The Goddess Of Violin, Ms. CrissyJ, and Creating “Femme Parfaite”
Hollywood and the entertainment business is often about contacts, who you know, and who you run into.
The other evening, across the street from the famous Capitol Records building where the Beatles have their sidewalk stars, I attended a unique “HWG” Writers Meetup at an awesome venue — The Aster: Boutique Hotel & Members’ Club in Hollywood.
When I asked if any of the attending writers, filmmakers, cinematographers, and other creatives, had any contacts to this writer’s new interest in “vertical” filmmaking, Havilah Malone enthusiastically waved at me.
I’ll write a separate story on the “force of nature” that is Havilah, as she has both a speaking word LP (“Proof of What’s Possible”) that’s up for Grammy Awards consideration, and also a short film (“I’m In Love” directed by Roberta Sparta) that’s premiering on October 24 at the Micheaux Film Festival in Los Angeles.
Another big connection between the two projects, apart from Havilah, is that the first track (song) on her LP is called “I’m In Love,” which is the name of her movie. And, she introduced me to this delightful associate of hers, Ms. CrissyJ, who is charmingly known as the “Goddess of Violin” — she produced and composed that first track on the LP entitled “I’m In Love,” and she also appears in this premiering short film. Ms. CrissyJ also has a new musical release coming out on October 10.
While doing my connecting with this Meet-Up group, I quickly checked out a previous tune that Ms. Crissy had on YouTube — a truly evocative and instrumental cover of “No Ordinary Love” by legendary songbird Sade. Ms. Crissy related that gorgeous video was filmed in Mexico City at the iconic Quetzalcoatl’s Nest by famous Mexican architect, Javier Senosian — “the first time someone has shot a full music video in that location!”
That particular track, where her violin is as smooth and intoxicating as Sade’s own voice, had a roundabout way of coming into the violinist’s life: “In 2018, two versions of this track were sent to me to be used for another project, but it never came to fruition, until now. The original track is of course by the one and only, the very magical Sade.”
So, what about this new musical release on October 10?
Ms. Crissy explains, “The song that is coming out this Friday is entitled ‘Femme Parfaite’ and it’s a collaboration between this French artist named Gaia, another musician Taylor, and I on the track, and we all wrote and recorded it in Mexico City’s La Casa del Árbol Studio with producer Juan Pablo Aispuro, ‘Femme Parfaite’ opens with a haunting inner dialogue in English — the voice of self-doubt, the weight of depression — before shifting into French verses that reclaim confidence, acceptance, and inner strength. The song’s message is clear: every woman is already perfect, just as she is.”
Yes, indeed.
Havilah’s own take on her musician-associate’s contribution goes: “Ms. Crissy is freaking amazing! The story behind that musical composition is mind blowing — it almost didn’t happen, but it was meant to be.”
To pre-order and save Ms. Crissy’s new collaboration, ‘Femme Parfaite,’ check out this link. Also, check out some behind-the-scenes looks at the making of the song on Instagram. Drop in on Ms. Crissy’s own Instagram page. And, listen to Ms. Crissy’s contribution to Havilah’s album, Proof of What’s Possible, on Spotify, and her cover of Sade’s ‘No Ordinary Love’ on YouTube.
