Crystal Robins Brings Local Artists Together With Her Single ‘Fragment’

I feel absolutely honoured to have the opportunity to write about the beautiful soul that is singer/songwriter and music therapist, Crystal Robins and to watch her musical journey unfold.

Crystal is known around Darwin, Australia and beyond for her relatable and authentic acoustic folk music and awe inspiring loops and harmonies.

Originally from Sydney, Australia and now based in Darwin, Crystal Robins has been performing around Australia for over a decade and has played with artists such as Wendy Matthews, Toni Childs, and Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs).

She began her music releasing journey in January this year with her debut single, ‘Wildfire’ which made it to number six in the AMRAP charts and was shortlisted in the Listen Up Songwriting prize for 2020.

Since her first release, she has had a busy 2021, having released her single ‘So High’, her five track debut EP, ‘Wildfire’ and her latest track, which we talk about below, ‘Fragment’.

Produced by local engineer, Danny Christie and mastered by Sam Moses in Nashville, Tennessee, Crystal’s latest single release, ‘Fragment’ was written during the first Australian Covid-19 lockdown in 2020.

“It’s about suddenly having the time and space to slow down, reflect and re-assess. A chance to look at things from a different new perspective.” Crystal Robins

The track features an array of local artists including Lilly Sideris (violin), Aden Mackay (pedal steel), Tom Jones (bass) and Mark Smith (drums)

“I’m really excited by how it has turned out, and grateful for the array of amazing people who have contributed to this single. We’ve added some special elements to the mix, I can’t wait to share it!” Crystal Robins

You can listen to ‘Fragment’ below:

Tell us a little about who Crystal Robins is in everyday life.

I live on beautiful Larrakia Country in Darwin NT, and work as a music therapist during the day with people with disabilities and in mental health.

I love creating my own music, and performing live regularly around Darwin.

I also love cooking (vegan foods!), riding my bike and exploring some of the natural beauty around the Northern Territory.

What was it that first got you into music?

I’ve been passionate about music for as long as I can remember, from watching my favourite songs on Rage every weekend, to beginning to write my own songs as a teenager, and starting a band with my two best friends in high school.

I studied music at university, played in all kinds of bands around Sydney where I grew up, and now I am finally focussing on performing & recording my own music here in Darwin.

How would you describe the feel of your music?

Chill indie-folk with a country twist? It’s always hard to describe music using words!

You have released your new single, ‘Fragment’… tell us a little about how this song came about.

I wrote this song during the first lockdowns in Australia in 2020.  

Here in the Northern Territory we have been very lucky to have had relatively short lockdowns.

For me those lockdown periods were a pretty interesting time, just to be forced to stop everything completely.

It’s a unique experience that not every generation has been through in their lifetime.

I’m sure that some people in other states may not have experienced the lockdown periods quite as positively, I can only imagine what those longer lockdowns would have been like!

What does ‘Fragment’ mean to you?

This song is all about ‘time’, and how the concept of time changed while being in lockdown.

For me it was a rare chance to slow down from the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, to stop and take some time to reflect on where I was going and what I was doing.

It was a chance to see things from a renewed perspective. 

The track features a number of local Darwin artists, what was your experience in working with these musicians on your track?

Throughout this year I’ve been playing with a band of local artists here in Darwin, it’s been so great to collaborate with them, and then to end this year recording the new track ‘Fragment’ together.

On my previous EP recordings I played a lot of the parts myself, and collaborated with interstate musicians to record drums, strings and pedal steel.

So it was great to this time work with local artists and record all of the parts here in Darwin.

I’m super grateful to have these amazing musicians playing my music, as well as working with local engineer Danny Christie who recorded, produced and mixed all of my releases for this year.

What is your creative process like, when you are creating your music?

It’s different all the time, but a lot of the songs I have written recently have been prompted by a theme – I have been part of an online songwriting group with I Heart Songwriting Club on and off for the last couple of years.

I find having these themes (which a lot of the time seem very random) helps to dig up new ideas and take my writing in new directions it might not otherwise go.

Often, I’ll start by brainstorming some lyrics, or even stream of consciousness writing, and from there start to add music (usually guitar) and shape the song.

Has there been anything along the releasing process that you would do differently next time?

As an independent artist there are so many roles you take on all at once in the process of recording and releasing music.

And I feel like there is always more I could be doing to help get my music out there.

I enjoy doing a lot of the creative work myself, but it would be a dream to be able to hand over some of those admin tasks – like marketing & PR, booking gigs etc – to pros in those fields.

What would success in your music look like to you?

One of the most rewarding things for me is when a listener comes to me with their story about one of my songs; what it means to them or how it makes them feel.

When others connect with something you’ve created, that makes everything worthwhile.

But also, just having people keen to hear my original music feels like success.

It took me a long time to build the confidence to be able to share my songs with anyone, so these last couple of years have involved a lot of big steps outside my comfort zone.

I am excited about where it has taken me so far, but another thing I love about music is that there is no end point.

For me it’s not so much about success, but more so about enjoying the process.

Is there any message that you would like to share with your audience?

To everyone who has listened to my music this year – I’m so grateful for your support.

And to any aspiring song writers reading this, don’t be afraid to get out there and share your songs with the world.

I spent a long time keeping these songs to myself, and this last few years it has been such a liberating experience to finally share and perform them with others.

Where can people go to find your music?

Buy from Bandcamp: bit.ly/fragmentbc

Stream on Spotify: bit.ly/fragment21

Follow me on Facebook: @crystalrobinsmusic

Follow me on Insta: @crystalrobins_music