NEXT DANCE RADIO

House music royalty graced the Next Dance Radio studio as the legendary Crystal Waters sat down with hosts Mike Marquez and Robert Kechter. Known for timeless hits like “Gypsy Woman” and “100% Pure Love,” Crystal remains a powerful force in dance music today, from topping charts to hosting her own weekly show, I Am House Radio, right here on Next Dance Radio. With a Lifetime Achievement Award nomination and a brand-new single out, she talked with us about staying relevant, inspiring new artists, and what’s coming next.

Mike Marquez:
Crystal Waters. Nice to meet you.

Crystal Waters:
Nice to meet you as well!

Mike Marquez:
It’s truly an honor. We’ve worked in similar circles—through Spin, Bobby Shaw—so it’s nice to finally connect like this.

Crystal Waters:
Yes! I need to catch up with Bobby. Is he here?

Robert Kechter:
I think I saw him walk in. He’s in Miami right now, but the day’s just getting started. I already need another coffee—and it’s only 12:40!

Crystal Waters:
You got here at 11:30? Time is flying!

Mike Marquez:
Well, let’s kick it off!
Here on Next Dance Radio with Mike Marquez and Robert Kechter, we’re honored to be joined by the queen of house music—truly. She’s even blushing, y’all!

Crystal Waters:
(Laughs) Thank you.

Robert Kechter:
She’s up for a Lifetime Achievement Award, has a new single out, and is one of our star mix show hosts every Sunday night with I Am House Radio. Crystal Waters, welcome!

Crystal Waters:
Thank you so much for having me. I’m excited to be here!

Mike Marquez:
I’ll start by saying this—I was lucky. My dad was a DJ in New York, and when house music was on the rise, I got to experience it through him—buying records, going to events. 1991 feels like forever ago, and yet here we are—you’re more relevant than ever. How do you maintain that kind of longevity in this business?

Crystal Waters:
You know, I don’t really know how to answer that! (laughs) We didn’t even call it house music back then—it was just dance music. But once I got into it, I knew I loved it. I loved the community.
A lot of artists would do a house track and say, “Oh no, I’m R&B.” Not me—I said, “I’m dance music,” and I stuck with it. I love what I do, and the lyrics, the music—it’s still flowing through me. I’m still doing it because I still feel it.

Robert Kechter:
I think I saw you perform a few years ago in downtown LA, in front of City Hall at Grand Park. You killed it—dancers, energy, everything.

Crystal Waters:
Yes! That was a beautiful night. The crowd was amazing, just there for dance music. I loved being on that stage with that stunning backdrop. It meant a lot.

Mike Marquez:
You still rep house music so hard—even during the pandemic, working with Mike Freak, Spin… the hits kept coming. Where do you draw inspiration?

Crystal Waters:
From the music, always. People send me tracks, I listen, and something just sparks. That’s my fun. I sit and see what lyrics come out. I’m lucky that I’m good at it! (laughs)
But seriously, I do a lot on the business side too, which can distract from the creative. When I do get time to write, it’s pure joy.

Robert Kechter:
You’re a powerhouse behind the scenes too. What advice would you give to someone trying to follow in your footsteps?

Crystal Waters:
It’s different now. Back then, we had major labels, and producers didn’t even want their names on records!
Today, you’ve gotta write, produce, and be the businessperson. I told a young DJ recently, “You can’t just be a DJ—you need to write one hit track, get something out there.”
My advice: write your stuff, co-write, produce—just don’t sit back. Get involved. Don’t wait for your website or logo to be perfect—just put it out there.

Mike Marquez:
That’s amazing advice. A lot of new artists are scared to launch before it’s “perfect.” You’re saying just start.

Crystal Waters:
Exactly. The more you release, the more chances something sticks. If you only put out one track and wait… you’ll stay stuck. Just keep going. Keep creating.

Robert Kechter:
What’s on the horizon for Crystal Waters?

Crystal Waters:
A few more things before I’m done! I’ve got a new album coming—the first single You and Me with ManyFew just dropped. I’m releasing songs all summer, then the full album drops at the end of the season.
There’s the summer tour, my I Am House Radio show every week, and a few other secret projects I’m not ready to reveal just yet.

Mike Marquez:
We can’t wait. You’re still coming stronger than ever. 

Robert Kechter:
That’s perfect. Crystal, thank you again. Truly an honor.