’t just a music icon — she’s a visionary artist, songwriter, and trailblazer who helped shape the sound of an entire era. From global hits that defined the 90s to new orchestrated projects with some of the biggest names in music, Crystal continues to evolve while staying true to her voice, her craft, and her story. 🎙✨Her journey is one of resilience, reinvention, and raw authenticity. In this episode, Crystal opens up about navigating the music industry as a woman, balancing motherhood with a demanding career, and finding her voice again after feeling lost. She shares the highs, the challenges, and the moments that shaped her into the powerhouse she is today.In this episode:• How Crystal reinvented her sound and stayed relevant across decades• Balancing motherhood, touring, and building a global career• The realities of being a woman in the music industry• The inspiration behind her newest 90s-orchestrated project• Rediscovering her voice and turning vulnerability into strength• Dream collaborations and her most unforgettable studio momentsThis episode is a must-watch for creators, artists, and anyone on a journey of self-expression and purpose. Crystal reminds us that true power comes from owning your craft, honoring your story, and rising every time life asks you to evolve.🎧 Watch the full episode now—available on all platforms.Get Connected:Follow Crystal Waters → @crystalwatersFollow Mara Dorne → @maradorneFollow the Podcast → @bilfpod#BILFPod #BossIdLikeToFollow #CrystalWaters #WomenInMusic #HouseMusicLegend #CreativeJourney #MusicIndustryInsights #FemaleArtist #ArtistStory #UnfilteredSuccess #PurposeToProfit #MusicIcon #CareerGrowth #CreativeLeadership #BuildYourLegacy

Were you ready for it? I was not ready. I thought maybe the song would be, because back then the house music wasn't very well-known. It was really just underground. Nobody really was, wasn't on the radio or anything. So I thought maybe it would be big. I lived in Washington, D.C., maybe D.C., Baltimore, New York. And I was very happy about that.

I remember going to the record label, and I was in, like, the R&B department. And next week I went back, I was in the pop department. And I'm like, what happened? And the song had just blew up around the world. This is dance music. You're supposed to make you dance and move. And it's a good way to, you know, release all your stress and all your worries. You just go out there and just dance.

That was very hard back then because you remember back then, if you got pregnant while you were assigned to a record later, they dropped you. I know a lot of girls that got dropped. Two little girls at home, you know how kids grab on your leg when you leave the house. And the label wasn't very understanding. I remember many times I was threatened. We're not going to put your record if you don't do this and do that. You have to be two people.

It would be crystal waters, and you leave that at the door when you get home, and then you be yourself. A little taste, a little bit. Do la-da-de-la-de-la-da. Welcome back to the Belfod. We're authenticity trumps authority. Now, if you know dance music, you have to know this queen right here. Literally, I know you're in the club bouncing around 100% pure love.

So I don't even think I need to give you an introduction because you are really the queen over here, a real Bilt. Queen, the mother of all mothers. Welcome back to the. Bill, you really are. I am so, can you tell? I'm beaming. I'm so excited. I grew up with your music. So welcome to the show, Miss Crystal Waters. Yay. So, oh my, I'm like, you know, I'm like fan girling over here to see you in person and just growing up with your music. It is incredible. Oh, thanks for having me. It's nice being here. Thanks for coming. Thank you. Thank you. So are you ready to dive deep? I'm ready for you. All right. So take it from the beginning. Take it from the way, like,

when, I mean, look, dance music has been. been a thing for many, many, many years. What year did you, like, finally start dropping the singles, like, ready? My first single, Gypsy Woman, La D-a-D., La Dada, Da, dropped in 1991, and that was the beginning of everything for me. That was it. That's when it blew up, fame. Were you ready for it?

I was not ready. I thought maybe the song would be, because back then, the house music wasn't very well know. It was really just underground. Nobody really was, wasn't on the radio or anything. So I thought maybe it would be big. I lived in Washington, D.C., maybe DC, Baltimore, New York.

And I was very happy about that. But when it went, I remember going to the record label and I was in like the R&B department. And the next week I went back, I was in the pop department. And I'm like, what happened? The song had just blew up around the world. I didn't even have a passport. That is crazy.

But did you always know that you wanted to be a performer singer? I did not. But I did grow up in a musical family. I was really shy. And I was like the only one that really wasn't showing any, like, you know, outward town. Like I didn't play any instruments. or anything like that.

But my father was a jazz musician. My brother was a musician. My aunt was a very famous actress, singer, Ethel Waters. So it was always around me, but I just never crossed my mind. So when did you hone in on it? I got into it when, I mean, I always loved music. I got into it when I was working for the D.C. government, and they told me how much I would be making in the next 10 years.

And you get this piece of paper, and they'll tell you how much you can make. You did probation. I was at the parole office. Yeah. People get that mixed up. I worked for the parole board. I issued warrants because I was a computer science major. So I had like the only computer in the whole building.

And they had all the information. So I issued warrants and calculated jail time for inmates. I worked in parole. I did it. Parole. Yeah. Yeah. My background is criminal justice.

I have a master's degree and undergraduate degree. I know you're looking at me like, what? No, I have questions, but I won't. Like, what happened to this girl? Well, needless to say, I did not. I ended up not doing it for a multitude of different reasons. But that's so funny, our parallel. But I think you quickly realize that you're probably not, you might, you got to really love it.

Yeah. I don't think I'm a 9 to 5, girl. That's getting up and. Listening to rules. Yeah. Somebody telling you how much you're worth. Yeah. Absolutely not for me either.

Yeah. And then, okay, so then you decide, so where does it, like, you write your music or it comes, like, where does this happen for you? Okay. I'm going to tell you the story because people. People always ask me. So once I found out I wasn't going to make any money, I was complaining to my mom. And she said, go see a psychic. She'll tell you what to do.

So I went to a psychic that weekend. And she went, on my way to the psychic, I lost my voice. It was so strange. And I get there and she says, you're not doing something with your voice. And I was like, yeah, right. That's an easy guess. I lost my voice. So I go back to the office and I tell everybody.

And they were like, well, you love music. Maybe you want to do something with music. And a friend of mine had a cousin with a studio, and they were looking for background singers. And he said, I'll go if you go. So we went, I got the job, and that's when the light bulb went off. And I was like, this is where I'm supposed to be. So we did that. And then, you know, after it was over, I was like, what am I going to do?

But I knew I could write. So that's when I got into it. And I found someone to write songs with. And that's when I started in my demo and all that kind of stuff. And that's where it started. Was it like, remember back in the day where you had the demos in the back of your car and you had to, like, go out and hand them out? Close to it, close to it.

Because I had a bunch of cassettes printed up. I had, I used a Xerox machine at work to put my picture on it and, like, cut out the picture and did it all myself. But, yeah, we gave it to everybody, anybody was in the music business. So it was the psychic, because yesterday, I'm not even making this up. Guess what I did yesterday. I went to a psychic. I never, I'm not even into it. And yesterday, literally, my girlfriend goes to me, Mara, you're here all the time.

You have to do a very New York. thing and go to a psychic. And I went yesterday to the psychic. Did you like it? I mean, I was a little, she said some things that, like, obviously she was like, you're in a relationship, but I have a ring on my finger. But she knew that I had three kids, one being a girl and two boys. Like, she would not have known that.

Yeah. So there were some things that was like, oh, okay. Yes. We got to be careful of some of them, but I think sometimes some people hit it. Yeah, I think so too. Okay, so now, all right, so now you're getting into it. The single is out. You're making music.

Everybody's in the club. Everybody's dancing. Now you also have two girls. Yes. So where does that family life balance fit in? That was very hard back then because you remember back then you couldn't even get, if you got pregnant, I don't know why you were assigned to a record later, they dropped you. Yeah. I know a lot of girls they got dropped.

So it was very hard, so we didn't really talk about it. And to tour and they had two little girls at home, you know how kids grab on your leg when you leave the house. And the label wasn't very understanding. I remember many times I was threatened that we're not going to approach your record if you don't do this and do that. So it was really hard. But I do remember Ed Eckstein was the president of the label at the time. And he told me, he said, to keep your sanity, you have to be two people. You be crystal waters and you leave that at the door when you get home and then you be yourself.

And that kind of, you know, it kind of helped because you turn it on when you have to and you can turn it back off because it's very hard to be on all the time. I see people who do it, but, I mean, I can't do it. I think there's a balance. I mean, I travel all the time too. And I think that I'm sure your kids know you as mom. Mommy. Right.

I wouldn't let them change. They grew up so fast. I was like, no, you still call me, mommy. Yeah, mommy. But I'm sure they're so proud of you, seeing what a mogul you are. I mean, and just the fact that you've been able to stay so relevant. Now, let's talk about that for a second. There are a lot of people, one-hit wonders that come in, they come out.

But somehow, and this says a lot, because not only are you a woman, okay, which we already know that society, we think we've progressed, but we have not really. But here you are. You have children. and not only are you not a one-hit wonder, but you're still in the game today. So how were you able to stay so relevant with all your music and keep up with the time? I think as a couple of things.

I think at some point, you know, people always want you to have another hit, another hit, another hit. At some point, you know, I had to say, you know, that might not happen, and it can't stop you because some people will just stop because they know it's not going to be a hit. And I just kept putting music out. I just kept, you know, I have to write,

I wanted to write, kept putting music out. I found it important at some point that, you know, you have to give back. You know what I mean? That's one of the reasons why I kind of started my podcast, because I could give a platform for artists who didn't, don't have a platform to play. You know, house music is not mainstream. Well, now it's kind of mainstream. But it was a mainstream. So I was given a home to artists for, you know, somewhere to play the music. I mean, I also have a label. So it was also for me, you know, to give back and help others to, you know, want to be in this business. I love that because you have to have a purpose far greater than making money.

There has to be something way beyond that. It has to, you know, people say you've got to have somebody to share with, you know, the excitement, the fun. You just can't do it and go home and sit and just keep it all to yourself. I mean, I think you give women such a huge voice, too, that you can have it all. You can be a mom. You can be an entrepreneur. You can still look hip and look amazing. And you can.

I think it is 100% possible. So when women are like, oh, you can have it all, I beg to differ. I think you can. You can. I mean, I mean, I think anybody. you have to do it yourself. You can't rely on anybody else. Yes. Amen. You can't. That's the way I was raised. You know, my dad died when I was very little. And the one lesson that my mom always told me is, unfortunately, life happens. Yeah. It does. And, you know, you happen. Happens fast. And if something should happen to your spouse, you've got to be able to stand up on your own two feet and take care of your kids. And this is just kind of the model that I always lived by. So when people laugh, being in a male dominated industry, both of us. I mean, and I never saw it like that. I just thought I was in an industry. No. No, it's never like that. I know until you're like, you know, until there's some things that you can't do, you know, it's never what's good for the goose. But, you know, being able to have such a powerful voice for women and carry that on. Are your daughters also in the business? They're creative. They're creative. I will say that. They're creative. And they're very strongheaded. They're very independent. I will say that. Yes.

Yeah. When you think about your lyrics, are they, does it come from a place of storytelling or you just want everybody to have a good time? I think I come from a place of storytelling. I think that's why, you know, I remember when I first started working, that's why the producers like work with me because I was actually had lyrics. I actually had stories and things to tell. So I usually try to, like when I write, I may write something kind of lighthearted at first, but I always go back and go back until it gets deeper and deeper and deeper. Yeah, and that's kind of how you create your music.

Yeah. That's, I mean, that is so amazing. So now you're here, okay, where years, what are you, 30? over 35 years in the business? I think it's 34 this year. Don't make me count. I know. I don't want to know.

I know. 34 years in the business. But how are you still able to keep up with the trends and be relevant? That's hard. Yeah, I guess so I mean, I think because of the genre of music I'm in, I mean, I'm in the clubs. I'm still in the clubs. I'm still, you know, touring. Yeah.

All my friends are DJs and things like that. So it kind of stays relevant. I think times have changed as well. It's like I think a lot of people are getting, even though they're getting older, they're still in the business. And I still see when my audiences, they may get younger and younger, but they still know the music.

So it's been this kind of cross thing going on that keeps it all relevant, I think. For sure. My daughter knows all the lyrics, everything. Every old school song. And TikTok helps a lot. Oh, TikTok, definitely, right? I mean, she knows as soon as I was like, I'm going to see Crystal Waters.

She's like, oh, I know exactly who it is. Right away. And my daughter's 17 years old. So, I mean, your music still continues to stay relevant. And who does not love, like, a good dance beat? Yeah. People want to dance. They want to sing along, you know?

Yeah. What's your take on music and how it's really, it's kind of shifted? It's shifted, like, one way we were just talking about where it became about bottle service and who got to sit and, like, VIP, to kind of where it's at now. Do you think it kind of took away the fun? Yeah. I mean, I've seen people talk about how bottle service has killed the club life. So I see a lot of clubs moving away from VIPs and bottle service.

People, you know, the cool people want to dance and they stop coming. So I think they want that crowd back and make it more about the music than, you know, about the bottle service and the girls and stuff. So I see a big change in that, which I'm very happy about. Yeah, me too. Because why else, I mean, who goes to a club just the post up? You're going there to have a good time. I think, you know, I see people just with their cell phones, you know, with the staring at a DJ and not moving.

I'm like, you guys have forgotten, this is dance music. It's supposed to make you dance and move. And it's a good way to, you know, release all your stress and all your worries. You just go out there and just dance. And I'm hoping to see that come back more. Yeah, me too, with more intentionality and purpose instead of kids going to the club. I see it with my kids, they come to the house. They don't even have a conversation.

They're on the phones all the time. Oh, really? There's no conversation. They don't know how to communicate. But in the club, I mean, when you went to the club, correct me if I'm wrong. Even I still go to the club. When I'm there, I'm there to have a good time. I don't want to be distracted with my phone.

You talk to strangers. You meet different people. You're just having a good time, a good collaborative effort of just meeting new people. So that brings me to my next one. You've collaborated with a lot of people. So let's talk about that. What are some of your, I don't want you to, I don't want you to like name drop and say me things. But what are some of your best collaborations?

You know, I haven't done many vocal. collabs, but I've worked with different producers. I think the most famous was Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, which was, you know, like a dream come true, you know. So that was a good one. But most of my clubs, I mean, I collab with a lot of producers, a lot of DJs, and I look for producer producers, not just DJs who want to put a vocal on a track. So that's the kind of producers I like work with and seeking out. I love that. And still to this day, you're still making your own music new stuff, but not focused on the hit single, just having a a good time. Yeah, I just got to get it out

and get it out, you know. I think people will find that the industry has changed so much so it's more about the independent artists. You got the mainstream. If you want Taylor Swift and all those, you know where to go. But people are actually seeking, you know, independent music, something that's a little difference.

And you can create your own community. So you've got to create for the people who like what you do. What do you think about women in the space in general? I know we touched a little bit. What do you think? Do you think it's harder? Do you think there's a lot a stigma, like, what do you think about the women is? I think it's getting better that the voices are getting louder. I just did a remix contest for Chains the Beat for all, only female remixes.

And we had like over 60, 70 submissions. People don't even, you know, it gave a platform for people to see that there's female DJs and producers out there. So I think the voices are getting louder or we're getting, I think females have more of an opportunity now because it's shifted from the the major labels being in control of their music to the smaller independence. And they're more accepting and more, you know, willing to put females out there more than the majors, I think. Yeah, especially ones that have families because even in my line of work, I do sales. We don't, you know, if you have a family, it's really hard. It's hard for the females.

It's like a double-edged sword. They're good. But then they have families and it's always like a constant juggle. How do you? How are you able to balance that? Like I said, it was hard. It was a lot of fighting. I know like now over the years, you have to just learn to say no and be tough about it

because they will dismiss you if you don't speak up, you know. So that's what I've learned. How are you able to balance it though with being a good mom and then also being like how are you, were there sometimes? I don't know if it was balanced. It was juggling. A little juggle here, a little juggle there, little, you know, not everything worked out perfectly. So I can't say it was perfect.

Yeah. But, you know, you live and you learn. And that, you know, it works out in the end. And allow yourself grace. I think that's one thing we don't do. We're so tough on ourselves trying to be the mom. I don't know if you were this mom. I'm definitely the mom that is like I come to the football games.

I'm disheveled. I'm like trying to make it here. You know, and then like one thing's going really well here. And then the other one's falling here. And the work like, and I love that. You said it because I don't think there is such a thing as balance. I think there is such a thing as what's taking precedence now. I just feel like you shouldn't give up on your passion no matter how hard it gets.

Because if once you give up what makes you, you know, happy, then you have nothing. So, I mean, I know you have your kids, but if you love doing singing or songwriting, don't give it up. I agree with you. I think that you have to fill your own cup as a mother and as a woman. And in order, for me at least, to be a good mom, a good wife, I have to do, and that might sound selfish,

but I have to do what makes me happy. Otherwise, I'd never be able to make them happy. Yes, exactly. So I'm sure it was definitely harder for you on every way possible. Yeah, it was, you know, for the kids to have a famous mother. they're coming to the, you know, the practice, the basketball practice, it was a little different. Were they embarrassed? Were they like, Mom? Sometimes, sometimes. But, you know, but the kids want you to show up, so you have to show up.

You do. Do you have rules? My kids have, I have rules. Like what? I have rules. There's rules about what I can wear in front of the front. Oh. They prefer me to be a mute. I, like, just not talk. Sweat pants. Yeah, sweatpants. Yeah. No boobs out. No everything completely covered. Don't say anything cringe. park the car you can't bring. We have a roll.

I can never bring that. So I have to bring like another car because that's them. Everything I do is embarrassing. Oh, okay. I don't know. I don't know if you had the rules. No, we didn't have any rules. No, we didn't have all those, though.

No. Your kids are. I don't think, you know, I'm pretty conservative. So no, they didn't have to worry about that. Well, that's good. My kids still, they get me every time. But what happens when you're just crystal waters? You peel back everything.

Like, what does that look like for you? Crystal Waters, Crystal Waters is really, just a jeans and a t-shirt person who likes to meditate and, you know, do breath work and go walk barefooted. I just, I like to, I like more metaphysical stuff. Yeah. Stuff like that. To keep you grounded.

Yeah, I need to, because I travel so much and I'm, you know, you give you, give you, I have to go back and fill that cup back up, you know. So what do you do, just a lot of, do you do Pilates, just meditation? Are you doing sound bold? I would love to do Pilates if I could have it. time. But it's usually a morning thing. I have a morning routine where I do the first things I do is meditate. Then I do breath work. Then I do affirmations. And then, you know, depending on the day, then I have, you know, I do my vocal exercises. So as long as I start the day doing what I love

first and then I can go out and start working. It's so crazy. There's so many parallels between you and I have a morning routine to you. Go to the gym all the time. But can you explain why that's so important just to clear your head and to be one with you? Yeah. You have to clear. You have to clear, first of all, you got to stop fighting with people who aren't in the room. Because a lot of times we wake up with the argument from last night or whatever happened. So you got to clear that out. And you got to find that peace. You got to find that peace because you want to set the tone for the day.

Because how you wake up and how you set the tone is how your day is going to go. So if I wake up cranky, that's not how we're going to get out of the bed. We're going to go and work on it and make sure I wake up with peace and happiness. What happens? I'm sure. I mean, you're human. So what about those days where you just don't want to get out of bed? What do you do?

Some days I'm lucky I don't have to because I don't have that nine to five. But usually if, you know, I'm kind of on automatic sometimes, especially if I'm traveling, I have to get up. It's amazing. My body will do it. I'll get up, go and be at the airport, you know, at eight, nine, whatever. And I just have to do it. I just do it. It's a whole mental exercise.

I think at this point I've been meditating so long I don't have that problem too much. Right. When I'm traveling so much and I've only had three, four hours of sleep, that's when it gets really difficult. in the mornings or, you know, dealing, trying to work that day. Usually Mondays are the worst days for me because I'm usually tired. Are you still showing up, though? Oh, I think so. I think so, yeah.

I do my best. I do my best. It's hard. I mean, you have to allow yourself, Grace, but I think a lot of women, sometimes they give the excuse why they can. I have my period or I just can't do this, but like, you got to get up, you got to go. Yeah. I mean, I tell people, this Monday, just don't ask me.

just makes life easier. We don't have to go through it. I'm going to say no. So you just got to work with it. I mean, you have so many things coming up. Let's talk about what you really have coming up. This 22 pieces. Can we talk about this first second?

Let's talk about it. You look so excited. Like, you're beaming. I love it. So is this something like you've been putting together? Where did this concept come from? This is something, this concept came. Where are you going?

Can I be there? Yeah, yeah. They have been doing this in Europe for, I guess, at least a decade, where they've been celebrating dance music with orchestration. And I've done a couple of them. A lot of the artists on the show have. And I just said to myself,

I need to do this in America and in New York where this all started because they can only bring over one or two Americans at a time. And I'm like, but I got everybody here. You know what I'm saying? So I've always wanted to do it. I had it in my mind. And just the beginning of this year, I told my team I wanted to do I Am House orchestrated.

I thought they were going to like push back and laugh. And they were like, okay, let's do it. I was like, oh my God, okay, I'm into it. And it just, everybody was very passionate. We asked all the artists and they were into it. So what it's going to be, it's going to be all 90s classic house tracks. It's going to be Robin S, C.C. Peniston, Barbara Tucker, Nia Day, a mukha, Shavani from Blackbox, a Duane Hardin.

And they're all singing their hits from the 90s, all orchestrated. So we're very excited. I've been listening to some of the pre-records, and it sounds really good. Can you give us like a little taste of? of what you're going to do like any of yours in there? Oh, I'm going to do my hits. You have to come and see. You can't give us a little taste, a little, lot of.

I'm going to do la-dadi, la-d-da. La-da-da-da. I love. Who does not love this song? I love it. I'm glad people love it. So this, I mean, that, come on, that says a lot about you and where you're at in your career. And still, everybody knows who you are.

Again, not a one-hit wonder, but somebody that's really relevant and continues to be relevant. Yeah. I really think it's important I say now, you know, people, I had two people ask me, didn't dance music start in Europe? And I'm like, no. So I think it's really important

to keep that story going as long as I'm alive and talking, where house music came from, where it started, what is really all about and how the singers are important and stuff like that. So that's why it was important

also to have this type of event. I love that. Any hit singles drop in? Anything drop? Yeah. I have a new single out now called Umbop. It's doing very well

I also have an album dropping next year probably in the spring so you know come check me out so many projects any like reality TV things going on

no reality TV I'm not a but I do I do have a documentary that's being worked on about me so that's that should be coming out suit

maybe next year I think are you allowed to say the streaming platform or no no but it's not yet it's in the works

it's all in the works they're still recording so we're still recording so tell us Okay, and then I'm going to have some fun with you. Tell us, like, something that you've never talked about out loud. It doesn't have to be something embarrassing, just something that you really want people to know about you.

That people don't know about it. I think people know everything at this point. Or they'd be surprised. I think they'd be surprised I'm really like a quiet person because you think a club person would be very loud and, I don't know, boisterous or have a big personality. But I'm really kind of more of a quiet side person. Is it like your alter ego? you walk in there. Like, you have like a...

Oh, I have a button on my back. You can turn on and all. I can just see. You like go, you're like, you're quiet. And all of a sudden, you're like this force to be reckoned with. I used to wish I had more outgoing personality. But over the years, I'm like, you know, it's all right, Crystal. You can just be you.

You don't have to be, you know, something that you're not. So I'm very comfortable with that now. I think that exactly what you said is super relevant. That, you know, finally you come into who you are. And authenticity is going to show through more than anything else. so why pretend to be somebody you're not? Yeah. And it shows, I mean, just you sitting here.

You're so poised, such a lady. And then you have this big voice over here. Yeah. So that's insane. All right, so let's have some fun. Okay. Okay. All right.

So rapid fire. Are you ready? All right. Power playlist. What's the one song that instantly puts you in boss mode besides your own? In boss mode? Yeah, like when you're in the... I'll tell you mine.

Mine is Snoop dog. I just, I mean, there's just something about Snoop. Like, when I am at my lowest and I just, need to get, like, I need to get it together. Oh, okay. I will tell you, Michael Jackson, want to be starting something is my song that just wakes me up and gets me going.

I love, did you see Michael? Did you see the play? Yes, I did. I did. I finally went, yes. It was good. It was really good. I don't know how they found five Michaels

that sounded so wonderful. But they were amazing. It was so funny. All right, next question. Dream collab. If you can drop a single tomorrow with any artist past or present, who's on the track?

Who is on the track? Oh, gosh, you know, it changes every year. Like, who do I want to work with? Past or present. I would say I would go with present. I would like to, oh, my gosh. I'm not going to say that name. I'm not going to say, I'm going to go with past.

I would like to work with, like, Quincy Jones. Fair. Somebody I can learn from and, you know, be a part of. Fair. Okay. Perfect. All right. Behind the mic. Most memorable studio moment ever. Funny or chaotic. Like something crazy that happened.

Something crazy to happen in the studio. Or maybe anywhere. It could be anywhere. The craziest thing that ever happened. You're on stage in the studio anywhere. I think the one, I remember the craziest one I was on stage in Verona, Italy, and it poured torrential rain in the middle of show. And they thought it was the best thing because it was Crystal Waters. And I guess they said it in Italian. And they were like, oh, it's Crystal Waters. And to me, that was crazy. You've traveled all over, huh, everywhere?

Where's the farthest place or most exotic place you've ever been? What's the furthest place? I mean, I've been all the way to, I guess Australia, the furthest? Hong Kong over there. Jakarta, Ukraine, Russia. I think I can name where I haven't been more. than where I have. I haven't been to Antarctica, and I haven't been to, I think I've been everywhere just about.

Yeah, how amazing is that? Yeah. You go there, people don't even speak the language, yet they can recite the words to your song. Yeah, it's really, I've been to places I didn't know existed. You know, when you're little, you kind of missed that class and it's like, wow, you're getting into plane. Like, where am I going again? Yeah. So it's really great.

Yeah, I went to Afrobeats, and we were there, and you look around, and there's people from, are not Afrobeats, Afro Nation, and there's people from everywhere. You had people from America, from Europe. Some people spoke English. Some people didn't. And, you know, then all of a sudden, you know, all the artists get on and everybody speaks the same language. It was amazing, it was absolutely amazing to see that. All right. Last question. Everybody has a ritual before they get on stage. Everybody has something. So is there a prayer you say? Is there some kind of ritual? I do. I do a little center and grounding with little prayer. I always send a little love out to everybody in the audience. Love, light, and happiness. I want everybody to be uplifted

when I get off. So I kind of do that kind of prayer. That's nice. Just kind of put it like center everybody. Yeah, because you know, you have to set the tone when you're going to stay. So you have to start backstage before you go out. You got to send that love out so it can come back. Yeah. Yeah. All right. I got another question for you. So people have definitely, I don't want to say like are posers. That's probably not the right word. But they've used your music in whether, you know, in different ways. How do you feel about that? Are you honored for it? I love music licensing because I get paid anytime I need license it.

I feel out. I don't mind bootlegs when people do it because it keeps the music alive and fresh. What I don't like when people sample me or take my voice and put it out and put their name on it. Maybe say featuring Crystal Waters, maybe not put my name on it at all, and then go sell it to make a profit of it. That I don't, I'm not cool with. So they get cease and desist letters whenever I find out. Okay, I love that. I mean, that's fair enough.

So many artists, though, now I hear it. With the new music, they take their biting clips. I don't know if they're biting it. Maybe they do ask the artist. But come up with your own stuff, no. Didn't you have to come up with your own things? Yeah. I remember Prince, he didn't like that at all.

He was like, no, you go write your own song. Yeah, make your own music. What are you doing? I understand a little collab here and there, but come on, man. I wrote this. Let's be a little creative. There's enough to go around. Get some new ideas.

All right. So some fans today say dance music has lost its soul. Let's talk about that. I don't think so. I definitely don't think so. Well, I know what they're talking about. It did lose soul. It kind of, when the genres kind of split off and it went to EDM, I feel like it lost its soul. And it mainly because the EDM doesn't use like a real baseline. They used to use drum beats to make a baseline.

And it kind of lost its soul there for me. But I think it has come back strong. Because that's kind of faded out. So it's come back strong more towards the house sound. Yeah. Which it has more of a soulful sound to it. And words. In words.

We just got to get more, you know, real voice. vocalists, and a lot of the DJs are using splice vocals, which is just why there's no real melodies and song structure. So we could get back to more songwriting of dance music. It would be great. I mean, I love house music. People are going to hate me. I cannot do the EDM with the no words. I can't, I can't do it. There's no, just the beats, the loud obnoxious. I can't people are going to hate me. I'm probably going to get canceled for saying it. But who does, how, like, they're just bobbing around. And there's like a huge difference between house music versus It's EDM music.

It's night and day. There's no comparison. It's a big difference. Yeah. It's a big difference. But luckily, the house is back and we got some more soulful stuff out. I'm so excited. I'm really excited.

And there's real words and people can finally dance and not just beat their heads to the music. All right. So as we wind down, give us some advice. Like, give us some good advice for maybe like a woman or even a man out there that like wants to pursue their dreams. What would you say? I would say to pursue your dreams, you know, first study it, find out what's your passion about it is that gets you up every morning and focus on it. Every day, write it down, focus on it, repeat it. I'm a big affirmation believer writing it out, saying it over.

You got to believe it to see it. So that's my advice. So you write it down, anything that you want to see? Everything, yeah. Yeah, because then it comes into existence. I love that. All right. So I am so excited to come out to the, I have to be there for the orchestrated event.

So come, give me some details to where I can come. All right, I Am House orchestrated is November 20th at Sony Hall. Doors open at 7 p.m. You can get your tickets at Eventbrite. You can go over to Sony Hall's website. You can go to my website at IAMCrystalwaters.com.

And you can go to my Instagram page at Crystal Waters and my profile. All the information is there. We're ready for you. We want to see you there. I want to come. I am so excited for you. I'm just excited to be here in your presence.

Like, I feel like you're, Your royalty over here. Oh, thank you. Your true royalty, just being here. And I love your take on everything that you said, you know, the authenticity just from, you know, remaining. It's not easy. Look, it is not easy.

And especially for women, it's not easy to stay relevant and stay in the game and keep on doing what you're doing. So you give yourself so much grace and so many kudos. And you are a voice for women and inspiration not only to women, but I think to everybody. Oh, thank you. Appreciate that. Keep doing what you're doing because you are crushing it. Thank you. I'm so excited to see what's next.

You already told us your handles or anything else you want to leave the audience with today. Just come, just check out house music. Also, I want to talk about my podcast. Talk about it. My I Am House Radio podcast. I'm on Sirius XM, Utopia, Saturday night, 7 p.m. Sunday and Thursday at 8 p.m. You can find my podcast anywhere.

We're in 39 countries on 60-some stations. So check me at IAM House Radio. On Apple, Spotify, YouTube, everywhere. Apple, Spotify, YouTube, everywhere. And your guests are their artists? It's all house music, vocal house music. Are you all going to sing on there? Not yet.

Not yet. No? No, we're planning on live streaming the show at some point, so you might be able to at a later date here, the IAM House orchestrated on the radio. I love that. Just put some cameras in there so people can get like a little bit of front. So artists do that.

Do they like, when you're together, do you all of a sudden just, you know, you start singing and then another one, does that ever happen? I would like you to believe that fantasy, but unfortunately, it's not quite like. It's all like, everybody's a workhorse. Everybody's in, out onto the next thing. I love that. You are, you really are such an inspiration. I'm so happy that you got to come and hang out with us for a little bit. And I can't wait to see where you're going, what you're doing next.

Be sure that I'm going to follow you. I'm fan-girling over here, girl. I'm fan-girling. but thanks for coming and hanging out of the bill. All right. Thanks for having me. Crystal Waters reminds us that true icons, they don't chase trends, they set them. So I have a challenge for you this week. Find something that's outdated.

I don't know, maybe a cool shirt, something that you're embarrassed about because it was out in the 90s. But here's the deal. Everything is coming back. So for anybody that wants to showcase their outdated trend or something that they want to bring back, I will go ahead and showcase it on the Belf Pod and on the Belf Pod. Instagram. So hurry up and do that. And do not forget to like, share with a friend, and subscribe. Until next time.