The single release comes at a particularly challenging time for CRYSTAL, dealing with the sudden death of her mother in recent weeks. “I recently lost my mum, and this song has taken on a whole new meaning for me – offering strength, hope, and resilience during one of the hardest times in my life. I dedicate this song to her, and to the incredible kindness, perseverance, tenacity, and optimism she showed throughout her life.”
CRYSTAL’s honest and candid lyricism shines through on ‘Past Life’ and paired with super-charged production, she delivers an anthem that captures the spirit of youth.
“‘Past Life’ comes from my experience pursuing music – facing setbacks, working through self-doubt, and finding the confidence to keep going. It reflects that same belief in unseen forces, trusting that each step along the way is part of something larger unfolding ahead,” says CRYSTAL.
CRYSTAL adds that while there is an initial tone of sadness, overall the song is “about having an optimistic outlook on your own self growth and what’s to come in the future.”
‘Past Life’ was co-written during a week-long trip to Sydney with singer and songwriter Hannah Brewer and multi-talented singer and musician Pat Byrne. Oscar Sharah (aka OSWRLD and one half of the alternative-electronic duo Mel Blue) later joined the star-studded writing team adding his bold and experimental flair to the song. It then all came together with the magic of in-demand NZ-born, LA-based producer Harry Charles (King Princess, Dove Cameron, Peach PRC).
“The making of ‘Past Life’ was a real labour of love, and I’m incredibly proud of it – especially having so many of my favourite collaborators shape a song that reflects both the fear and optimism I’ve felt chasing my dreams,” says CRYSTAL.
‘Past Life’ follows the recent release of ‘Make It Up To You’, which has clocked up thousands of streams in a matter of a few months. Both songs showcase CRYSTAL’s songwriting prowess and make way for a larger project, which the talented artist plans on revealing in the coming months. It’s exciting news for fans of one of the most promising new voices in Australasian alt-pop.
Stay tuned for the ‘Past Life’ video, which is out on June 10.
About CRYSTAL:
Wellington-raised, Auckland- based rising force CRYSTAL (Crystal Amor-Ponter, Te Atiawa) is quickly making a name for herself in the Aotearoa music scene. Her electronica-meets-alt-pop musical roots trace back to the Wellington scene in 2019, where she quickly grew from DIY gigs and releases, studies in Commercial Music at Massey University, to performances at CubaDupa and Newtown Festivals. With intimate lyrics that romanticise life’s mundanities, CRYSTAL draws out gritty, catchy, and relatable anthems of growing up and self discovery. 2022 saw the artist move to Auckland, and release her debut EP GARLIC ICE CREAM – which attracted attention from student and commercial radio (Radio One, ZM, The Edge) alike. CRYSTAL’s sophomore EP DEAD ENDS was unveiled in 2023 and has since accumulated over 100,000 Spotify streams, prompting RollingStone to feature her as an Up-And-Coming Aotearoa Artist. Rising from strength to strength, CRYSTAL played Live Nation’s prestigious Ones To Watch showcase in 2024, and graced the stage at major NZ music festival Rhythm And Vines 2024/25.
