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The Korea Times

By Dong Sun-hwa
Crystal Kay, a prominent figure in the Japanese R&B scene, stands out not just for her musical talent but also for her cultural background.
Born to a Korean-Japanese mother and an African-American father, Kay has been on a journey in the music industry that has been shaped from the onset by her multicultural heritage.
Her strict grandparents did not accept what they described as their “rebellious” granddaughter, who started singing at clubs when she was only 16.

However, what mattered more to them was the fact that their daughter married an African-American and had a mixed-race baby.
“My mother had a tough time trying to get accepted and I could feel that even as a child, because they were not very accepting of me as well,” Kay recalls.
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“She made a lot of effort to change their minds, visiting their house with me every Tuesday just to spend time with them. But from what I remember, my grandparents made us go home immediately after dinner.”
It took several years for them to accept their daughter’s decision and their granddaughter. The turning point came in 1993, the year Kay’s mother secured a record deal as a singer, when the grandparents invited both of them to join a family New Year celebration for the first time.
“That’s when my grandparents started paying attention to my mother,” Kay says. “In the case of my grandfather, he began engaging in conversation with me when I entered my college, Sophia University in Tokyo. Maybe that made him feel proud of me.”
Kay began her career as a singer at the age of 13 in 1999, following in her mother’s footsteps.
After debuting with the single “Eternal Memories”, Kay rolled out a string of smash-hit albums, including Almost Seventeen (2002) and All Yours (2007), becoming a marquee name in the Japanese R&B scene.

Almost Seventeen was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan after selling more than 400,000 copies.
Asked whether her multicultural background has had a profound influence on her life, the 37-year-old nods her head.
“I would say I am pretty privileged to have experienced three different cultures,” Kay says, adding that her background has broadened her perspective on music and life.
“My mother was a singer and my father was also part of a band. So, as a child, I was always surrounded by music and it was very normal for me to get immersed in it.”
Kay grew up listening to the music that her parents were fond of, such as soul, rock, R&B and pop. But that was not all – she was also mesmerised by the tunes on Japanese charts, especially those that were featured in TV shows or animated movies. “I had a culturally rich childhood,” the singer says.

Today, Kay is dubbed as an artist sitting at the intersection of East and West and she loves how people view her.
“I feel like I am a bridge between the East and West and this is actually my dream come true,” the singer says.
“I mostly sing in Japanese, but I try to infuse my cross-cultural experience into music and use more English. I make the sounds that everyone can enjoy, blending Western music and Asian melodies.”
The J-pop diva believes her 2012 release “Superman” best defines her musical style. “It has a vibe of what only I can do,” Kay says.
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Given that 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of her debut, Kay has a lot on her plate.
“I feel seasoned and grateful. In hindsight, it was a long and challenging, but fun journey that is about to get better,” she says. “As part of the celebrations, I am planning to tour and release a single, ‘That Girl’, on January 29. It is an uptempo song for anyone who is feeling down, telling them not to compare themselves to others.”
Kay, who previously collaborated with prominent Korean singers like BoA and Park Jin-young, hopes she can team up with more artists based in Korea, especially Yoon Mi-rae.
When I was a kid, there was no one else like me. But now, they are everywhere and our world is turning into a melting pot
Crystal Kay
Also known as Tasha Reid, Yoon is an acclaimed Korean-American hip-hop musician born to an African-American father and Korean mother.
Beyond her musical aspirations, Kay aims to be a role model for and inspire mixed-race people, drawing from her own experiences.
“When I was a kid, there was no one else like me,” she says. “But now, they are everywhere and our world is turning into a melting pot. So, I would like to be a role model for these people.”
Read the full story at The Korea Times.


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‘I had a culturally rich childhood’: J-pop artist Crystal Kay explains how her multicultural background shaped her life, music and career

J-pop diva Crystal Kay reflects on how growing up with an African-American father and a Korean-Japanese mother influenced her life, music and career. Photo: Getty Images

Japanese singer Crystal Kay performs during the opening ceremony of Vogue Fashion’s Night Out 2016 in Tokyo. Photo: Getty Images

Singer Crystal Kay’s background has broadened her perspective on music and life. Photo: Getty Images

The teaser for Crystal Kay’s coming single, “That Girl”, which comes out on January 29. Photo: LDH

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South Korean actor Park Seo-joon is born in the Year of the Dragon. Photo: Getty Images

“Dragon baby” actor Im Si-wan attends a Louis Vuitton fashion show in Seoul. Photo: Getty Images

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Lifestyle

Entertainment

Culture

Music

Crystal Kay’s musical journey has been heavily influenced by her parents: her mother is Korean-Japanese and her father is African-American
She talks about finally being accepted by her strict grandparents, feeling like a bridge between East and West, and wanting to inspire multicultural people


J-pop diva Crystal Kay reflects on how growing up with an African-American father and a Korean-Japanese mother influenced her life, music and career.


Japan

Korea Times

‘I had a culturally rich childhood’: J-pop artist Crystal Kay explains how her multicultural background shaped her life, music and career

Crystal Kay’s musical journey has been heavily influenced by her parents: her mother is Korean-Japanese and her father is African-American She talks about finally being accepted by her strict grandparents, feeling like a bridge between East and West, and wanting to inspire multicultural people

Crystal Kay’s musical journey has been heavily influenced by her parents: her mother is Korean-Japanese and her father is African-American

She talks about finally being accepted by her strict grandparents, feeling like a bridge between East and West, and wanting to inspire multicultural people