As a huge fan of David Lynch‘s work, I’ve always been intrigued by his creative collaborations, particularly with Chrystabell. The way they describe their connection is enchanting and speaks to the unique harmony between their minds and talents. Their decade-long process of creating music together, interspersed with Lynch’s other projects, only adds to the allure of their artistic journey.
The video gained global attention with a strange blend of light and sound, as David Lynch had hinted. A few days prior, the renowned filmmaker and artist emerged online from his Los Angeles home, wearing Wayfarer sunglasses, to enigmatically announce: “Ladies and gentlemen, get ready to see and hear something extraordinary.”
As a cinema devotee, I couldn’t help but feel captivated when Lynch’s music video appeared on my screen. He was the director, and Chrystallia, his musical muse, was the star. In this production, she showcased her hauntingly beautiful face and mesmerizing layered vocals. The tune she sang was titled “Sublime Eternal Love,” a melody that carried an air of enchanting romance tinged with a sense of the uncanny.
On June 5th, we got a sneak peek of the upcoming album “Cellophane Memories” by Chrystabell, which will be out on Aug. 2 via Sacred Bones Records. The second single, titled “The Answers to the Questions,” dropped on Tuesday with its faint drumbeats and resonant guitar strums. As Chrystabell sang Lynch’s evocative words about passion and intrigue.
“Although they seemed strongly connected when she was with him, she later questioned if their relationship was overly idealized. Subsequently, she plunged into a dismal and hopeless state of mind.”
The music carries a dream-like quality, reminiscent of Lynch’s work, yet the unconventional vocal arrangements set it apart. Lynch achieves this unique twist through his innovative editing techniques.
Lynch ponders over her Americano, sharing, “New experiences take some time to grow on us. But once we’re accustomed, their true charm emerges. The same goes for unexpected twists and turns in life – they may initially seem different or even unsettling, but eventually reveal a unique beauty that is nothing short of magical. Chrystabell embodies this perfectly.”
The filmmaker sits on the shaded patio of his Hollywood Hills residence, a place he has called home since 1987. At 78 years old, Lynch is in high spirits for this uncommon interview despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. His thick gray hair is neatly styled with the sides cropped short.
In his latest acting role for Steven Spielberg’s 2022 film “The Fabelmans,” Lynch portrayed the grouchy, cigar-chomping movie director John Ford towards the end. With a grin, Lynch recounts, “I puffed on sixteen cigars that day” while embracing the part he initially declined.
Throughout his life, he has been deeply engaged with music, starting with his early musical inspirations like Elvis Presley. His musical tastes span a wide range, from Rebekah Del Rio to the German metal band Rammstein. He has collaborated with notable artists such as Roy Orbison, Trent Reznor, and Julee Cruise. Since 2011, he has pursued a solo recording career, releasing “Crazy Clown Time” as his debut album.
Title of new album with Chrystabell reflects the blend of voices: “This music is clear and distinct,” Lynch describes. “Each voice is audible against the backdrop of the other, creating a layered effect… It’s as if listening to this music is peering through cellophane, evoking memories.”
“Lynch and Chrystall’s initial composition in this mode was titled ‘The Sky Falls.’ It paved the way for future works, though the destination was uncertain at first.”
“The first time we heard it, it sounded terrible,” Lynch says.
His partner agrees.
In my experience, the initial listens left me feeling unsure and perplexed. “Shall we give it another try?”, I asked. With each subsequent listen, my brain was gently twisted into new shapes. Eventually, I found myself thinking, “This is actually quite remarkable.”
“We were considering using other types of content, but this particular idea really excited us.”
At the recording workshops in California, the Texan vocalist used to journey to Lynch’s abode, which boasts Asymmetrical Studio – a complete recording setup. The residence boasted her bedroom with unrefined concrete-like walls and an enormous painting of an atom bomb blast close by. According to her, “Under this roof of innovation, it was lighthearted and amusing.” There were no conditions attached: “Let’s just give it a go and discover the outcome.”
She characterizes her experience there as being similar to that of a resident artist, with minimal deadlines. The recording process spanned over a year, allowing the singer to go back and forth between Texas and Los Angeles to continue working. In her words, “Everything had ample time to grow in the digital environment and in the collective consciousness.”
As I listened to the hauntingly beautiful songs performed by Lynch and Chrystabell, I was struck by the raw authenticity of their performance. They didn’t need any external help from musicians or engineers to create this mesmerizing music. In fact, Lynch took on the role of producer while Chrystabell manned the controls as engineer.
In the past, Emerald Studios held the title as the largest recording studio in South Texas. It was not only used for recording the odd Coca-Cola jingle but also served as a venue where Tommy Lee Jones would drop by for looping sessions for the TV series “Lonesome Dove.” [
I’ve worked with all of this equipment before, and I’m quite comfortable with using Pro Tools, the go-to software for many professionals in recording.
In her spontaneous creativity, Lynch penned down the song lyrics on the spot using blue notecards, while she came up with all the vocal tunes herself.
As a film enthusiast, I’d put it this way: “I had to provide her with something to sing about, so I simply jotted down some lyrics. They came to me rather effortlessly, but it was Chrystabell who breathed life into them through her beautiful singing.”
Ten songs were added to the album’s tracklist, including the dreamy and reverberant “Two Lovers Kiss” and the unsettling “Reflections in a Blade.”
In 1999, Lynch first crossed paths with Chrystabell when Brian Loucks, a friend and music agent of Lynch’s at CAA, introduced them as a promising vocalist for his films. At Lynch’s home studio, they began collaborating straightaway. With the help of John Neff and Lynch, Chrystabell recorded her ethereal and passionate vocals over a pre-existing track. The product was an enchanting, sultry melody entitled “Right Down to You.”
At their initial encounter, Lynch found herself captivated by her beauty yet remarkably drawn to an uncanny resemblance of a praying mantis in her demeanor (Lynch’s recollection). Surprisingly, it was her intellect and instant comprehension of his thoughts that intrigued him even more. She demonstrated remarkable intelligence and attunement, making them the perfect match for collaboration.
The collaboration between them began with “Polish Poem,” a heavenly ballad of unrequited love featured in Lynch’s 2007 film “Inland Empire.” However, the production of their first album took a long time, as Lynch focused on other projects. Chrystabell released her solo debut album, “This Train,” in 2011, introducing her unique voice to Lynch’s enigmatic universe.
As a movie buff, I’d put it this way: From time to time, we collaborated on music projects, one of which was an EP released in 2016 titled “Somewhere in the Nowhere.” The next year, Lynch gave me an unexpected opportunity by casting me as FBI agent Tammy Preston in the third season of “Twin Peaks.” Throughout most of my scenes, Lynch himself appeared as deputy director Gordon Cole.
“Chrystabell, or Chrysta Bell Zucht, puts it this way: there’s an invisible yet powerful connection between us. It draws us closer with each passing moment, like an unraveling mystery in life. And every time we engage in something together, I can’t help but feel contentment and completion.”
For the first time, Lynch has teamed up with “Sublime Eternal Love” to produce a video for their music collaboration. The ghostly animated clip for the song “The Answers to the Questions” is their second joint effort. Lynch expresses his intention to direct at least one more video for the album.
“Speaking of pairing music with images, he points out that this combination can make people deeply connect with the music if done effectively. Yet, he cautions that an ill-matched moving image can ruin the music completely. It’s a delicate, risky process.”
As a movie critic, I can relate to Lynch’s feelings of disappointment when it comes to the fast-paced consumption and disposal of music and video in today’s content market. In my perspective, new releases seem to appear and vanish at an alarming rate. It leaves me feeling somewhat uneasy about this business, where things are constantly changing so rapidly that it’s hard to keep up.
As a movie critic, I’d put it this way: Despite being inspired enough to create other visuals for the release, he didn’t stop there. He went on to make a series of comical shorts using stock footage called “We’ll Deliver ‘Em.” In one of these clips, train engineers from old films are given voiceovers by Lynch himself. They ponder over the importance of their upcoming delivery: “I believe this one is going to be a huge success. Agreed!”
Music has played a significant role in Lynch’s films since the use of Samuel Barber’s moving “Adagio for Strings” in “The Elephant Man” (1980). For many years, his friend Angelo Badalamenti composed the enigmatic and romantic music for him. Lynch himself played trumpet during his teenage years, but it was only while working on “Blue Velvet” (1986) that he discovered his potential as a music creator when he met Badalamenti.
Lynch expressed that musicians are no different from ordinary people. He’s found most of them to be content and jovial. There’s a sense of fellowship among them, making it an enjoyable experience. Musicians also appreciate the simple pleasures in life, such as sleeping late and socializing. They lead fulfilling lives while creating beautiful music. In essence, they are an exceptional group of talented individuals.
I’m excited about the latest album, as it features two tracks that were previously created in partnership between Badalamenti and Lynch many years ago. Lynch had kept these gems stored away for potential use in his projects. Additionally, there are other tracks initiated with Big Dean Hurley, Lynch’s longtime studio engineer, sound designer, and sideman. According to Lynch, he refers to these recordings as “firewood.” He has an abundant supply of them, neatly stored away.
In the year 2022, Badalamenti, who was 85 at the time of his passing, held a special place as one of Lynch’s dearest friends. The musician made appearances in some of Lynch’s movies on occasion, such as in “Mulholland Drive,” where he portrayed an intimidating mob boss who fiercely declined a cup of espresso, creating a striking scene.
Lynch shares, “I used to talk to Angelo frequently, considering him more like a brother. Among all the departed souls in my life, Angelo’s passing left the deepest mark on me. It’s unbelievable to me that he’s no longer here. I keep imagining I could simply give him a call and we would create music together once again. The music he produced was truly extraordinary.”
The composer’s contribution to two tracks on the latest album builds upon his previous work. As Lynch puts it, “Angelo would often tell David, ‘It’s just about those 12 notes,'” but this music transcends that limit. When artists veer off course and explore new terrain, they uncover a distinct kind of aesthetic appeal.
Chrystabell faces the task of making her songs come alive during live performances. She intends to present three numbers at an artist retreat in Marfa, Texas, in August as a preliminary test. However, she’s yet to figure out the specifics.
She chuckles and shares, “I deliberately set small challenges for myself to keep things engaging.” Her personality thrives on such hurdles, she explains. “It could result in an intriguing live act, possibly veering towards performance art.”
As a film enthusiast, I’m thrilled about the upcoming release of “Cellophane Memories” and the potential for more collaborative projects with David Lynch. Not only can we look forward to this new album, but there are various other recordings at different stages in the works!
Chryststabell explains, “It all comes down to whether or not he has the inspiration and the desire within him. If that internal drive is missing, then it won’t materialize. But if it does, it’s fantastic because he truly enjoys and is passionate about it.”
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2024-07-18 18:22