Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Crystal Shawanda: Toronto Mike'd Podcast Episode 1670

Episode Date: April 11, 2025

In this 1670th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike chats with musician Crystal Shawanda about her rise to fame, her music, and being the first full blood Indigenous woman to appear in the Top 20 on the American Billboard Country chart, to sell over 300k records, and to sing at the Grand Ole Opry. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Ridley Funeral Home, Silverwax, Yes We Are Open, Nick Ainis and RecycleMyElectronics.ca. If you would like to support the show, we do have partner opportunities available. Please email Toronto Mike at [e-mail]

Welcome to episode 1670 of Toronto Miked! Proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, a fiercely independent craft brewery who believes in supporting communities, good times and brewing amazing beer. Order online for free local home delivery in the GTA. Palma Pasta! Enjoy the taste of fresh, homemade Italian pasta and entrees from Palma Pasta in Mississauga and Oakville. Yes we are open! An award winning podcast from Monaris, hosted by FOTM Al Gregor.

Silverwax.ca. Use the promo code TORONTOMI Mike 10 and save 10% Recycle my electronics dot see a committing to our planet's future means properly recycling our electronics of the past building Toronto skyline a podcast and book from Nick I Eny's sponsored by Fusion Corp construction management Inc and Ridley funeral home pillars of the community since 1921. Joining me today, making her Toronto mic debut, is Crystal Shawanda. Welcome Crystal. Thank you so much.

I'm so happy to be here. I am truly honoured to meet you because I dove into your catalogue of fine music and you have one hell of a voice. Thank you. Honestly, what's your secret? Um, I don't know. I love to sing. I think that's the biggest part of it is I, I love to sing.

It's always been my lifeline. It's the thing that makes me happy. And when I sing, I feel like that's where I'm right, right where I'm supposed to be. Well we're going to have a few songs loaded up. I have brand new music. I have sort of the start and I have something in the middle that I think showcases the texture of your voice that I quite love. So we're going to hear the listenership. We'll hear how you sound throughout this episode. But I just want to acknowledge that you are not alone. So I just want to say there's a woman named Cat Bird in this room. And that's her real name, right, Crystal?

Absolutely. She's the glitter glue in my life. So how do you know Cat Bird, real name? Well, we we've worked together over at True North Records, where I was formerly at and now I am back on my own record label, New Sun Music, which has been active since 2010 and I'm very blessed to have Cat Bird over on the team at New Sun Music. So she is truly the glitter glue in my life. She keeps everything together in a fabulous way. Okay, and she's right now, I see her she's not on the mic, but I can see her

she's consuming a Delicious premium lager from Great Lakes Brewery elish. May I crack one crystal? Birds drinking I'd like to drink this absolutely That's the sound that's the sound right there, but you do not drink, is that right? Um, not, not really. I just, just not thirsty anymore. You got a Coke in front of you. I do. I'm thirsty for Coke, but I need Coke as a sponsor.

You're telling me. Coca-Cola classic. Oh yeah. We need to be clear. Cause you know, back every time. So my boy just turned 11. What day was that? Two days ago. And then he, we went out to eat and he said,

cause he's not allowed to drink regular Coke. You're drinking a regular Coke. We don't let the 11 year old drink regular Coke cause it's got too much sugar in it. But he's like, it's my birthday. Can I have a regular Coke? So yes, he got a regular Coke. And I said, you know, I said, you know, back in the day,

Coca-Cola had cocaine in it. Do you know this Crystal? Yes. But that particular can in front of you does not have cocaine in it No, it does not and you know, I had I figured out like I I learned that you can't just say coke because people misunderstand my Years ago. I used to work with Doc McGee who has worked with you know Some of the biggest rock stars in the business created Bon Jovi and kiss and

I remember we were getting ready to do a show one time and he was like hey Chris Lee you good You need anything I said oh I could show you some coke and he just looked at me kind of weird and I was like Coca-Cola like oh yeah, because he was gonna score you some coke. That's how he rolls He probably would have and he looked at me go and after I said no no just like coke to drink and he was like Oh, okay. I was like I thought I left that behind in LA. I heard us make it a comeback. I've never, you know, so I've got at least a decade on you. Let me do some math. I think I have more than a decade on you actually. I've never seen coke, cocaine I mean. Like I've never seen it. I'm sure Cat Bird has seen many a line of coke in her day. I'm not suggesting it like, you know, the fact she's sniffing is because of that sweater

she's wearing. Okay. But I've never I always have people on the show and I can name names because they've been very honest, but like Peter Gross from City TV or Steve Anthony and John Gallagher and they talk about the 80s working with. I just think it's like Tony Montana and Scarface. There's a mountain of coke. Yeah, I just think it's like Tony Montana and Scarface. There's a mountain of Coke. OK, I've never seen Coke. Like, I don't think I'm invited to the parties

where Coke makes an appearance. Have you seen Coke, Crystal? I have. I walked into many places and just what you described of it being on the table, you know, whether it was, you know, with, you know, people, friends, and then also people in the music business and working with other bands and other musicians and myself personally, I have an addictive personality. So I just always knew a long time ago, made a decision long time ago to never venture, you know, in that direction, you know, you know, smart, the greenery is a different, different thing. But that's a herb, right? Very different thing. And you know, when you know, smart. The greenery is a different, different thing. But that's a herb, right? To me, very different thing.

And you know, when, you know, Willie Nelson still, you know, rock into the free world, like you'll hear about a George Michael, you'll hear about somebody who dies too early, too soon. And it's like, oh yeah, they did a lot of coke and the heart doesn't like it. You never hear. I never hear about, oh, that guy is heart stopped. Yeah. He smoked a lot of weed. Yeah. I've never heard that. I never hear about oh that guy is hard stop. Yeah, he smoked a lot of weed Come on come on Snoop Dogg's gonna outlive us all okay Absolutely. All right, so I can't wait I'm gonna you kind of alluded to your origin story and I mentioned I've got something from the past sort of like you're getting married There's something old something in the middle and then something new that I've loaded up here

But where did you grow up, Crystal? I grew up on the Weakwem Kong First Nations on Manitoulin Island, the largest freshwater island in the world. And I grew up on all styles of music and surrounded by music. And I just loved it. So that led me to Nashville, Tennessee, which is where I've been living for the past 21 years. And it's fair to say you drove from Nashville to be on Toronto Mike.

Is that correct? Absolutely. I don't believe you. I feel like Bob Dylan here. I don't believe you. Who? Okay. So Minotoulin Island, who are your inspirations?

Like I'm just curious about the, the origin story. Cause you don't just, you signed in Nashville, RCA Nashville in 2007. I'm going to play your first single in a moment, which people will probably recognize. But who are the inspirations for Crystal Shawanda that made you think you could be a country music superstar? All the best ones. My parents listened to really old country music, like L like uh... loretta lindt pat clyne hank williams johnny cash and my oldest brother listen to blues music like bb king muddy waters and

that it james and and then my other brother listen to steve roadway yoke on tom petty and you know a cdc and so i have this really good education in music and as far as my family was concerned there It wasn't a particular genre. That was our favorite It was just there's good music and there's bad music doesn't matter what genres well you threw AC DC in there So you're all over the map. I do the AC DC That's where that's who taught me how to perfect the pinch in my voice. Is that okay? That's who gets credit for that

Yeah, some of it and then I also learned from Conway to itty how to handle that pinch and that gravel in the voice So I you know, I go I always went to different vocalists These were my teachers my first mentors and and I they helped me learn how to control these different Parts and textures of my voice So these two I want to speak to the texture and again I feel like maybe I should be having this conversation after we play a little of your music for people who aren't familiar.

They can hear what I hear. I hear a very, ready for the highest compliment I've ever paid a singer. Are you ready? Sure. Are you sitting down? I'm sitting. It's Joplin-esque.

Oh, thank you. I feel like that's the highest praise a singer can receive. I get that a lot. Like when we do, sometimes when I'm off the road and I'm home in Nashville we do a residency gig at a blues bar called Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar. It's over on Printer's Alley and so we like to play there. When we play there I don't do originals I do straight up all my favorite covers and it's just a chance for me to hang out. It's not work it's that's basically my social life and I

get to hang out with my friends, musicians who are my friends and we play our favorite songs. And so every time people come in the club, they always request Janice Joplin and I always tell them, okay I'll do Joplin for you. I said, but you gotta wait a little bit. I say you can't pull out Joplin too early because you know once you go Joplin, you can't go back. You know, and I always tell them that the next thing you know, I'll be sitting over at the bar finishing off the Southern Comfort. And when you guys are all done, I'll just be getting started.

So and then and then it makes them stick around a longer and they wait for it. And I do I do mean Joplin. I'll bet. What's your go to Joplin jam? Piece of my heart. If I want to really work that tip jug piece of my heart. Well, that's that's a winner right there, okay? So I discovered that song,

again, I said I had a word decade on you, but as a kid, there was a, I don't know if it's Molson or Labatt, it's one of the giant beer companies, licensed that song for a commercial. So I originally knew Piece of My Heart is like a beer ad. Like this is my intro to Janis Jomplin essentially. But now that I've had 10 minutes of chatting with you and you're in my headphones here,

I can hear the texture in your speaking voice. Like it's quite remarkable. So I'm wondering, and again, I'm going to go back to a song you released back in 2000, I guess it was early 08, but did you always have this texture or is this something that developed over the years? Like if I were chatting with you 20 years ago, would you sound like this? I've always had a raspy speaking voice. I think it just came from because I was always talking ever since I was a kid.

And, um, and then as far as the singing, you know, when I was a kid and I would listen to these different styles of music and I was always experimenting, Hey, I wonder if I could do that. I wonder if I could do that. And I would just try things. And then I would figure out that this was something that I could do and it's something I could turn on and off. I can sing, you know, very clean classical music. I can also sing clean Broadway music.

But when I wanna bring that rasp and that pinch and I can also turn it on full blown. So yeah. The word for that is gifted. Oh, come on Crystal, you're gifted. Okay, I'm gonna play a song from back in the day. All right, let's hear how Wind blowing on my face, sidewalk flying beneath my bike A five-year-old's first taste of what freedom's really like

He was running right beside me, his hand holding on the seat I took a deep breath and hollered As I headed for the street You can let go now, daddy You can let go Oh, I think I'm ready To do this on my own It's still a little bit scary But I want you to know I'll be okay now, daddy

You can let go I was standing at the altar between the two loves of my life Is it sacrilegious if I fade this down? It's beautiful. People should check this out. You can let go early 2008, I suppose, but this is your first single for RCN Nashville? Yes. Big hit for you. It was.

It was the first time an Indigenous artist went number one in Canada and America on mainstream country music radio. And it was also, at that time, it was the fastest rising single since Carolyn Don Johnson. And I think within Canada, that record was just recently broken, but the record in America still hasn't been broken by Canadian female Indigenous artists. Well, congrats. Thank you. That's so, more than that, okay. First Indigenous woman to appear in the top 20 on the American Billboard country chart. First

Indigenous woman to sell over 300,000 copies of your record. First Indigenous woman to sing at the Grand Ole Opry. Yes. Okay, you're tearing down the walls here. Okay, and then also first Indigenous woman to win the CCMA Female Artist of the Year award. You did that in 2009. First Indigenous woman to win a Juno award for Blues Album of the Year. This is pretty recently, 2020. Yes. First Indigenous woman to appear in the top 10 of the American Billboard Blues charts. That was in 2022. Look at you. Okay.

Congrats. That's amazing. Hanging in there like a hair on a cheeseburger. You've been in Nashville too long. I, is that a Nashville? I feel like that's a Nashville. It's a hillbilly thing. My husband is a hillbilly.

He's a, he's in there. That's one of his famous sayings. Okay. Is your husband from Nashville? He's from Kentucky area, but he's been, that's one of his famous sayings. Okay, is your husband from Nashville? He's from Kentucky area, but he's been, you know, hanging out in Nashville since he was a teenager. He started playing on the road with Mel McDaniel when he was like 16 years old and Gary Stewart. And, and so he grew up there and that's where we met was in Nashville. What does he play an instrument? What is his forte? He does. He plays guitar and he's also he's grown into my producer, my engineer and what's this guy's

name D Wayne Strobel. I always say D Wayne Strobel. He's not only my lovely guitar player, but he's also my lovely husband, my baby daddy, my chauffeur, my chef, my scratch and post D Wayne Strobel, ladies and gentlemen, crystals lover. Yes. He wears a lot of hats just to keep me happy. Okay. And when did you meet this gentleman?

We met in 2003. We were both playing. So before you can, I just wanted to find out, is he pre you can let go or post? He is pre, but he, he played guitar on the Dawn of a New, that whole album, that first country album. But he didn't produce it, though that was produced by Scott Hendrix. So we were working with RCA at the time and we were trying to be polite about everything and stay in our roles and our places. So he was kind of more in the background than he is now.

Now he, like I said, he wears a lot of hats. DeWayne Strobel, and he produced your newest album, right? Sing Pretty Blues. That's right. He engineered, mixed it and produced it. Okay. This is a talented mofo you've got here. He is. Does he know how lucky he is? I think so. It's a mutual love affair.

He takes very good care of me and spoils me. So, and he lets me be the boss. So that's the most important thing. So how does an Indigenous woman from Anatulian Island end up signed to RCA Nashville back in 2007? How did that happen? Oh, a lot of hard work, determination, sacrifices. I first moved to Nashville when I was 16 years old and I kind of went back and forth a couple times. Nashville when I was 16 years old and I kind of went back and forth a couple times, you know, kind of gave up and went home at one point because, you know, I was

too naive to be scared so I went knocking on doors I had no right to knock on and one day I got lucky and this producer said, you know, come on back to the office play me a couple songs and played him some songs he said you're an amazing singer but you know Native Americans within country music I don't see that working and I don't think the country music fan base is ready for you or would accept you and so I gave Up I went home I went down a self-destructive path and no matter what I ended up back on a stage and back in front of a microphone So I went back to Nashville and this time it was not to get a record deal

It was just because I'm a singer and that's who I am and I started playing clubs particularly Titsy's world, Titsy's Orchid, world famous Orchid Lounge down on Broadway. Easy for you to say. Yeah, it's a, it was a, it was the Purple Prison. It's a big purple bar. And I called it the Purple Prison because we were working three to four shifts a day, six days a week. And each shift is like four hours, you know, and we were just down there all the time and we built up a buzz and next thing you know I had songwriters, producers and managers and record labels courting me and I basically had my pick and I picked RCA Records because that was the home of Elvis Presley and... That'll do it.

Yeah, that was enough for me, you know, it was like if I could just be, work with this label and learn from the best of the best in enough for me. You know, it was like if I could just be, work with this label and learn from the best of the best in the business, then, you know, it doesn't really matter what happens after that. So back then, Crystal, when one of these, I don't know, these record guys or whatever, they call you Native American, do you correct them? Well, this was back in the night. It was the nineties.

So back then we were still Native Americans so even up here in Canada yes so we didn't become the word indigenous to like in the past 10 years okay see I did not know yeah I don't bother correcting people though because you know I know who I am you know who I am there's you know sometimes people are not aware of you know like if it keeps changing sometimes It's hard for people to keep track and so I you know I allow for some grace and understanding I just you know like indigenous and then they catch on and then they say indigenous as well But you know for me, you know, I'm an ish nabeh. That's who I am

So, you know, but I'm not gonna expect anybody to know everybody to know that. Okay, I will say that expect anybody to know that everybody to know that. Okay, I will say that. So again, what do I know about Native American? I'd be like, well, actually, I'm a native Canadian. Right. Little confusion there when they would say Native American, but I was from Canada. Right. I go Manitoulin Island is in Canada. But that was back in the good old days when they didn't know we existed. Right. The days I long for again, just forget we're up here. Uh, and they probably, they probably, I'm going to guess country music, uh, fans just assume you're American and from Nashville at this point. Yeah.

Yeah. A lot of it. Yeah, for sure. You know, when I used to play down at Tootsie's sometimes I would, you know, people come up to me and they'd be like, what are you? And I would tell them, you know, again, it was the nineties. So I would tell them I'm Native American. They're like, what's that? There was actually some people who didn't know what that was and I was like I There I was like well, you know like Cowboys and Indians like whoa

That was the only reference that I could give to them for them to oh Sitting bowler and I usually have some people would say like I thought you guys were all gone Nope right here. That makes me sad to be quite. It was it was sad, you know So I was you know for a lot of people I was the first time that they'd ever been around one And so it was kind of strange, but I'm always happy to educate and catch people up to date Well, you're in that particular genre, country music, is kind of infamous for, it's not the most welcoming collective for people of color.

No, not always, you know. There was actually times where when I did my radio tour where I would show up and they would be like, oh, I thought you just had a really good tan. That leads to a question I have for you. I feel now we have a rapport. I need to ask you for your thoughts because of your perspective will be very important to me. But what are your thoughts on what we've learned about Buffy

St. Marie? You know, I it's it's been really difficult, you know, because I knew Buffy ever since I was a little kid. I first met her when I was like 11 years old she came and played a festival in my community and That was the first time I became aware of her because I was I didn't my parents didn't Play her music so I didn't even know who she was when she came to our community

But after that, you know the lady putting on the festival Explained who she was and what she had done and all the you know activism she did and and I thought that was incredible so I started following her and over the years we would cross paths at award shows and she was always very encouraging and always very sweet to me and then you know reading her book her autobiography I was just like I cried so many times because it was the first time where I felt like somebody had experienced even though everything came out the way it did in her book and at her time back in the day, she had so many of the same experiences of, you know, just, you know, racism in the music business. And I felt seen and heard for the first time. And so when

it all came out, I didn't know how to feel, you know, I was in shock, you know, and I didn't want to say anything or come to any conclusion until I heard a report from her like, well, what's her reply? Let's give her a chance to explain her story, you know, because people can pick pieces of a story. but there's always that other point of view of what it's like to be in that position. And no answer ever came. So to this day, I'm still waiting. I'm still waiting for a reply and a public acknowledgement of, you know, what was dug up, all the information and, and, um, you know, I'm, I'm one of those people, I got to hear all the sides of it before I come to a real decision or how I feel. But you know, it's been a while, so, you know, I, I, I'm a little disappointed that I didn't, I mean, she doesn't know anybody or me anything, but it just would

have been nice because I, you know, I'm, I'm, like I said, I've been a fan since I was a kid and, um, it's one of those things I'm still waiting and, but it is, I've, I was in shock about it for a long time because I kept waiting and waiting, you know, I, I would love to hear your side of the story is how I felt and it just never came. And so, um, you know, at this point, I'm, I just try to move forward. And, you know, it's unfortunate, because it hurt a lot of people, it hurt a lot of people's feelings, and broke a lot of hearts, and, and as well as mine, you know, because this is somebody that I feel like did a lot of, you know, great things for the Indigenous community raised a lot of awareness about issues that we deal with. And so, you know, great things for the Indigenous community, raised a lot of awareness about issues that we deal with.

And so, you know, like I said, I'm still waiting. But at this point, you know, it is it is definitely it's sad is what it is. It's sad. Well, I appreciate your candor. And I feel for you because I am not an Indigenous person, but I also yearn for an acknowledgement and an apology because she misled us. Yeah, for sure. You know, and that's what I kept trying to say. Like when people, when it first all happened, people are like, well, what do you think of this? What do you, what's your thoughts on it? And when I tried to say, well, I'm trying to wait for her side of the

story and I actually had some people almost turn on me and they were like, well, maybe you're a pretend Ian too. And I was like, you know, you want to see my quantum letter? It goes back for hundreds and hundreds of years like come at me, bro. You know, I ain't afraid you can. You're no pretend Ian, Crystal. No, as soon as you ride onto my reservation, there's a great big sign that says welcome to the home of Crystal Shawanda. That's amazing. Yeah, so you know, I'm good. I ain't scared. You're good. And one more thought here. I'm gonna play another song where I feel very, it's very Joplin-esque and then we're gonna get to the new stuff. But Gore Downey, one of my favorite musicians of all time, I'm a big tragically hip

fan, and at the end of his life he spent a lot of time and energy on the secret path project. And I'm wondering your thoughts on that effort from Gordowni. And doesn't matter to you that Gordowni is a white guy like me? Oh, no, of course. You know, allies are so very important. We need allies, we need them in our life. It's so important. And I thought it was really beautiful, all that work that he did before he went You know, I think you know as much as he created all this great music But he wanted something even more meaningful to leave behind He wanted to make an even bigger impact and in in you know, and I just thought that was amazing

You know a lot of people indigenous people appreciated it I did and you know growing up as. I did. And, you know, growing up as a kid as a huge, you know, my teenage years, like all his music took me back, you know, I grew up on it, you know, and so to have somebody that I looked up to and admired and to, you know, be a voice and give us a voice was really special. And it meant a lot to me. Glad to hear it. Did you have a favorite Tragically Hip song? Yes, New Orleans is Sinking. And I don't want to swim. Yeah, I love that song forever and I remember sitting around at you know

bonfire parties back home on the rez or cruising around in my old red truck and I had these great big subwoofers in my truck and I would just crank it like people would hear me 10 minutes before It's so good, right? It's a bluesy because you've got that bluesy I'm going to bluesy rockers. That's the second and that hip song ever heard Yeah, and that's what I feel like that song had a lot of bluesy under yeah And so I always had a dream of since I was a teenager of someday I'm gonna do that song and I'm gonna really

dream of since I was a teenager of someday I'm going to do that song and I'm gonna really exaggerate all those bluesy undertones and and then so I brought the idea to my husband my producer and and he loved it and we just rolled with it and the whole band we I played the idea for them in the studio we actually didn't let them hear the original because we didn't want them to get stuck on the idea of trying to recreate the original because smart you know we we that was the whole point is I wanted here's how they influenced me and here's what I've become. So amazing. I mean, geez, what a song now it's, it's in my head, but looked up to the Lord above and said, Hey man, thanks. Yeah. Okay. We can do a duet. I know you're hearing

my voice in the headphones. You're thinking, how do I duet with Toronto Mike? Catbird can broker that deal. Okay. Catbird, how is your logger? Good? It's awesome. Hitting the spot. Is that catbird's natural hair color? What do you think? It is. It is amazing. I can't believe it. Okay. Catbird. When I first I said, oh, that's not a real name. And then you're like, yeah, that's a real name. That's a mind blowing. Crystal, is Crystal a real name? Yes, it is my real name and then you're like, yeah, that's a real name. That's a mind blowing crystal. Is crystal a real name? Yes, it is my real name. Please produce your birth certificate for me. She's saying is Mike a real name?

Right. I'll never tell. We'll never never tell. Like I heard my roots are showing. Oh, yes. My roots are showing. I'm not going to reveal if it's by the way can't you just before we leave you you can let go It went to number one on the Canadian country album chart I think you mentioned that but in number 16 on the billboard top country Elms like What a monster hit right out of the gate. Yeah, it was amazing. It was a beautiful blur

I was all over the place I got to play stadiums and arenas all over Canada and America with Reba and Brad Paisley I shared the stage with the Eagles Taylor Swift. I played T. Swizzle. Yeah, that's my nine year old is going to go nuts. Oh, that's awesome. Yeah, she was amazing. Oh, who's following me? I think that's T. Swizzle.

OK, please continue. So I'm going to turn off my ring. That's rude. We actually played stagecoach together. So I was it was me, Taylor Swift, the Judds and the Eagles on that on the last part of the day I hope you were the headliner no but I the Eagles were the headliner and you know that was one of those moments and surreal moments of standing there watching the pink sky and watching the Eagles play like standing there with my band look I'm did I get here? You know, you know what you say to yourself? Hell is frozen over.

But it was a beautiful blur and you know, beautiful blur. But why do you leave the label? I mean, you wanted to create your own. Is that the deal? New Sun Records? Well, it started out, you know, when streaming started happening, it changed the music industry. And our, at that time, RCA records had laid off over 250 people on their staff. And suddenly all the people who are around me, who created the album and the sound, all of a sudden they were all gone and it was all new people. And the head of the label brought me in his office and, and I had a meeting with him and one of the head, um, A&R in our people and they said we're on our way out the head of the label was retiring and he said there's a good chance they might stick you on the shelf

because the label is gonna want to work artists that they discovered not ones that were already there and so I made the crazy decision to branch off and start my own label and it was funny when I walked out of the meeting, my husband was like, what happened? And I told him and and he was like, are you OK? Like because I wasn't crying or anything. I was like, yeah, I think so. I said, you know what? I think we should start our own label.

And then that was the birth of New Sun Records in 2010. And your first release is I'll Be Home for Christmas. Yeah, we started off with it because it was fall and it was just about to be Christmas. I said, let's keep the ball rolling and keep the fires burning. And so we put out a Christmas album just to feed the fans.

And yeah, and then we just kept rolling. Then we released Just Like You, that album, and it won a Juno Award. Where's your Juno today? It's on my mantle at home. I used to keep all my awards like on a back shelf in the back office. And and then I had a friend one time, you know, visit asking me, where do you keep your words?

And I told him and he was like, why are you doing that? Bring them out. You should be proud. Because if he didn't say it, I was going to say it. Stealing my thunder. I learned to be to be proud. He's like, there's a lot of people who would love to have those awards and you don't have them. And, and so, you know, you should acknowledge where you've been and celebrate proud. Yeah, for sure.

So now I'm proud. Glad to hear it. Do you know the name Blair Packham? Um, so Blair Packham, uh, he was the founder founder lead guy for the Jitters, which is probably before your time because you're born in the 80s. But I can tell you yesterday, he was my guest here. And he's got some new material. And I said, I always promote who's next on the program. And he said I was going to love you. And I just want to tell Blair, if he's listening at home that Blair, you're correct.

I do love Crystal. Blair is a big fan. Okay. That's awesome. I'm gonna play a bit of this song just to give us a taste of your vocals. This is not the new stuff yet but then I'm going to give you some gifts for being here Crystal and then we're gonna talk about the the new music. You psyched? Awesome. Sounds good. Sitting by my window, as I was looking out at the rain Sitting by my window And I was looking out at the rain You know something struck me and clung on to me Filled like a, filled like a ball and chain I said, oh, oh, baby Why you wanna do, why you wanna do

All these mean things for me? I said, oh, oh, baby Why you wanna do, why you wanna do, why you wanna do all these mean things to me? Said you'll find your whole life will be like mine, all wrapped up in a ball and chain Crystal, what are we listening to here? Oh, that's my cover of Ball and Chain, which was originally recorded by Big Mama Thornton and then later covered by Janis Joplin. I felt like I needed to like just show how Joplin-esque your vocals can be.

So I grabbed this one because what amazing vocals. Thank you, I appreciate it. We actually recorded that one live off the floor in one take and we wanted to do an album that would give fans that live feeling because a lot of fans would tell us like, we love your records, but I wish they sounded more like your live shows. And so, so you know so that's what we did we did

that whole voodoo woman album live off the floor and you can you know Big Mama Thornton also wrote Hound Dog but you know that's right absolutely little no indeed he for sure I grew up loving Big Mama Thornton because she had this big powerful voice and she was a strong woman and she didn't take no crap from nobody and she taught me to do the same and then you know and it's funny when I was a like maybe like 13 people always used to say you sound very Janis Joplin and I didn't grow up listening to Janis Joplin until people kept pointing that out. You said I got to get Pearl.

And then so I went and looked it up I was like oh, oh, I mean, I've heard her name before, but just nobody in my family listened to her. And then, so that's when I started digging up her music and I was like, oh, okay, I get the reference, you know. I'm buds of a guy named Bill King, great pianist. And he played with Janice. Wow, that's very cool. I hit him up for all my Janice stories.

That's so cool. Man, so cool. What's cool is, okay, so I'm gonna run down the swag you're getting for making the trek, because you did drive all the way from Nashville. We did, all the way from Nashville, Tennessee. Do you enjoy Italian food? I do, it's actually my favorite. I have, just delivered today, it's in my freezer, I have a large lasagna for you from Palma Pasta. They're not in Nashville, unfortunately. They're in Mississauga and Oakville. Nice.

I feel like Catbird, it's worth the drive for Catbird to check out Palma Pasta. Go to palmapasta.com. So they've sent over lasagna for you, and I will let the listenership know that Palma Pasta will feed us at TMLX 18 on June 26th from 6 to 9 p.m. at Great Lakes Brewery, which is here in South Etobicoke at 30 Queen Elizabeth Boulevard near Royal York and Queensway. And of course we're already enjoying our Great Lakes beer, Ridley Funeral Home. Hold on, you can take us home. There's a series on Netflix called adolescence. I don't know if you've seen it for episodes, but what's remarkable is every episode is

one take. One uninterrupted. That's why is every episode is one take. One uninterrupted take. I saw the description of it. I was like, wow, that's going to be interesting. It's amazing. Actually, it's, you can't believe it to you. See it.

But I'd say they got nothing on you. Come on. One take, one take. Crystal Ridley funeral home has sent over a, uh, it's a measuring tape for you. I love this handy to, you never know if you have to measure something, stick that in the purse. Oh yeah, for sure. I'm always always I'm always measuring stuff. You're always measuring. I don't need to know anymore I don't need to know what you're measuring everywhere. I go But I know my daughter is gonna steal this from me. Well, you know, yeah cuz your daughter is American. Is that right?

Yeah, well, she's like me. She's dual citizen. Okay, so she's, you know. But inches are centimeters for your daughter. Okay. Did you train her properly? This is a centimeter world. I'm teaching her comment. I'm teaching her. Okay. You just reminded me, you know what I forgot?

You homeschool your child. I do. I homeschool my daughter. She goes with us. We never leave home without her. So she's growing up in the recording studio. You're not home right now and I don't see her anywhere. No she's well see we're only not too far away from Manitou and Iona so my parents drove up to visit

us and so they're hanging out at the hotel with her mama and papa she's hanging out with her mama and papa today. I was gonna call you out on your lie there that you don't leave home without her unless she's hiding in that purse somewhere but so why did you choose to homeschool your daughter? Because we're always on the road. We're always gone. We're never home. So if you know, if I didn't bring her with us, we would miss everything.

And I don't want to miss anything. So she's grown up on stages on the road and she actually joins us for our live shows now and we still do the song. You can let go and she actually sings it with me. I sing the verses and she does the choruses and my fans who've been with me since 2008 they just love it they love to hear her sing it with me and you know it's a special like we have a full band show but the band will take a break on that song and then it's just usually me her and my husband who do the song and it's um you

know a lot of the fans really love it it's a special amazing I just want to make sure that you're teaching her the metric system. Oh, yes, absolutely In this time and age, it's very important to me. I'm very passionate about this. Okay quickly I Want to give you all right Okay, I'm giving you a wireless speaker I I'm giving cat bird one too. Cat. That's a quality. I just like cat. I don't know what to say. I like people named cat bird. Okay. I, uh, that's quality speaker from a narrows because with that speaker, you're going to listen to yes, we are open, which is an award winning podcast from Monaris hosted by Al Gregor and Al went

to Saskatchewan and he's been chatting up small business owners in Regina. Have you ever been to Regina? I have. Do you remember where you played and you probably played in Regina, right? Do you remember where you're in different places? I played actually my I think one of my first CCMA experiences was there in Regina. Yeah. Okay.

Yes, it was because I remember everybody making a joke out of nevermind. Well, it was out of what Regina and how it sounds like vagina. That's very immature of you, Crystal. It was not me. It wasn't you. It was everybody at so I've been showing great restraint. Okay. I've been doing the this Meneris, a shout out to Regina all month. And I have yet to make a vagina joke. Oh, even though it crosses my mind every time I'm trying to show some maturity. Well, it's a wonderful city and I just I have a faint memory of us trying to hit up the McDonald's and a limousine and Everybody making a joke about where we were at

Well, you can't help it right blur blurred of memories for various reasons well, Kevin Toth is the president of Prairie Flying Service. And he was chatting with Al about the storied history and rich legacy of the company, which began in 1946, founded by four World War II pilots. So listen to Yes We Are Open, season eight is dropping now. Awesome. There's a new podcast I recorded this morning. It's for Nick Ainii's and the podcast is called Building Toronto Skyline.

And it's all about the CN Tower, which turns 50. It's 50 years old now. And it's just, we talked to a guy who worked on building the CN Tower 50 years ago. Wow. That's amazing. It is amazing. And I urge people to subscribe to Building Toronto Skyline. Thank you, Nick Ainiis. I would like to thank,

I want to make sure I don't miss anybody, but Silver Wax is the most, the newest, the freshest sponsor of Toronto Mic'd. Silver Wax makes pro-grade auto care and cleaning technology easy for everyone to use. They have kits for beginners, experts or professionals. Everything you need. People can go to silverwax.ca and use the promo code Toronto Mike 10 at checkout. You save 10%. Silver wax is proudly Canadian, just like you, Crystal. And I have, I mean, I can't believe I can't believe it because I have one of the real

best, the best kits they sell at silver wax.ca this whole bucket. And I don't know if that's This whole bucket. And I don't know if that's going back to Nashville. I don't know. You may be a cat bird and you share it. I don't know. But that bucket with these two spray bottles, you can detail the interior and exterior of your automobile, your trailer, your boat, whatever your bike. That's what I'm going to use it for. Just you're going gonna be like, wow, Silverwax does the job and everybody can again go to silverwax.ca. I am going to do one last piece of love and of course it is for recyclemyelectronics.ca because if you go to recyclemyelectronics.ca and you put in your poster code, this will not work in Nashville, but Catbird can do this in the hammer.

Put in your poster code and find out where you drop off your old cables, your old electronics, your old devices, and then it can be properly recycled instead of those chemicals ending up in our landfill. You got it, Catbird? She's got it. Okay. Can I play some new music? Yes, that would be amazing. Where'd you go, baby?

With another girl Making it all look so real You had her love in the palm of your hand But do you really know Just how it feels Would you know, love If it knocked upon your door Would you leave it closed just like you did before?

Would you, oh, love, if it looked you in the eye? Would you just stand there and let it slip, slip on the line? You know Rolling Stones' Gimme Shelter? You know the Mary Clayton part? Yeah. You know when her voice does that hitch? Yes. You ever worry that's gonna happen to you? I just keep on going doing my thing.

Okay, I just wow. Okay, so the new album is called Sing Pretty Blues and it's available today. We're recording this and I dropped these right away. This is Friday, April 11th. This will drop before you get to your next destination because I'm not going to edit a stitch of this. It's all gold. People can get this new album today. Tell me about Sing Pretty Blues. This is the first single. Yeah, this was the first single off the album. And you know, the title track, Sing Pretty Blues,

was actually inspired by a conversation I had with a photographer. I was coming off stage after a show and he was like, hey, Crystal, great show. You sounded amazing as always I I think I got some good shots, but I don't know you don't really you don't sing pretty He said so it's hard to get a good picture sometimes. I was like You know I could have got offended but I said I decided don't sing pretty right

I decided to take it as a compliment because he's right. I don't sing pretty I sing really hard I scrunch up my face. I don't sing pretty. I sing really hard. I scrunch up my face. I don't really care what I look like. I just, I'm trying to get all this stuff that's weighing me down, releasing it into the universe because I mean every word of it, you know? And I want the fans and the crowd to know and the fans listening to the record to know that I've lived these words, every word on this album and I know what it's like and I've made it through it and you're gonna make it through it too, you know?

And it's, you know, for me music has always been cheap therapy and healing isn't always pretty. And you know, this whole album, it has been three years since my last album and so this album has a lot of life and reflection of it and it's's, you know, the journey of life is not always pretty. So, you know, that's the Sing Pretty blues. And how was the album release show at the LULU Lounge yesterday? It was amazing! There was a lot of friends and family. And when I say friends, I mean my fans.

Because a lot of the fans that were there last night have been with me since the very beginning like since 2008 and it's incredible to see to see them still coming to my shows and they've been a part of my journey and all the changes from country to blues and Having my baby and watching her grow up and now when they come to see me they bring you know Easter baskets for my baby and Christmas presents for my daughter. It's really incredible. They say it takes a village but to be honest we don't really have a village. It's me and my husband and my parents and that's pretty much it. She has two wonderful uncles but she doesn't get to see them that often.

So we have this big community of fans who are watching her grow up. I feel like they genuinely love her and they show her love and I'm really grateful for that. What's Would You Know Love, the song we're listening to right now, what's that about? The song is all about you know like it's calling somebody out like would you know love because you know sometimes in this life you know people get burned so many times that they become weary and, and of love and, and sometimes people call it quits way too soon, you know, way too easy, people get in a little fight and then they break up and, you know, and, and sometimes, sometimes you got to stick it out, you know, obviously, if it's not a healthy situation, don't stick around. But, you know, if it's just because you have different interests or different tastes, you come from different worlds, like, sometimes it's

great to learn a new POV. So the songs about when I sing it, it makes me think of all the people who wouldn't be in my life, not just my husband, but people who I've worked with people, friends, you know, you know, recently, my agent, time agent and manager Rob Patti passed away last year and he was with us. Thank you. He was with us for 14 years and that's a lifetime in the music business. And when I started working with him was right after

I got out of working with Doc McGee which was an experience. Sounds like there's a whole episode right there. Oh, it's a whole episode right there oh it's a whole episode that's a real talk next part too so i was i was weary i was scared and you know and i but i i gave rob a chance and he became our friend beyond being a manager and agent he became our friend and he mentored us and guided us and was so patient and teaching us. And, and, um, you know, he wasn't just our manager and agent, he was someone to dream with. So when I, this song,

I get very emotional cause I think like, wow, I would've, I would've missed out on that whole 14 years if I didn't just, you know, and cause there's all kinds of love, you know, and, and we loved him very much. So it's one of those things, you know, it's like, um, I I that's what I think about when I sing that song is what I would have missed out on Well, I'm gonna just piggyback on that side sad sentiment there as you remember somebody you cared about to say that I learned yesterday that so FOTM means friend of Toronto mic. Okay, when you come on Toronto mics, you become an FOTM crystal You're now an FOTM. Yes! Welcome to the club.

A fellow FOTM is a long time A&R guy whose name was, his name was Mark. And Mark came on because he's the guy who introduced the Bare Naked Ladies to Seymour Stein at Sire. His name's Mark Nathan. He's also, he discovered, do you remember Con-Can? Yes, yes. He basically discovered, do you remember Con-Can? Yes, yes.

He basically discovered them and got them their record deal. And Marin Kaddell, do you remember this name, the sweater song? Yeah, yeah, the sweater song. So he discovered him and we had a great chat about it a few years ago. And then yesterday I learned Mark Nathan passed away. He died at the age of 70. So the listenership should be aware that there will be a tribute to Mark Nathan

dropping in the Toronto Mic'd feed tomorrow, which is Saturday. So listen for that on April 12. Mark Nathan gone too soon. He actually always, when I chatted with him, he had his, I hope I don't, I think his kidneys were failing and he had diabetes and he had some health concerns, but he always seemed to overcome these concerns and then it finally caught up to him and we lost Mark

Nathan. So I just wanted to take a moment to remember a great FOTM, I loved my conversation with Mark and again we'll remember him in the next episode of Toronto Mic'd. Now Crystal, I know I only played the three songs, but you know that first song it sounds like you're embedded in Nashville as a country music superstar, but as I listen it gets bluesier and poppier and it doesn't sound like country at all. No, I, yeah, I, you know, country left. What's going on? No, there's, there is a couple on this new album, there is a couple songs called Too Far to turn around and dirty

And I've actually been carrying those songs around since I recorded my first album dawn of a new day they were too far to turn around was actually written by Cory Mayo and Gretchen Wilson and They pitched this song to me and I fell in love with it But the record label wouldn't let me record it because it didn't fit the brand or the image they were going for Stop trying to control Crystal. This is why you had to go out on your own and create your own stable. Exactly, it's artistry, you know. So I've been hearing this song for a long time and, you know, I switched to blues several years ago because everybody at radio kept saying, you sound really blues. And, you know, at that time when I left, country music was about 2015, You know at that time when I left country music was about 2015

country music radio became very poppy and everybody was using, you know synthesizers and The big bass and all that and and it's just not what I was, you know, nothing like Florida Georgia line Yeah, stuff like that hip-hop blend almost it was it was so and it's just you know and nothing against it But it's not what I wanted to do, you you know so I that's what I branched out I listened to everybody who was giving me input and I said okay well since I have my own label I'll record a blues album and then I did it and it was like letting a bird out of a cage I felt free I felt like I could sing anything I wanted all the things that I really wanted to sing because when I recorded that first Dawn of a New Day album and I recorded You Can Let Go, my producer was very conscious of it constantly. He was

always reeling me back. He's like, okay, let's bring it down a little bit. He was always kind of shrinking me down. He'd be like, we don't want to scare away the country music fan base. So less grit, less growl. Don't sing too many high notes, too many abelishes, too many runs, you know, and so on. Geez. I wonder why I don't like country music. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I said it out loud, sorry, I should have just thought that. And so, you know, for me, swinging blues music was like, this is what I'm supposed to do. And then I came, you know, really determined to prove how blues I am, and I'm not country anymore. And then, but then I missed parts of that country soul that I have and so on this

new album it's definitely a blues album but there's also a lot of country soul as well. Okay I wondered like just because you're you're you you are not a uh you're not a white person Crystal like in country music we set it off the top it can be very difficult for non-white people in country this is what I understand for sure I've never been in country music as you might think. I loved Kenny Rogers though as a kid. I'm just throwing it out there. My mom played a lot of Kenny Rogers. My mom did too. She loved Kenny Rogers. All moms love Kenny Rogers. Is that correct? They just do something about them. Something about that, that, that wonderful man, the late great Kenny Rogers. But did you experience any racism

in the country music chapter of your career? Yeah, definitely. Sometimes, like I said, I would show up to radio stations. And I remember one time, and sometimes it wasn't mean racism. Sometimes it was just plain ignorance. I remember one time doing an interview, and the DJ was like, oh, I was half expecting your hair to be blowing in the wind like Jim Redcorn on King of the Hill.

I am a King of the Hill fan. That boy ain't right. Exactly. My husband always says that. He says, why do you sound like Bobby Hill? And Bobby's voice is a woman. Oh really? That would make sense. Pamela Adlon I believe is right. Oh that's so funny but yeah that's where that you

know sometimes I experience that. And then sometimes they want to have feathers in your hair? I think sometimes they would expect that and you know and sometimes it was mean but it was very subtle you know sometimes people are sometimes very good about hiding their racism, but they let you know, but the rest of the room may not know. And we know we live in an era where the President of the United States, and I won't get you in trouble because I know you would you have dual citizen, right? Yes, I do. Okay, they can't stop you from going home. That's the good news there for now. But he does it for certain. For some,

but Elizabeth Warren, he adopted the nickname Pocahontas. Yeah, like so we sort of have this casual racism towards indigenous people from the highest off. Right. We were making so much progress. It was getting so good, you know, and there had been so much, you know, more representation than ever, like the indigenous people in big movies and TV shows having their own successful hit series winning awards at the Oscars at the Emmys and in the music world, you know, and, and then all of a sudden we just hit this wall and it feels like we've gone back like 20 years and it's wild, it's crazy and it's given, you know, I'm not a politician, but what I do notice is that it's almost like it's given people permission to be

To not hide their racism. Yeah, so it's yes. That's how I feel I've lived in Nashville for 21 years and I've never had an overtly racist experience You know, sometimes people just act like they just don't like you and and until recently this past year went to a Walmart and I was buying my little girl a bike and a guy followed me out and started yelling very horrible things and I'm not gonna repeat here and And somehow he knew who were like where I was from like he made a reference to Canadian Indian and then he added a lot of insults along with that and And I was like, you know

along with that. And, and I was like, you know, I was very, it was very scary because he followed me, my head, me and my husband right out to our car and he got in his truck and pulled up and like started yelling things out the window. And what he saw us with our daughter pushing a bike and this guy didn't care. So I've been kind of avoiding Walmart in the South recently. But yeah, I think that you're right about the fact that seems to be emboldened. Yes. So this may have been something people felt, but they had, I don't know, some sense of, oh, I'll keep this to myself or maybe for me and my buds at the Dunkin Donuts or something.

But for sure now it seems to be emboldened. Like it's okay. I feel this way and I can express it. And that's horrific. It is because you know it's like if you want to vote for this person because of their policies then let that be it you know but when you start doing things like that that makes me think otherwise maybe you're not voting for him because of the policies like you say you are and you know but it's one of those things, you know, like I'm not a politician. I'm an artist. And so my job is I write and I sing and I try to heal people's hearts and spirits

and, you know, and try to stay in a positive light and things I've been saying to my fan base, because I'm not going to tell anybody what to think. That's not my place or what to believe. So what I say is just remember no matter what side you're on, whatever you believe, Nobody can control What's in our minds our hearts and our homes you get to decide that and that's that's a that's a beautiful sentence There's so much out of our control these days, you know Because even when you go to vote sometimes things don't go the way you want them to you know

So that's why I say they there's so many things that are out of our hands But what's in our mind our hearts and our homes is in our hands Okay last political question before I let you off the hook here, which is that you are a dual citizen But you're born and raised in Canada, and I'm wondering what is it like for you? I mean you live in Tennessee I'm sure I'm sure you're hearing like 51st state rhetoric I'm sure it must be out there in the atmosphere like what is it like as a Canadian woman? It's you know it's it's strange. I when it first all started coming out I honestly I was staying home a little bit because I was a little worried because I heard about

people actually like, you know Mexican people who are like somebody tried to run over a Mexican down the road and and and you know, we have a very large Mexican community in Nashville Tennessee and and it's beautiful there's one part of town Nolensville Road it's called and they have like little Mexico and I go shop there all the time and I feel at home when I'm there and so it's sad to see, you know, it's very sad. But for myself, you know, I try to just focus on the music, focus on the good, and I do my part as a human being to treat other human beings the way I want to be treated, you know.

And that's all we can do at this point. And so that's kind of where I'm at. And, you know, I express that I am a dual citizen. My grandpa flew both a Canadian flag and an American flag in his front yard of my whole life. And my dad always expressed that to me and my brothers that this is your right to live and work in both countries. And my family has always exercised that, my aunts, my uncles, my parents.

We started going to Michigan when I was a little kid for cherry picking every summer. So it's always been a big part of my life, you know, America, Canada, for us, there was no border, it was all home to us. Well, goodness gracious. When are you going home? I am heading back to Nashville on Monday. I have blues in schools presentations down in Windsor And so after that will continue you were just in Windsor at the Canada South Blues Society Um, we we we were down there doing blues in schools presentations That's something that I do on my time off when I'm not doing live shows

I visit the schools and we talk about history and blues music and then I talk to the kids about how blues music was created by a bullied people so I keep my focus on bullying and how that affects kids today and how I was bullied growing up and how music can be a friend to you and help heal you through those troubling times and we get the kids to sing along with us and they love my daughter my daughter is our secret weapon when I asked them to sing with me they're like, you know, then I bring her out and they're like, and they're like chasing her after the show asking her to sign their arms and their shirts and it's pretty cool. Well the good news is you're back in Ontario in June because June 18 you're at Rama Casino that's in Orillia of

course so you're back here in June and then you're going off to the the west coast of this fine country I see here you're visiting brother Bill and White Rock okay shout out to brother Bill you had the blue frog and you're in the name of the blue frog yeah and then I'm oh you're at the Queens and Blues and Roots Expo and then you're in uh Nanuse Bay which I'll pretend I've heard of that. That sounds like a wonderful place. And Parkersville, Victoria, I've been there. And... And it was just announced today, I'll be playing in Thunder Bay with the Black Eyed Peas

for their big festival. Really? Yeah, so it's very exciting. Lots of stuff going on this summer. And there's a few festivals and some shows that I can't announce yet, because I have to wait for them to announce it. But some really big festivals. But you'll be here all summer it looks like. I'm actually

headlining a couple of them so I'm really excited. Good for you! Listen, Crystal, what a pleasure it was to get to know you and to discover this, you know, the country music, I don't listen to a lot of country but I'm telling you, the bluesy rockers you're kicking out, I'm loving it so much. And this new album is out now. People can get it. And of course, crystal shawanda three dot band Zugal dot com is a place you can go to pick up the new album, sing pretty blues. Did you have a good time? I had the best time. Thank you. We still haven't had our Toronto tree photo yet. So we got some, you know, I got gotta get the lasagna of the freezer and then get that photo with you. But thanks so much for dropping by. This was amazing. Thank you so much. Thank you. And that brings us to the end of our 1670th show,

1670. Go to torontomic.com for all your Toronto Mike needs, whatever the hell those are. Much love to all who made this possible. That's Great Lakes Brewery. I enjoyed my burst. I've got some beer for you to take home. All right. Watch out, cat birds got her eyes on it. So you watch out there.

I'm just going to try and take it from me. Palma Pasta, Minaris, Silver Wax, RecycleMyElectronics.ca, Building Toronto Skyline, and Ridley Funeral Home. We just dropped a new episode of Life's Undertaking of Brad Jones, so subscribe and enjoy that. I mentioned Mark Nathan. I'm going to drop a tribute to him tomorrow, but the next live guest on this program is Gord Miller, NHL play-by-play guy. He's dropping by Monday, so I will see you all then. Music