Chrystal

Chrystal Jade Ruby Opal Orchard, known professionally as Chrystal, is a British singer, songwriter, and record producer from Farnworth, Greater Manchester. Growing up, she was influenced by R&B, hip hop, UK garage, and Eurodance artists like the Vengaboys. She initially studied law at the University of Bolton but dropped out to pursue music production at Manchester Creative And Media Academy.

Career Beginnings

Chrystal began performing at raves with her sister and gained attention after uploading videos of her performances. This led to her signing with the independent label 37 Records. In 2017, she released her debut single "Waves," which was inspired by the donk music scene she experienced in her youth. The track received significant attention, with BBC Radio 1Xtra naming it their "Weekend Anthem" and The Sunday Times including it as one of their "hottest tracks".

Musical Style and Breakthrough

Chrystal's music is characterized as a blend of R&B and contemporary R&B with pop and soul influences, often featuring seductive melodies over sparse house beats. Following "Waves," she released other tracks including "New Shoes," "2 Real," and "Vibe". After parting ways with her record label in 2019, she took a brief hiatus from her artistic career to work as an engineer. A significant breakthrough came in early 2025 when her previously unreleased 2015 song, "The Days," went viral, eventually reaching number four on the U.K. singles chart. This success led to a new record deal with Chaos Recordings. In June 2025, her collaboration with MK, "Dior," charted at number 5 on the UK singles chart.

Recent Activities

In November 2024, Chrystal shared on TikTok that her musical direction had shifted from house and garage to R&B and alternative pop around the time of her initial record deal. She also revealed that her "Unarchived" series consists of tracks recorded between 2014 and 2016. She has performed at notable festivals such as Sounds From The Other City. Her album "Dance Again" was released in July 2023.