Tell Us about:

Your latest single you have released:

Sure – this is the second single from our upcoming ‘8’ album and it just dropped this month. ‘This Way Forever (Pearl Sound Remix)’ finds the band rerecording and remixing one of our earlier songs from a few decades back in a fresh and much more intense production style.

This time, we went back to Pearl Sound Studios (Canton, MI) to work with renowned engineer/producer Charles ‘Chuck’ Alkazian like we did back on two of our earlier albums to bring his big sound and dynamic approach to the song. Keys and vocals were tracked at our private studio while guitars and drums recorded at Pearl. Chuck mixed and mastered the track and what we got – another definition of sweet!

Your favourite lyric in this song:

‘I never thought that I would see you again…’ sets the tone for the whole tune. The loss we all suffer either by our actions or another’s: part of life but sometimes could be avoided altogether if we just thought it out before we did it.

Your favourite song that you have created that is an album track:

Probably the most progressive (and longest) track we’ve produced over our 5-decade career (more on that in a bit) is ‘Prisoner, Unbound’ from the ‘III’ release. Powerful and filles with a lot of emotion, both instrumentally and in lyric content. Fun to play live as well.

Your favourite song to play live:

Easy – ‘Warriors’, SWEET CRYSTAL’s ode and anthem to the men and women of the Armed Forces. There are always veterans in our audiences and to be able to dedicate this tune to both them and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us…powerful.

The song that was the longest to write and why?

How about the opening track from our first truly Christian rock release? ‘Power And The Glory’ took almost two years to come together as we struggled with how to start this new musical path we just knew God had for us. Going from a pure secular rock band to this new and uncharted direction for us took a new focus, a new dedication to the band’s message and mission and a few members decided to go their different ways. The three of us that had started the band in 1974 (Marq Andrew Speck – lead vocals, anything with keys;

Bill Blatter –vocals, anything with strings; Steve Wieser – anything hit with sticks) just knew this was our way and some 50 years later (with the addition of bassist Martin Kuchar), here we are: stronger, still standing and definitely sweeter for the journey.

Dream collaboration:

Would adore working with either Alan Parsons or Neal Morse.  Both are giants in the industry and both have production and song writing chops that would make any (or all) of our songs…even sweeter!

Describe the feeling you get when you walk on stage to do a show:

Humbled to be asked to play, blessed to be able to play and excited to know that there is someone in the audience that God wants there to hear our message. We hope that the music, message and words we sing will make a difference in the lives of everyone who hears them. Our music is about us, but it’s also about you. We hope someone who hears our music – or attends a Sweet Crystal show – to come away feeling better about themselves, knowing that whatever they are dealing with, chances are we’ve dealt with it as well.

The hardest track to play live:

So far, so good.  Every SWEET CRYSTAL song is designed to be played live, so no real concerns there.

Essential items you always take on tour with you?

Lays Classic Potato Chips – truly. Google how they help singers sing. Everyone from Dolly Parton to Ken Tamplin to Nick Lachey… this is a secret well worth investigating if you’re a vocalist!

Describe your fans in three words:

Sweet, Sweeter, Sweeties!

A song by another artist or band you wish you had written:

Without a doubt, Queensryche’s ‘Silent Lucidity’… by far one of the band’s favorite songs to listen to every time it comes on. Beautifully produced, beautifully performed with a chorus that just resonates.

What we can look forward to from your band this year:

More songs being recorded and produced even now for our next full release ‘8’. One more single ‘Original Sin’ coming out before the full release that should keep our brand and message alive across the web! Live shows being booked – best bet to come with us is just sign up for our email blasts on our website and stay in our loop. We will always try and save you a seat.

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