Crystal Chen is a Chinese–New Zealand singer, musician, and visual artist redefining Aotearoa’s contemporary sound. Her debut album You Can Call Me CC feels like reading a diary set to music - intimate, soulful, and intricately arranged with some of New Zealand’s finest jazz musicians. Experience these songs live under The Pavilion in Aotea Square for an unforgettable evening of sound and story.
About the Artist
Tamaki Mākaurau-based Chinese-New Zealand singer, musician, and visual artist Crystal Chen, uses different mediums in her creative practice to reflect her perspective and reaction of the world around her through an honest and romantic lens. Having paved a path for herself since her first release in 2020, she’s been known for her soft and alluring songwriting abilities which explore themes of love, loss and fleeting memories.
Having steadily built success over the past year, Crystal has supported Australian alt-indie trio Telenova at their Auckland show, saw festival placements at The Others Way and Cuba Dupa, a sold-out headline show during NZ Music Month 2024, and most recently a showcase feature at Going Global. In a testament to the synergy between her sound and visual sensibilities, Crystal likes to direct her own music videos and the Love Letter music video won ‘Best Music Video’ at the HALO International Film Festival. It was also nominated for an LA Independent Women Film Award and ‘Best NZ Music Video’ at the 2024 Vision Fest Film Festival.
The work of an old soul with a young heart, or perhaps an analog girl in a digital world, Crystal Chen’s debut album ‘You can call me CC’ unfolds at its own unhurried pace. It showcases an intoxicating melange of jazz, post-disco, R&B, and modern soul. Comprising twelve songs that feel like handwritten journal entries translated into music – set to a backdrop of intricate compositions and ornate instrumentation provided by New Zealand’s finest jazz musicians. The album offers an intimate window into the emotional landscapes and metamorphosis of a woman who is the artist and muse.
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