Shapinska Rock (Shuh-PIN-ska Rawk) is a world that creates endless opportunities to make the most of any situation. Every atom of Shapinska Rock is immersed in joy. Both physical and immaterial, it embraces all forms of life and music emanates from its core.
This whole thing started when a house fire destroyed all of Crystal's belongings except her guitar. A few days later, she was sent to Europe by a company that could no longer afford to pay her after two weeks. Jobless and homeless, Crystal seized the opportunity and remained in Europe for half a year. She roamed the streets of Denmark, Czech Republic, UK and Spain, with her guitar, notebook and a simple recording set up. Each newly written song arose from an aspect of the imaginary Shapinska Rock world.
Crystal came back to the US excited to develop the songs into an album. She met producer/multi-instrumentalist Filippo DeAngelis a few months after her return and they began production. As recording progressed on the album, the Wolves started playing infectiously fun live shows in the San Francisco Bay Area in May 2005. By the end of the summer the band had completed their first tour, including a benefit show at CBGB in NY to save it from closure, and independently distributed over 2500 copies of "Shapinska Rock Sampler EP", a six-song taste of the debut album.
In support of Shapinska Rock, in March 2006 they will tour the southwest as they head to Austin, Texas to play during SXSW. Europe and East Coast USA tours are being planned too. The current touring band is Crystal Eastman (guitar, lead vocals), Fil DeAngelis (drums, harmony), and Arthuro L. Turo (keys, bass, harmony).
Websites
www.crystalandthewolves.com
www.myspace.com/crystalandthewolves
www.sonicbids.com/crystalandthewolves
Discography
February 28, 2006: Independently release of album "Shapinska Rock"
July 2005: Independently released Shapinska Rock SamplerEP
Additional Facts about Shapinska Rock
Who: Shapinska Rock was performed by Crystal Eastman (vocals, guitar, piano, freenotes) and Filippo DeAngelis (drums, bass, harmony, guitar, freenotes), with the addition of Brian Scholl (drums) on "So Called Holy Ladders".
What: Shapinska Rock is a 13-song debut album by Crystal and the Wolves, released by their own independent label, Ears With Gears Records.
Where: Shapinska Rock was recorded and mixed on Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay at Ears With Gears Studio, which is also their home. It was mastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, CA.
When: Shapinska Rock was recorded between March and November in 2005. The official release date is February 28, 2006, but it's already available on CDBaby.com and all major digital distributors.
Why: Because Shapinska Rock's message of happily overcoming life's obstacles through resolute acceptance and intelligent action is eloquently expressed by Crystal's soaring performances that combine catchy melodies with insightful lyrics on a record that reclaims the album as art form in our Digital MP3 Era.
How: Shapinska Rock was recorded using a Yamaha AW16G Workstation. There was no computer, no midi, no auto-tune, no cut and paste, and no ProTools. No virtual anything! This album features genuine performances by Real People Playing Actual Instruments.
"Crystal And The Wolves are a Pop band with bundles of imagination."
From an interview with Steve DIY for Punk Globe Magazine
http://www.punkglobe.com/crystalwolvesinterview.html