MANILA, Philippines - CRWN is a clever act, and not just because the moniker is a playful riff on King Puentespina’s name. Combining the sounds of old soul and traditional jazz with modern sensibilities, CRWN manages to tap into two emotional charges: the sense that you’re living in the urban present, and the unshakable feeling of a musical memory being brought back to fresh realization, a memory of how music was like before any of us millennials were even born.
Since last year, CRWN has been gaining a massive following, playing gigs as big as Malasimbo, and repping the Logiclub collective with as much class as any royal. We at Young STAR were dead set on having CRWN perform at our 19th anniversary pajama party because, really, what kind of party is it without this guy?
YOUNG STAR: How did CRWN first start out?
KING PUENTASPINA: CRWN started out as a simple bedroom project. Y’know, just for me to practice writing songs, or make beats. I posted them online just for fun. I’ve been writing songs since high school but I couldn’t really sing on them ‘cause I don’t really have the best singing voice.
What are things to consider between playing a DJ set and a set full of your original songs?
I just read the crowd and maybe the venue. Sometimes I put in my originals between DJ sets and get a good reception from people who really listen to CRWN.
What are commonly held misconceptions about electronic musicians?
That electronic musicians just get plug-ins and do everything on our laptops. I mean, I record a lot of acoustic guitars, electric guitars, real drum kits and household items.
What has been your favorite experience so far, performing as CRWN?
I played under a bridge in Singapore. It was some kind of take away show we did while our band (She’s Only Sixteen) was there. And the producers wanted CRWN to play as well. So I did a couple songs there. It was crazy ‘cause there were people who actually started watching and formed a circle just to watch me play. It was surreal.
What are you planning for the future? You’re working on an album right now, is that right?
This album is really going to be something close to me. It’s personal and it’s going to sound a lot like who I really am.