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Relational rhythm: Singer chases dream with real-life inspiration
Photo Courtesy of Awaken Love Productions - McKinney singer-songwriter Crystal Yates performs at Roots Coffehouse in North Richland Hills. Yates released her first album, "Love Wins," two weeks ago at Café Malaga in McKinney.
By Chris Beattie, cbeattie@acnpapers.com
"Love wins."
Those words signify more than just an album title for Crystal Yates. They sum up her life.
And now, after releasing her first CD, the McKinney singer is ready to spread the message to whoever needs to hear it.
Yates released the CD two weeks ago at Café Malaga in downtown McKinney, but inspiration for the "soulful country fusion" began decades ago, when her lyrics made it on heartfelt family gifts instead of iTunes.
Her passion for writing was always there, but the love she sings about took some time. Yates grew up in Niceville, Fl., and knew several people who struggled through substance abuse.
She wrote poems -- songs in their rawest form -- for those she cared about. The party scene easily welcomed her, but she knew there was more. Life wasn't about her, but those around her -- a lesson she learned through years of heartache.
"I'm encouraged by people, and that's what it's about to me," she said of her music. "We are all in this together, and I have an opportunity to know more people and hear their stories. It's what spurs me on to go out and do what I do."
Singing and songwriting became what she did back in Florida, where she led worship at a church with Will, now her husband and manager. The duo wrote and recorded the worship album, "Dwell Here," in 2006, through what Yates describes as a "really miraculous" process.
In her faith she found a new beginning, and soon, a life-changing opportunity. Yates posted her music on MySpace and caught the ear of Jennie Riddle, a McKinney singer-songwriter whose tune, "Revelation Song," won song of the year at last year's Dove Awards (Christian music's Grammy Awards).
The Yates family moved to McKinney in December 2009, and for a year and a half, they lived with Riddle's family. It was a rare merging of musicians, kids and siblings -- it ran the relationship gamut.
"We kind of just decided to join forces," Yates said. "We thought the best way to do it was just to live in the same house and do life together."
What came out of the bungled arrangement were friendships, commitment and love. Riddle started New Nation Music, a combination of her lyrical lead, her daughter Emily's and Yates' vocals and Will's instrumentals.
They now perform all over the world at churches, revivals, concerts, whichever venue calls their names. Yates' dream quickly shimmered through the sounds.
"I wanted to kind of venture out and do more than just worship music," she said. "Relationships became very amplified in my life, so it just made sense that as we came together in one big household, to think about and analyze them."
And out came 11 songs about those bonds, and the glue that holds them together. One of Yates' favorites, "Gotta Be," challenged her most vocally, and challenges listeners to question why they make things harder than they need to be.
The song "I Believe" speaks to Yates' lifelong hope that people can and will get better.
"I've watched some people come out on the other side of addiction, and I'm still waiting on some," she said. "It means the most to me because I really believe it. They're out there but somehow, if we have hope, they get it together."
Another song, "Let's Begin Again," is testament to Yates' friends who, a day before they finalized their divorce before a judge, realized their mistake and stayed together. They even had another child.
Yates' entire album is available on iTunes, and $1 from every sale over the next month goes toward Lucas Christian Academy, a school that Riddle helped start. Yates will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28 at Wales Manor Winery and Vineyard in McKinney.
She wants her writing and singing to carry her. Most of all, she wants others to hear her message.
"It kind of sums up everything that I hope for in life," she said, "that love would win and conquer all."
To hear Crystal Yates' music and see her upcoming shows, visit www.crystalyatesmusic.com.
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