Crystal Shawanda
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Juno Award-winning powerhouse Crystal Shawanda is back with her latest studio album, Midnight Blues, on True North Records. Her latest fiery blues collection showcases her full-throttle raspy voice, unmatched in today`s musical landscape, and an authentic appreciation for the genre dating back to her youth.Produced and engineered in Nashville by her husband and long-time collaborator Dwayne Strobel, Midnight Blues — her eighth studio album, and fifth since switching from a chart-topping career as a country artist — is a collection of original songs, such as the seductive-sounding rocker "Midnight Blues," swampy dancefloor groove "Rumpshaker," and gentler "Take A Little Walk With The Moon," as well as covers of the Howlin` Wolf classic "Evil" and her take on Celine Dion`s hit "That`s Just The Woman In Me."Born in Wiikwemkoong First Nation, on Manitoulin Island, in Northern Ontario, Crystal was introduced to the blues by her eldest brother and to old-time country by her parents. "I was also into other styles of music that led me to the blues," she says, citing everything from Elvis Presley`s "Hound Dog," written by Big Mama Thornton, to R&B-pop star Monica`s "Misty Blue," by Dorothy Moore.And yet Crystal`s first foray as a professional singer was in country music, not blues. She was in her early 20s and had immediate success after signing a U.S. record deal with RCA Nashville. 2008`s Dawn of a New Day, featuring the single "You Can Let Go," reached No. 1 on the Canadian Country Album chart and No. 16 on the Billboard Top Country Albums, the highest charting album by a full-blooded Canadian Indigenous country artist (in the SoundScan-era).The following year she left the label and created her own, New Sun Records. Her first release was the holiday album I`ll Be Home For Christmas. Her next country album was 2010`s Just Like You, which won a 2013 Juno Award for Best Aboriginal Album, before she made the change to the blues with 2014`s The Whole World`s Got The Blues. Two years later, in quick succession, came 2016`s Fish Out of Water and 2017`s Voodoo Woman, then recognition as a bonafide blues talent with 2020`s Church House Blues, which won the 2021 Juno Award for Best Blues album.