Album review: "desde mi cuarto" by Krystal
It's not particularly uncommon to discover an indie artist who has potential; most do, in fact. Part of the charm and appeal of following their careers is to witness that promise blossom as they continue to find themselves with each new release. But there's also a lot to be said for the intoxicating feeling of running across someone who simply arrives on the scene readymade as a star.
Only a month ago, Krystal dropped her "mixtape" (her words) desde mi cuarto, with little to no fanfare. By all accounts, it was a project she'd worked on by herself during her free time off from being a college student, mostly using just her phone and laptop*. "Por joder" she says, or "for the hell of it."
*Correction (9/21/24): Krystal graciously pointed out that she ONLY used her phone to make the album, which is frankly even more impressive.
All the more astounding then that she sounds like she does, and created one of the more electric and exciting Puerto Rican indie albums of the year.
Over eight tracks — and zero skips — Krystal meshes together bedroom pop, pluggnB, and other subgenres into a roster of songs that are as rich as anything put out by artists with larger budgets. With a sound that teases influences like FKA twigs, Tinashe, and Girl Ultra, she mesmerizes with a fearless confidence and poise typically reserved for more tested artists.
The album starts off with the subdued "confié" but immediately kicks up a notch with "mapa," a hyperpop jam that she navigates like a veteran. Where any other nouveau artist would get tripped up over the frantic BPMs, she innately gathers the vibe of the production and dives into it eagerly. It's always a thrill to discover an artist who finds new ways to say "men ain't shit," and doing so within such fun genres only makes it more delicious.
Songs like "marihuana," "chulochulería," and "tubeibienmicama!!!" burrow into your brain with their incredibly catchy hooks, daring you not to replay them the second they're over.
The best song is "inevitable." which also showcases Krystal at her scrappiest, flaunting herself and boasting about how hard it is to not fall for her charms and personality. Points are made! The track's sound alchemizes ballroom house, alt-R&B, and a touch of lounge music all while Krystal gleefully raps over it. More than any other song on the album, you can tell she's feeling herself and that same energy is transmitted to the listener as well.
The closing tracks, "xsinotecontesto" and "tuDS" wrap up the project in excellent fashion, sticking the landing and making sure every track is liable to be someone's favorite. At just 18 minutes long, desde mi cuarto is a lean listen which is a godsend in a time when too many artists put out overstuffed projects.
Whatever Krystal decides to do going forward, she's instantly put herself on the radar with desde mi cuarto, and the only bad thing that can be said about her and the album is that the wait to see what's next will be too long.
It's one of the most exciting left-field debuts in a long time, and she single-handedly withered down the list of excuses rookie artists can give about the quality of their music. "Krystal was able to make this in her dorm room, with her phone!" (you gotta click to get the reference.) But, as she rightly points out in "chulochulería," that's consecuencia de meterte con la baddie que se llama Krystal. It's going to be hard to underestimate her from now on.
Follow Krystal on Instagram and Spotify, and listen to desde mi cuarto here: