When the talented musician Crystal Waters steps into a recording studio to craft a new song, her creative process typically begins with establishing the melody, followed by the addition of her lyrics. Take, for instance, her seminal 1991 hit, “Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless).” This breakthrough track, inspired by a stylish yet struggling woman living on the streets of Washington, D.C., where Waters resided at the time, saw her transform the very beat into words. The song’s rhythmic core, characterized by her mesmerizing vocalization of the keyboard bass line—the repeated “La da dee, la da da”—has become legendary. Its infectious hook has been sampled by countless artists, including Katy Perry, Alicia Keys, and Trey Songz. As a cornerstone of the house music genre, which emerged from the vibrant underground club scenes of Chicago and New York in the 1970s and ’80s, “Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless)” continues to captivate audiences in clubs and on radio stations more than three decades after its initial release.
Given her profound connection to rhythm in her musical creations, it comes as no surprise that when asked to name one of her most cherished musical pieces for the “My Favorite Song” series, Waters chose another track celebrated for its innovative, time-keeping vocals: Michael Jackson’s 1982 masterpiece, “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.” Approximately five minutes into this iconic song, a powerful chant echoes through, which Jackson famously adapted from Cameroonian artist Manu Dibango’s 1972 Afro-funk hit, “Soul Makossa”: “Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa.” While these words may not carry significant literal meaning in this context, the phrase itself possesses an undeniable flow, creating a truly distinctive and exhilarating finale to the song. “Whenever I hear it, I get chill bumps,” Waters, now 63, confesses. Having grown up immersed in the sounds of the Jackson 5, Waters holds immense admiration for singer-songwriters like Jackson, Prince, Gil Scott-Heron, and Billie Eilish, especially for the unique personal touches they infuse into their artistry. However, she reserves particular praise for the legendary composer Quincy Jones, acknowledging his invaluable contribution to “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.” Jones’s masterful layering of trumpets, synthesizers, and background vocals, harmonizing with Jackson’s virtuosic lead, resonates deeply with Waters’s own approach to constructing a cohesive sound from diverse elements. “It’s all these rhythms that are just placed on top of each other,” she explains.
In recent years, Waters has dedicated herself to championing emerging talent in the music industry. In 2019, she launched her independent label, I Am House Records, a platform dedicated to signing and nurturing new dance artists and producers. Complementing this, she hosts a weekly radio show under the same name, providing vital airtime to these and other talented musicians. Despite her focus on supporting others, Waters has never ceased performing or creating her own music. Her upcoming single, a vibrant pop track titled “Still in Love,” is highly anticipated. Furthermore, she plans to release a full-length album by year’s end—her first since her self-titled L.P. in 1997. This new album promises to celebrate the quintessential sonic elements of house music, emphasizing its signature synths and the driving, steady four-on-the-floor beat. House music has evolved considerably since its inception by L.G.B.T.Q., Black, and Latino DJs who masterfully blended disco with samples, leading to numerous subgenres and profoundly influencing global superstars like Madonna and Beyoncé. Waters remains committed to honoring its origins. “As long as I’m still here and people see my face,” she affirms, “they’re going to know the history of house music.”