IN CONVERSATION WITH CRYSTAL MURRAY

interview by Marie-Pauline Cesari 

Numéro Netherlands Digital presents Crystal Murray, captured by Jabe. Crystal Murray is a fearless genre-defying artist whose music transcends boundaries, blending jazz, neo-soul, trip-hop, and electronic influences into a sound uniquely her own. In this exclusive interview, she opens up about her creative journey, the intersection of music and fashion, and how she continues to push artistic and cultural boundaries.

dress ASHI STUDIO

jacket YENESAI

Hi Crystal! Looking back, what is your earliest memory of wanting to become a singer? Was there a specific artist or moment that sparked that dream?

I’ve always wanted to be a singer, a performer. Music was at the center of everything in my life growing up—it was passion, work, faith, and expression all intertwined.

Music in my family comes from gospel. My dad built a career in music, and my mom worked in the industry. One of my earliest memories of truly feeling that this was my path was seeing Macy Gray perform at the Blue Note. Her unapologetic energy, the way she owned the stage—it was like she was made to be there, to perform, to give. That moment really stuck with me. It made me realize that music isn’t just about sound; it’s about presence, about sharing something raw and real with people.

You grew up in a musical household—your father was a saxophonist, and your mother was a music producer. How did that environment shape your sound and artistic identity?

Growing up in a musical household shaped the way I navigate the world. When you’re surrounded by music, the world feels bigger, like there’s always something new to discover. Sounds from everywhere played in my home from an early age, and it made me realize how much was still out there, waiting to be heard.

Music teaches you that you’ll never stop learning, never stop evolving. That’s the beauty of it—it’s endless. Having all these different sounds around me created this need to explore genres. My dad, a Black American musician, was already blending genres back in the '70s during the free jazz movement in New York. He taught me to always think outside the box, never conform if I didn’t want to.

So when my first EP came out—songs I had written at 15 or 16—I was scared when people started labeling me as a "neo-soul princess." That’s when I realized: I can’t be put in a box. I want to navigate with creativity, and I want it to be endless.

jacket YENESAI
shoes GIABORGHINI

top YVY
pants LOEWE
shoes ACNE STUDIOS

As a teenager, you were part of the Gucci Gang, a Parisian group of digital trendsetters. How did that early experience on Instagram and in the fashion world shape your career in music? Do you see fashion as just another creative outlet, or does it hold a deeper meaning in how you present yourself to the world?

It was fun because it was new; it felt a bit more real than it does now. The funny thing is, we weren’t trying to fit into any specific style or influence anyone—we were just being ourselves. I’m grateful it happened so early in my life because it gave me a lot of experiences at a young age and prepared me to fully focus on what I truly wanted to do.

Music has always been where I felt most comfortable in the public eye, but that time also sparked my love for fashion. Clothing has now become a deep part of my identity.

There’s a quote from Margiela that speaks straight to my heart:

"The ritual of dressing is a composition of the self, with our body as a canvas. We build an exterior expressive of the interior—a form of emotion."

That perfectly describes what I’ve felt for years. How do you explain the evolution of style? How do you explain an emotion? How do you explain the feeling of being free in what you wear? Dressing up has helped me understand myself, to feel my body differently—whether it’s playing with silhouettes in something tight or letting mesh fabric fall on my skin in a way that feels freeing and sensual. Fashion is more than just clothing; it’s an extension of how I feel and how I move through the world.

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bodysuit and overshoes MONIQUE FEI
shoes GIABORGHINI

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scarf STYLIST’S OWN
3D shorts MARRKNULL

You’ve worked with major fashion houses like Mugler, Paco Rabanne, and Maison Margiela. How do you choose the brands you collaborate with, and what makes a fashion project exciting for you?

I love working with brands that truly understand my style and give me the freedom to express myself through their clothes. Fashion, for me, is about storytelling—it’s about how fabrics, silhouettes, and textures make me feel and move. When a brand respects that and allows me to bring my own energy into their vision, that’s when a collaboration becomes exciting.

It’s not just about wearing a name; it’s about a shared creative language. I connect with brands that align with my artistic identity and push me to explore new ways of expressing myself.

How do you approach blending so many influences—from neo-soul and jazz to trip-hop and electronic—while keeping your sound uniquely yours?

By staying true to myself and not conforming to any specific genre. I see music as a space without borders, where different sounds, emotions, and textures can coexist freely. I don’t approach it with a fixed formula; I let my instincts guide me.

It’s also a constant process of research and discovery. I started releasing music so young, and part of the excitement is bringing people along on this journey of experimentation—of shaping and refining a sound that truly feels like mine. Music is a lifelong learning process, and that’s what makes it so special. Every project, every collaboration, every new influence adds another layer to who I am as an artist.

Your debut album, Sad Lovers and Giants, is deeply cinematic. How does cinema inspire your songwriting and visuals?

Cinema is a huge inspiration for me—not just visually, but in the way it captures emotions. The tension between beauty and sadness, intimacy and distance, the surreal and the real. I’m drawn to films that linger in the mind long after they end, where emotions feel raw, fragmented, and almost ungraspable.

Movies like Lost in Translation, Nymphomaniac, A Woman Under the Influence, or The Dreamers inspire me because they don’t just tell a story—they make you feel something unresolved, like a memory or a dream slipping away. There’s a strange longing in these films, a feeling of being both present and disconnected at the same time. That duality is something I explore in my music.

I love the way cinema plays with contrasts—the softness of a moment against something brutal, the quiet tension before something unravels. That’s how I build my sound and visuals. I want my songs to feel like they belong to a film, like they could underscore a moment of vulnerability, obsession, or self-discovery. That lingering sense of the in-between, of something both haunting and comforting, is what drives me creatively.

trikini STYLIST’S OWN
skirt YENESAI

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trikini STYLIST’S OWN
skirt YENESAI
boots BOTH

right
scarf SANKUANZ
necklace LEGACY
skirt ACHILLES ION GABRIEL
boots COURREGES

You co-founded Safe Place to support survivors of sexual harassment and created Spin Desire to uplift emerging artists. What drives you to use your platform for activism and community-building?

The future belongs to artists who refuse to be confined by old industry standards—those who think outside the box, who blend sounds, cultures, and emotions in ways we haven’t seen before. Music is evolving, and the most powerful thing we can do is come together to build something new.

Spin Desire is about that—creating a space where artists don’t have to choose between being underground or mainstream, niche or commercial. The next wave of music isn’t about fitting into categories; it’s about breaking them. When we connect, when we build together, that’s where real change happens.

But beyond the music, it’s about using our voices for something bigger. Art and activism have always been linked. Music has the power to shift mentalities, challenge norms, and make people feel seen. The artists of tomorrow won’t just be performers; they’ll be storytellers, disruptors, catalysts for change. And this is just the beginning.

What’s your mindset when you step on stage, and how do you want people to feel after a Crystal Murray show? What has been your favorite experience on stage so far?

When I step on stage, my mindset is about letting go—stepping into a space where nothing else exists but the music and the energy in the room. I want to be fully present, to connect, to give, to feel everything.

I want people to leave a Crystal Murray show feeling something real—whether it’s freedom, nostalgia, excitement, or a kind of beautiful chaos. A live show should be an experience, not just a performance.

What’s exciting you most about the next phase of your career?

Moving to London and navigating music scenes here has been really exciting and new. I’m working on new music right now and can’t wait to push my ideas further. I’m in my creative bubble, and I’m really excited for the future!

TEAM CREDITS:

talent CRYSTAL MURRAY
photography JABE
art direction CLAIRE GOUYET
styling STEPHY GALVANI
makeup ELISE DUCROT at B-AGENCY
hair ANDRE CUETO at WISE AND TALENTED using ORIBE HAIRCARE
nails MAGDA S.
photography assistant ENZO BERNAERT
casting direction TABATHA RUSSO
production BUREAU ALAGNA