Kristina Esfandiari

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Kristina Esfandiari
OriginUnited States
GenresShoegaze, doom metal, R&B, hip hop, experimental noise
Occupation(s)Singer, musician, producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active2009–present
LabelsRelapse, The Native Sound, Sargent House, Dero Arcade, Genie Mob
Member ofKing Woman
Formerly ofWhirr

Kristina Esfandiari (born 4 March) 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]

Early life[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Dalmatian[edit]

Singles / EPs

  • Pain Threshold (2019)
  • Friday the 13th (2020)

King Woman[edit]

Albums

Singles / EPs

  • Degrida / Sick Bed (2013)
  • Dove / Fond Affections (2014)
  • Doubt EP (2015)
  • I Wanna be Adored The Stone Roses cover (2018)

Miserable[edit]

Albums

  • Uncontrollable (2016)

Singles / EPs

  • Split with Grey Zine (2013)
  • Halloween Dream EP (2014)
  • Dog Days EP (2014)
  • Loverboy EP (2018)

NGHTCRWLR[edit]

Albums

  • Let the Children Scream (2020)

Sugar High[edit]

Albums

  • Love Addict (2020)

Whirr[edit]

Singles / EPs

  • Around EP (2013)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Jones, Cat. "HEAR DALMATIAN, THE TERRIFYING NEW RAP PROJECT FROM KING WOMAN'S KRIS ESFANDIARI". KERRANG. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e Moen, Matt. "Christian Brainwashing Videos Inspired NGHTCRWLR's Album". Paper Magazine. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  3. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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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