Kristina Esfandiari

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Kristina Esfandiari
20170411 berlin music King Woman at Musik und Frieden- 3 -DSCN1144 (49542793876).jpg
Kristina Esfandiari in concert in Berlin
Background information
Born (1988-03-04) 4 March 1988 (age 35)
OriginUnited States
Genres Shoegaze, doom metal, R&B, hip hop, experimental noise
Occupation(s)Singer, musician, producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active2009–present
Labels Relapse, The Native Sound, Sargent House, Dero Arcade
Member ofKing Woman
Formerly of Whirr

Kristina Esfandiari (born 4 March 1988) is an American singer-songwriter and producer who writes music and performs under the monikers Dalmatian, [1] Miserable, and NGHTCRWLR, [2] and with the bands King Woman and Sugar High. [3]

Contents

Early life

Kristina Esfandiari was born to immigrant parents, an Iranian father and a Serbian mother. [2] They raised her in a Charismatic Christian church. [4] [5] She was raised in Sacramento. [6] At 22, she moved to the Bay Area. [7]

Career

Esfandiari began her musical career as a vocalist for shoegaze band Whirr from 2012 to 2013 and was featured on the EP Around, [8] before moving onto her own projects. [9]

In her early years as a performer, Esfandiari became well known for her heavy and dramatic vocals during live shows.[ citation needed ] As of June 2021, Esfandiari releases music under a multitude of personas: Miserable, KRIS, Dalmatian, Sugar High, and NGHTCRWLR.

Esfandiari is best known as the lead vocalist for the band King Woman. Esfandiari began King Woman as a solo project in 2009. [10] The project later became a band, after she was joined by her childhood friend, Joey Raygoza. [9] [5]

Dalmatian

Esfandiari debuted her Dalmatian persona via her social media channels. Dalmatian is a rap project, inspired by artists including Elkk and JRAL. [1] Dalmatian's first release was single "Pain Thresold", followed by "Friday the 13th", released October 2020. [11] Speaking to Revolver in October 2020, Esfandiari said that she was working on Dalmatian's first album, featuring JRAL and Elkk. [11]

King Woman

King Woman released their first successful EP, Doubt, with The Flenser [12] in 2015. [13] The EP was inspired by Esfandiari's experiences of trying to leave her religious upbringing. [14]

King Woman signed to Relapse Records [15] and released their debut LP, Created in the Image of Suffering, [16] which was labelled by Pitchfork as one of the best rock albums of 2017. [17] [18] Writing for Beats Per Minute’s "Darkest Albums" feature, John Amen called the album "a disturbing journey through consternation, despair, and heretical inquiry." [19] King Woman's second album, Celestial Blues , was announced in June 2021, as was its July 2021 oncoming release by Relapse Records. The first single from the album, "Morning Star", was released ahead of the LP. [20] This was followed by a second single, "Psychic Wound", [21] and a third single, "Boghz". [22] The album was released to positive reviews. [23] [24]

Miserable

Miserable is a shoegaze project debuted by Esfandiari in 2014 with EPs Halloween Dream and Dog Days. [25] Uncontrollable, Miserable's debut album, was released via The Native Sound in April 2016. [25] [26] [27] [28] Written and recorded over the course of a year, the LP is the most emotional release in Esfandiari's history as an artist. The album quickly became a fan favourite and her breakthrough record, [29] [30] according to most mainstream media. Pitchfork [31] and Spin [32] praised her work. She later toured extensively in the US. [33]

NGHTCRWLR

NGHTCRWLR has been described as a "mixture of drone, harsh noise and industrial sounds". [2] Her influences for the project include Yves Tumor and The Prodigy. [2] NGHTCRWLR's debut album, Let the Children Scream, was released via Amniote Editions in January 2020. [2]

Sugar High

Sugar High is a collaboration with producer and singer-songwriter Darcy Baylis, who Esfandiari met over Instagram in 2018. [3] The duo released their debut album, Love Addict, in 2020 on Dero Arcade. [3] "Losing" and "Ugly" were released as singles from the album. [34]

Discography

Dalmatian

Singles / EPs

King Woman

Albums

Singles / EPs

Miserable

Albums

Singles / EPs

NGHTCRWLR

Albums

Sugar High

Albums

Whirr

Singles / EPs

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References

  1. 1 2 Jones, Cat. "HEAR DALMATIAN, THE TERRIFYING NEW RAP PROJECT FROM KING WOMAN'S KRIS ESFANDIARI". KERRANG. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Moen, Matt. "Christian Brainwashing Videos Inspired NGHTCRWLR's Album". Paper Magazine. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 LeSuer, Mike. "PREMIERE: Sugar High Announce Debut LP "Love Addict," Share Single "Losing"". FLOOD.
  4. ↑ Mejia, Paula (27 September 2017). "Metal Singer Kristina Esfandiari on Using Dark Sounds to Heal". Rolling Stone. Penske Business Media. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  5. 1 2 Reveron, Sean (11 May 2016). "CVLT NATION INTERVIEWS KRISTINA ESFANDIARI". Cvlt Nation. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  6. ↑ Interview with King Woman Episode 9 of Dante & Leanne In the Mourning , retrieved 2021-09-17
  7. ↑ Lefebvre, Sam (11 March 2015). "King Woman Vanquishes the Holy Spirit". East Bay Express. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  8. ↑ "Whirr: Around Album Review – Pitchfork". Pitchfork . Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  9. 1 2 Ruskin, Zack (March 28, 2018). "Kristina Esfandiari's path to King Woman was a painful one". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  10. ↑ Esfandiari, Kristina (17 November 2017). "A Jonestown Survivor and King Woman's Kristina Esfandiari Discuss Healing from Trauma". Vice. Vice Media. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  11. 1 2 "See King Woman Singer Wield Sword to Slay Monsters in Dalmatian's Eerie New Video". Revolver. 2020-10-31. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  12. ↑ "King Woman – Doubt | The Flenser". theflenser.com. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  13. ↑ ""Burn" by King Woman Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  14. ↑ Noblé, Summer (27 April 2015). "Darkness Disguised As Light: An Interview With King Woman". Huffington Post.
  15. ↑ "King Woman – Relapse Records". Relapse Records Official Website.
  16. ↑ "How Kristina Esfandiari Balances King Woman and Miserable". CLRVYNT. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  17. ↑ "The Month in Metal: The Hopelessness of Slayer, King Woman, and Shaarimoth | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. February 2017. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  18. ↑ "King Woman: Created in the Image of Suffering Album Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  19. ↑ Wohlmacher, John; Amen, John; Kenny, Brody; Finlayson, Ray; Dedman, Todd; Smirnov, Aleksandr; Sentz, Tim; Barton, Matthew; WIllems, Jasper (2021-05-31). "BPM's Darkest Albums | Beats Per Minute – Page 2". beatsperminute.com. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  20. ↑ "King Woman announce new album Celestial Blues, unveil first single "Morning Star": Stream". Consequence. 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  21. ↑ "King Woman – "Psychic Wound"". Stereogum. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  22. ↑ "King Woman's "Boghz" is Another Stunner". MetalSucks. 2021-07-14. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  23. ↑ "King Woman: Celestial Blues". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  24. ↑ "Album review: King Woman – Celestial Blues". Kerrang!. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  25. 1 2 "Miserable Finds Grace in the Profane on 'Uncontrollable' LP". SPIN. April 28, 2016.
  26. ↑ "The Native Sound". The Native Sound. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  27. ↑ Kelley, Quinn. "Miserable's Kristina Esfandiari on the relief of finishing her debut album". baltimoresun.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-27. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  28. ↑ "Uncontrollable, by Miserable". Miserable. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  29. ↑ "Miserable's Shoegazey "Violet" Will Destroy Your Heart". The FADER. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  30. ↑ "9 Best Songs of the Week: Billboard.com Editors' Picks – April 15". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  31. ↑ ""Violet" by Miserable Review | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  32. ↑ "Miserable's Kristina Esfandiari Makes Death Sound Like a Dream with "Oven"". Noisey. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  33. ↑ "Miserable touring behind 'Uncontrollable' (dates, LP stream)". BrooklynVegan. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  34. ↑ "King Woman Singer's New Project Sugar High: Hear Brooding New Song "Ugly"". Revolver. 2020-04-02. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
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