Darwin Muso Series is a string of an indeterminate number of mini to medium to mega interviews with Darwin-based musicians and performing artists. Starting in September 2019, and we’ll see how many we can cover over the next weeks/months/years.
Crystal Robins
The Darwin Railway Club played host to the Darwin regional final of the Passport To Airlie competition in mid-September 2019.
Airlie Beach Festival of Music is held in November, however, in the lead-up, the organisers stage what is arguably* Australia’s biggest battle of the bands competition.
* If you laid out all the competitors from 13 regional heats from Darwin to Adelaide end to end… they’d likely be very annoyed and would probably resent the dry-cleaning bill.
Crystal Robins is a very popular multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter, and a regular fixture at events and venues around Darwin. Crystal’s strong passion for music and the performing arts saw her play in a variety of jazz, rock and folk-punk bands in Sydney, but she now makes Darwin her home.
I had a brief chat with Crystal after she performed the penultimate set in the Passport To Airlie heat.
Bill Quinn: So, tell me the Crystal story!
Crystal Robins: Wow! I have to turn my brain on again!
I’ve been playing music for as long as I can remember. I grew up in Sydney, I played in quite a few bands there. I studied music at uni…
BQ: Where was uni?
CR: The Australian Institute of Music. I studied jazz and contemporary music there, playing flute.
But I’ve always loved playing guitar, and writing songs and singing.
Overheard Productions 