Star Crystal is a rock band formed in Ukraine in 2012 by Sussana Radimovskaya
Interview conducted March 11, 2021
By Dan Locke
Star Crystal believes that music is a friend that always shares your mood and disposition. They wish to share their music with the world and believe that their music will open your feelings. They are looking to explore the realms of how everyone expresses and feels music without losing the feelings that coarse through your veins when you hear music played. Star Crystal expresses their love of music in their songs, and hopes that if you listen closely to the lyrics, you will recognize a part of yourself and be able to find your story in their music.
What is your upbringing?
Sussana Radimovskaya: My upbringing was strict but loving, my parents taught me responsibility and courage. I am always grateful to my parents for supporting me in my aspirations since childhood.
How did you discover music?
Ever since I was a little girl I loved to sing, I watched great singers like Debrie Miles, Whitney Huston, Tina Turner, etc. They were the ones who showed me all the beauty of music, the power of vocals.
How did you start to write music?
It is my gift from the Almighty. I bring an idea and when the team joins in, the song is born. Each song we try to bring to perfection so that everyone likes it, and now we write terrific music. we like to look in the hall and see how people enjoy it.
Describe your music.
Imagine the 80’s, it was a great time, that’s the kind of music we write. We have dance songs, a lot of soul songs, a lot of songs for any listener.
What was your first performance at like?
My first gig was a long time ago, probably as a kid. And the first performance of my band, I remember how nervous we were and it was just a bar. And in general, many cool concerts feel like the first one, like a new experience.
What makes a good songwriter?
Sincerity in your feelings, diligence in your development, purposefulness, love for the people who will listen to your music
What is the process of writing your music?
The idea comes out of the blue, inspires you, gives you wings, there’s power and team spirit in everything, and the song is born
How did Star Crystal form?
I wanted very much to play my songs and express my feelings in them, I proposed to Alex (guitarist) to form a band, he and I weren’t enough so we started looking for guys and we found them who would do anything for each other.
How did you get your bands name?
It was named in honor of the expensive champagne Crystal. But we didn’t think it was enough and then we decided to add something inspiring and it was the stars
Do you belong to any to songwritersâ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP?
No, we aren’t
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
Our first song was Destiny, and it is recorded in our album “Follow me”
What is more important for the back beat. The Bass or Drums?
Drum and bass tandem. metronome is most important (laugh)
Tell me about the making of your video âDonât Give Upâ
It was recently the anniversary of when we released the music video, and we met with the cast of the music video and reminisced about what it was like. We recorded in a very old church in our town, it was a very important process. It took us a long time to get permission to shoot, but everything went well and we were allowed to do it.
During the lockdown, you have created a couple of videos. Fall in Love and Wild Wind. How it to make video with social distancing?
We shot Wild Wind before the isolation, but we released it after the isolation, and in the Fall in Love video I’m alone in the recording studio, so it was pretty easy in terms of isolation
How do you stay healthy while performing?
Be optimistic and give all the flow of positivity to the hall.
What are youâre feeling about streaming music?
I like it, I use it, it’s very convenient, you can listen to almost any artist you want, enjoy all the best songs
The symbol # is known as the number sign, hash, [ or (in North American usage) pound sign. The symbol has historically been used for a wide range of purposes Since 2007, widespread usage of the symbol to introduce metadata tags on social media platforms has led to such tags being known as “hashtags”, and from that, the symbol itself is sometimes called a hashtag. Are people forgetting that the # is a part of music?
This symbol has many meanings and I have nothing against it, in different contexts it is perceived differently.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Of course, vinyl is a separate world, a separate culture of listening to music, when you fully concentrate on listening and you plunge into the world of wonderful melodies and rhythms
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
It’s Whitney Houston or Tina Turner, it’s Femme Fatality or Darby Miles. All songs mean passion, love, and the pursuit of success to me.
Both (Pfizer and BioNTech) and Moderna have conclude Phase 3 Study of the Coronavirus vaccine. With the both vaccines, it takes two shots. How many people do you think will take it and how many will forget to take the second shot?
Since it’s still on the radar, I think people will get the second vaccination
How long before the whole world will be vaccinated against the virus. You have to remember there only has to be a 70% for Herd immunity (Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community (the herd) becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. As a result, the whole community becomes protected â not just those who are immune.)
I think maybe a year or two and most people will already be vaccinated, or have their own immunity against the disease
If âVideo Killed the Radio Starâ do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music?
No, I don’t think so, the corona virus is too weak for that. live music is hard to replace by anything, that’s why it is eternal
Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
I think he will make his adjustments, maybe now there will be more streaming music, etc.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
We wrote new songs, shot new videos, which you will see soon. we worked and did not forget about our fans, to support them in such a difficult time.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
No, almost all of our free time for me and my team is taken up by music, so there is no time for hobbies
95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who donât have television and using their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?
I still watch cable TV.
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for âcommercial or non-personalâ purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
The updated music guidelines state that users âmay not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience [âŠ] This will include [Facebook] Live,â and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only.
How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
I think a lot of people will not like it and will start looking for an alternative for this, which will certainly affect Facebook
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
Bands can do live streaming and so communicate with their fans, do giveaways of their merchandise, for them
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
Sounds very futuristic, I think that this also has a place, everyone can see their favorite artist in a few meters from him, but in no case, it will not replace the feeling of a live performance
In the past if a musician stop doing music, they find a new career. For example, David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants. If you canât do music what would you like to be doing?
I didn’t even think about it, it sounds very unrealistic to me. music is a part of me
What is your happy place?
Our rehearsal studio đ
Do you think you would be willing to sale your back catalog if someone like Universal is will to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs?
No, we are not ready to sell our songs, because then they can forbid us to play them, and that is unthinkable for us.
Spotify just deleted 750,000 songs, mostly from independent artists. Was your saved?
Yes, all of our songs are in place, and we’re happy about it.
Sony Music in November and Warner Music Group in December, The ByteDance-owned video app revealed on (February 8) that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?
We already use it; it has its own audience who also like music very much
Would you be willing to play shows and what precautions would you like to have in place?
Of course, yes, we are in favor, any concert, it’s our everything, I think the necessary precautions will help us in this case
If music is the International language. What is the perfect harmony?
It is different for each musician. A special one
Anything you would like to say in closing.
We love you. Listen to Star Crystal and be well. See you at the livestreams.
