Krystal Metcalfe • In Real Life

This summer, These Days introduced me to the soul powered St. Louis native Krystal Metcalfe for the release of her first single "Sallie". The next month she blew me away in the studio as she was featured in our August edition of ChiBrations. They say all good things come in three’s, and today I’m excited to announce the release of her first full EP – In Real Life. Maybe it’s because she has a theater background, but I can hear Krystal’s strength in every song and easily imagine her keeping the full attention of a smoke-filled jazz club with this EP.

To the supremely talented Metcalfe, this record showcases her perspective while she focuses on striking a balance between real life, dreams, and social media. Her music sounds like a fusion of Aretha Franklin and Chaka Kahn, but Krystal has channeled her inner Prince on this project having both written and produced all five tracks. Metcalfe enlisted a slew of amazing Chicago musicians, including These Days friend and ChiBrations curator Sam Trump, to provide backing that has all the elements of rock, soul and classic jazz. It’s that combination of musical elements combined with Krystal’s infectious attitude that makes In Real Life a must-hear for us all.

Always humble, Krystal just hopes her listeners will be able to relate and enjoy the music as much as she enjoyed making it. After listening to the whole record with a smile on my face – I’d say she hit the mark. Take a listen to In Real Life and be sure to follow us for more news on the amazing Krystal Metcalfe!