Out TODAY, the chopped-and-screwed track serves as the lead single from her highly anticipated sophomore EP, ‘This Changes Everything’
Blending the soulful grit of her Houston roots with the progressive energy of Northern California, R&B powerhouse Crystal Tamar releases her infectious new female summer anthem, “Whachoo Doin?!” TODAY, June 19. Stream the song HERE.
Produced by multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated producer Kosine (Kelly Rowland, Rihanna, Tamar Braxton, Justin Bieber), the track is a masterclass in modern R&B—pairing a hypnotic, chopped-and-screwed production with Crystal’s signature bravado and an empowering message for women to set boundaries when dating.
“Whachoo Doin?!” is an autoresponse women can use when Mr. Wrong approaches. In the song’s first verse, Crystal informs men with dusty shoes and dirty nails that she’s not interested: “If I don’t tell you nothing, darling / Let me tell you one thing / I’m a bad gyal / I can’t be lovin’ no dumb king.”
Crystal wants listeners to find joy and empowerment in the relatable narrative. “‘Whachoo Doin?!’ is somewhat of a woman’s summer battle cry,” she says. “We’re tired of dudes walking up to us wild, so I’m gonna tell it. I want people to laugh their heads off, blow their speakers out, and carry that hook with them in their day-to-day lives because we all have reason to ask ‘Whachoo Doin?!’”
Ari Lennox, Michael Jackson, and Rihanna fans will instantly notice their sonic signatures woven into the track. “I took an Ari Lennox approach, and I saved the vibrato for the end of phrases,” Crystal explains. “Riri, because it’s giving Island vibes. The B-section was real staccato, and who does that better than MJ?”
“Whachoo Doin?!” marks the official first single from Crystal’s sophomore EP, This Changes Everything, due out this fall. Kosine, who produced four songs on the upcoming project, praises Crystal’s relentless work ethic and artistic instincts. “She’s serious about her craft,” Kosine says. “She is passionate. She’s never brought a bad idea to me. Whenever she sings something, I’m just like, ‘That’s tight. Let’s record it.'”
The upcoming project follows Crystal’s acclaimed, self-titled debut EP released in 2019, which featured the standout singles “U Gon Love Me,” “Serenade,” and “Nowhere.” Houston Chronicle writer Joey Guerra compared Crystal to R&B pop heavyweights. “The Texas City native, who now lives in Northern California, showcases a modern, straightforward R&B sound throughout her self-titled debut, which falls in line with the work of Beyoncé, Rihanna or Ciara,” he wrote.
SINGLE HIGHLIGHTS & STORY ANGLES:
- The Producer: Track crafted by Kosine, the legendary multi-Grammy-nominated producer behind hits like Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda,” Kelly Rowland’s “Coffee,” and Tamar Braxton’s “If I Don’t Have You”
- The Sound: A unique sonic fusion of Houston’s chopped-and-screwed culture, “Island vibes,” and staccato pop arrangements.
- Deep Industry Roots: Crystal is a former member of T-Pain’s flagship girl group, Sophia Fresh (Atlantic Records), and has shared credits with Kanye West and Akon.
ABOUT CRYSTAL TAMAR
Crystal Tamar is a Houston-born, Northern California-based R&B singer, dancer, and accomplished voice-over artist. Renowned for her exceptional vocal dexterity and magnetic stage presence, she first gained widespread recognition as a member of Sophia Fresh—T-Pain’s flagship girl group signed to Atlantic Records—collaborating with icons like Kanye West, Akon, Marsha Ambrosius, and CeeLo Green. A former captain of the NFL’s Houston Texans cheerleading squad and an alumnus of Prairie View A&M University’s celebrated Black Foxes dance line, Crystal’s versatile entertainment portfolio also includes voicing Josephine Baker for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Following her 2019 self-titled solo debut, Crystal returns with her highly anticipated sophomore EP, This Changes Everything. Produced by Grammy-nominated Kosine and Grammy-winning Young Fyre, the six-song project delivers a vulnerable, genre-blending sound she coins “project soul.”
FOLLOW CRYSTAL TAMAR
For more information, streaming links, and updates, follow @itsclearascrystal on Instagram and @crystaltamar on TikTok or her website crystaltamar.com.
