With Crystal Youth, our goal is to create music that isn’t just heard but felt, inviting listeners on journeys that blend nostalgia with cosmic wonder. Music for us is about connection, memory, and exploration, and our influences reflect this range of emotions and experiences. Here, we share the artists who have shaped our sound and vision, teaching us valuable lessons in atmosphere, storytelling, and emotional depth.
The Midnight – The Art of Nostalgia
The Midnight has mastered the art of creating music that feels like stepping into a memory. Their synthwave sound merges 80s nostalgia with a modern edge, making their songs feel both familiar and fresh. From them, we’ve learned to blend warmth with forward-thinking sound, reminding us that nostalgia isn’t just about looking back—it’s about finding meaning in timeless memories.
Electric Youth – Layered Emotions in Sound
Electric Youth brings introspection and hope to their music, weaving lush soundscapes that feel cinematic and intimate at once. Their music has taught us to layer emotions in each track, combining joy, longing, and comfort. They remind us that vulnerability and openness make music universal and relatable, an ethos we carry forward in Crystal Youth.
The Naked and Famous – Energetic, Anthemic Power
With The Naked and Famous, every song feels like an anthem, balancing bold energy with introspective lyrics. This contrast has inspired us to create music that reaches for the stars while staying grounded in emotion. They’ve shown us how to blend vast, powerful sound with a personal touch, creating music that resonates deeply.
M83 – Expansive and Cinematic Soundscapes
M83 creates sweeping, cinematic synth-driven music that feels both cosmic and intimate. Their grand, almost otherworldly soundscapes have profoundly influenced us, teaching us to embrace layers of atmosphere and explore the emotional vastness that sound can hold. They remind us to think big and to make music that feels as expansive as the universe.
MGMT – Psychedelic Pop and Catchy Hooks
MGMT has a unique way of combining playful energy with introspective lyrics, blending catchy pop hooks with surreal elements. Their approach to psychedelic pop shows us that music can be both fun and reflective. From MGMT, we’ve learned to embrace quirks in our sound, adding a unique edge to our nostalgic vibe.
Grimes – Electro-Pop and Futurism
Grimes pushes the boundaries of electro-pop, blending experimental production with infectious melodies. Her bold, futuristic aesthetic has inspired us to take risks and to keep our sound innovative. Grimes reminds us that electronic music can be as forward-thinking as it is accessible, and her work has shown us how to blend pop appeal with experimental flair.
Public Service Broadcasting – Storytelling Through Sound
Public Service Broadcasting are masters of using samples and sound bites to tell stories that feel both historical and futuristic. Their music has taught us that songs don’t have to follow a linear narrative; they can create a sense of place and discovery. From them, we’ve learned the importance of using soundscapes to convey stories and atmospheres, giving listeners a way to explore and interpret their own stories.
Chvrches – Modern Synth-Pop with Emotional Power
Chvrches combines polished synth-pop with relatable lyrics, creating music that is catchy and deeply emotional. Their music shows us how to pair upbeat, polished sounds with raw, honest lyrics, a quality we admire and aim to achieve. From Chvrches, we’ve learned the importance of making music that is both engaging and emotionally resonant.
Arcade Fire – Creating Emotional Landscapes
Arcade Fire creates songs that feel like emotional landscapes, layered and filled with detail. Their music builds slowly, allowing listeners to become fully immersed. They’ve taught us the power of patience in crafting songs that evolve and grow. Arcade Fire inspires us to create music that feels like a journey, inviting listeners to get lost in the sound.
Sigur Rós – Ethereal Soundscapes and Emotional Depth
Sigur Rós is known for crafting music that feels otherworldly, creating soundscapes that evoke intense emotion. Their music shows us that sometimes, sound alone can convey a story or feeling without words. Sigur Rós reminds us of the power of ambient, introspective music, and they inspire us to create music that invites listeners to reflect and feel deeply.
Empire of the Sun – The Power of Imagery
With Empire of the Sun, every song feels like a vivid dreamscape. Their music blends catchy hooks with a cinematic feel, creating a world of sound that listeners can lose themselves in. They’ve taught us that music isn’t just about what you hear—it’s about what you see in your mind. From Empire of the Sun, we’ve learned the importance of creating a world within each track, inviting listeners to get lost in the experience.
Rahim Redcar (Christine and the Queens) – Emotion in Every Note
Rahim Redcar, formerly Christine and the Queens brings raw, unfiltered emotion into each track, balancing strength and vulnerability in his music. His work has shown us that powerful emotion doesn’t have to be loud or overwhelming; sometimes, it’s in the quiet, intentional moments. From Rahim, we’ve learned to infuse every note with feeling, creating music that resonates on a deeply personal level.
Hans Zimmer, Ramin Djawadi, and John Williams – The Masters of Cinematic Emotion
These legendary composers each bring unique qualities to cinematic music. Hans Zimmer shows us how to capture the vastness of the universe with his grand, expansive soundscapes. Ramin Djawadi, with scores like Game of Thrones, demonstrates the power of building tension and release, creating emotional arcs in music. John Williams, with his unforgettable melodies, reminds us of the beauty in simplicity. From these composers, we’ve learned that music can build worlds and evoke complex emotions, inviting listeners on a journey.
Lana Del Rey – Melancholy and Mystery
Lana Del Rey has mastered the art of melancholy, creating music that feels like a faded, cherished memory. Her voice is warm and rich, making each song feel personal yet timeless. From Lana, we’ve learned to embrace a contemplative side in our music, using vocal delivery and lyrics to capture nostalgia and mystery. She shows us that music doesn’t always have to be joyful—it can linger in reflection and sadness too.
Faouzia – The Strength in Vulnerability
Faouzia brings strength and vulnerability together, with a powerful yet delicate voice that commands attention. Her music is raw and emotional, inspiring us to be open and relatable. She reminds us that honesty and emotion are strengths in music, showing us that when we share our own experiences, we connect more deeply with listeners.
Lisa Gerrard – Ethereal and Timeless
Lisa Gerrard brings a spiritual depth to her music, using her voice as an instrument to create haunting, timeless soundscapes. Her work is ethereal, showing us that vocals can be part of the wider soundscape, not just an added layer. From Lisa, we’ve learned to think of the voice as part of the atmosphere, a key element in evoking mood and emotion.
Bat for Lashes – Dreamlike Storytelling
Bat for Lashes (Natasha Khan) blends folk and electronic sounds to create music that feels like stepping into a dream. Her songs have a mythical quality, blending ancient and modern influences. From her, we’ve learned the art of blending genres to create something unique and timeless. She reminds us to let our stories come through naturally, creating songs that feel like personal journeys.
Foals – Energetic Build-Up and Rhythmic Intensity
Foals have mastered the art of building rhythmic intensity in their music, blending energetic layers with a sense of emotional urgency. Their songs often grow and build, showing us the power of gradual intensity. From Foals, we’ve learned the importance of allowing a song to evolve dynamically, creating tracks that pull listeners in with rhythmic complexity and emotional depth.
Tycho – Ambient and Atmospheric Soundscapes
Tycho blends ambient and downtempo sounds to create music that feels meditative and immersive. His music is richly textured, inviting listeners to drift into a state of calm and reflection. From Tycho, we’ve learned how to use texture and ambience to build a sense of place, creating soundscapes that are as emotionally resonant as they are relaxing.
Bonobo – Organic Electronica and Global Influence
Bonobo masterfully combines electronic production with organic sounds and global influences, creating music that feels expansive and natural. His music has a flow and richness that make it both immersive and accessible. Bonobo has shown us how to bring diverse textures and a sense of nature into our music, reminding us that electronic music can connect listeners to both culture and the world around them.
These artists have shaped us in countless ways, teaching us about layered soundscapes, emotional landscapes, and the power of storytelling in music. They each bring something unique to the world of music, but they all share a commitment to creating experiences that move and resonate with listeners. In Crystal Youth, we aim to carry these lessons forward, crafting music that is immersive, nostalgic, and profoundly reflective, inviting listeners to embark on a journey through sound and emotion.