Kristina Stazaker is a British acoustic singer-songwriter. She has been performing and releasing music for over 8 years, with her most recent album slated for release in April 2023. Kristina’s music is heavily influenced by feminism and features lyrics that are both honest and raw. Her songs are emotive and powerful, resonating with her listeners.
Her fourth album, “Dead Air,” is her most adventurorius album yet with the instruction of electric guitar, vocal effects and drums. She has been compared with the likes of Dolares from the Cranberries and the mighty PJ Harvey.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Kristina about her latest project, choosing a favorite song, dream collabs, and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Are you able to choose a favorite song of all time? Or would you label this an impossible task? If yes, what’s the song? If no, what’s your current Top 3?
I would label this an impossible task as music fits so many different emotions and moods. However, if I was to pick a song which is my first ‘go-to’ I would pick ‘Hyperballad’ by Bjork. Her voice is incredible and it’s a timeless song. It’s empowering and filled with emotions.
What about this project makes you most proud? Was there a specific goal you were trying to accomplish with this release?
‘Dead Air’ was a long project and covers a period of my time when I was living isolated in rural Cumbria. There were good times and bad and I recorded it in a run-down bungalow, right in the middle of the UK lockdowns. It was an emotional time where I had a completely immersive environment to write and lay down my tracks from the heart. I am very proud of the album – I did the best I could and it has evolved into something that captures what I was trying to achieve.
What inspires you to create music? What motivates you to keep going?
Music gives me an escapism from the ‘everyday’. Life is so chaotic and making music provides me with a release, a cave of sorts in my mind to be free. Live gigging drives me – I love performing my songs to the crowd and watching them digest my sounds. Playing music with other people is liberating and really enjoyable.
If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why? If it’s an indie/DIY artist, please include a link so readers can check them out.
I would love to collaborate with Aphex Twin, a famous electronica composer. I am amazed by the sounds he creates and it would be really cool to work with him.
What was the last song you listened to? Favorite all-time bands/artists?
I just got given my late-uncles’ old vinyl player and some records of his. Last night I sat back and listened to some old Chicago 1920’s jazz and some french-cajun old bands from Louisiana. My music tastes are really varied and it was great to hear some different genres. My favourite artist is PJ Harvey, she is a big inspiration to me.
Where is the best place to find you and stay connected?
I am on the usual channels with Facebook being the most used. But, if someone really wants to connect, I send individual emails out to people to sign up to my website mailing list at www.kristina-stazaker.com
I appreciate Your time. Want to say or plug any other projects before we part ways?
‘Dead Air’ is the third album in a 4-album ‘saga’. I have named it this because each album is a chapter and they all feed together at the end. ‘Dead by the Fire’ was released in 2017, ‘Follow Me’ was in 2020. The last album which is currently in the process of being written is called ‘Journey to the centre of the Earth’ and it concludes the saga. All will become much clearer then. There are many more projects in the pipeline once this ‘saga’ has finished.
