ChrystalChyna: Two of a Kind

Unique in their style and execution, the twins ChrystalChyna are nothing short of charming, talented and totally entertaining.  The two claim their admiration for artists like Beyoncé and Kanye West among others and say that musical influences have come from all different angles of life since the day they were born.  The 17-year-old high school seniors are the first to say that being in the business is nothing short of an uphill battle, but they are driven by passion and experience. 

Guided by their mommy manager, ChrystalChyna say that they are on a schedule where they balance schoolwork, music practice, and just being regular teens.  “It’s like a full day and mom has to make sure we maintain that,” says Chyna.  However, music is second nature to the pair, Chyna went on to explain, “We started singing because we have a musical background.  Our godmother is Natalie Cole and our aunt is Chaka Khan, so we have been surrounded by it a lot.” 

The challenge of being 17 year old girls and trying to pursue a career in music still presents itself for ChrystalChyna, “people kind of doubt you in a way, and you have people who are your age that don’t really understand.  They don’t want you to do it and they don’t understand why you do it,” says Chrystal.  This does not stop them though; in fact these roadblocks sometimes serve as inspiration for them to keep moving forward.  “You have to believe in yourself before anybody.  So that’s our message that we want to give out to people,” says Chyna.

Inspiration comes from all angles for these girls, but one thing they made sure to tell me was that they LOVE Beyoncé!  “We feel like we have a connection to her because like her she was put down a lot too,” says Chrystal, and Chyna adds, “Nowadays there are a lot of people who are good performers but not only is she a good performer she’s a good vocalist.  She’s a lady and she’s elegant.”  The pair hopes to one day get a chance to work with her as well as other artists such as Janelle Monet who they credit with having originality.

In the near future, we can look forward to hearing much more from ChrystalChyna as they are working on an EP at the moment.  As a part of their promotional efforts, they will continue to upload cover videos and share what they call their “Snippet Sunday,” which is when they upload small clips of songs and performances to give the audience a taste of what they do.  ChrystalChyna are not only talented, but they are sweet, charming and two of a kind.  Be sure to connect with them on social media to see what moves they make next!

Connect with ChrystalChyna:

Facebook: Facebook.com/ChrystalChyna 

Twitter: @chrystalchyna

Instagram: @chrystalchyna

Cinco Santos: Passion and Duplicidad

Cinco Santos—five men, intent on making powerful music for anyone who comes in contact with their unique and hip sound.  Their music could be compared to the style of artists like Mana; a raspy catching voice combined with profound lyrics and smooth compelling instrumentals.  But who are the guys of Cinco Santos, and what do they have to offer to the world of music?  I spoke with founder of the band, Lorenzo Montero who gave me some insight as to what the band has going on and what they seek to accomplish.

Cinco Santos’ name comes from the concept of musical passion, “for me, Cinco Santos was a name that I came up with because it really represents that coming together as a band for a single purpose, and that magic and passion that happens when you get that really cool chemistry and vibe between people who are musically fusing,” explains Lorenzo. 

The upcoming album entitled “Duplicidad” is centered on the same themes that the group itself focuses on: inspiration and passion.  Lorenzo says that each and every one of the songs provide some kind of inspiration or spirituality within them, however he also highlights that, “they all have their little surprises.”  He also shared, that each one of the songs on the album come from different experiences that the band members have encountered at some point or another in their lives.      

Cinco Santos’ current single is entitled “Azucar y Amor”, a song about the workings of society that the group has observed through living in Los Angeles.  Lorenzo describes the song as having a tongue-and-cheek message highlighting the superficiality of the society that the band has observed on a daily basis.  “There’s a lot of superficiality and focus on the material…we sometimes find that people like that are more concerned about how much money you have, what kind of car you drive, or what you do for a living,” explains Lorenzo. 

From the album, “Duplicidad”, Lorenzo admits that Azucar y Amor is one of his favorites, however, he also points out one other single titled “Candela”.  “We’re really excited to see how people react when it comes out because we really love that song…musically it is probably the song that is closest to representing the band’s fusion of styles.

Cinco Santos is a band that introduces unique flavor and duality to the world of music through their blend of styles.  “We want people to experience Cinco Santos in our unique fusion of styles and musical influences and really take the time to listen to our music, watch our videos and experience the same vibe and passion that we get out of this.”

Connect with Cinco Santos:

Twitter:  @cincosantos

Facebook:Cinco Santos-Official

Soundcloud:CincoSantos

YouTube: CincoSantosBand