Bio
Krystle Dos Santos is a two-time Western Canadian Music Award-winning blues, jazz and soul singer based in Vancouver with Guyanese roots. She has been performing for more than a decade across Canada and is known for her powerful voice and infectious warmth, pairing original soul music with beloved Motown classics. With a voice that is commanding, powerful and rich with talent, her music, inspired by classic and neo-soul combined with contemporary hip-hop and R&B elements, is executed brilliantly. It's simultaneously elegant, bold and sensual similar to modern legends Erykah Badu and Ms. Lauryn Hill. Her performances are mesmerizing; she sings with sheer heart wrenching dominion about falling in love, heartbreak and struggle. Her approach to music is unmistakably genuine.
In addition to performing, she has acted in The Arts Club musical Dreamgirls and The Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen at The Firehall Arts Centre. Dos Santos continues to share her eclectic array of performances through many platforms: her fourth album of original music, BLOOM | BURN; Hey Viola!, a jazz cabaret about the life of Canadian civil rights icon Viola Desmond; A History Of Motown and BLAK | Canadian Women in Music shows designed for young audiences; and many more live celebrations of blues, soul and R&B music on stages across Canada.
Young Audience & Family Shows
Live School Show Promo video
Virtual Show Promo video
A History of Motown
Krystle Dos Santos and her 4-piece band will take you back in time to the peak of Motown Music from the late 1950s to 1980s. Krystle's powerful and interactive medleys of hits by The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations and the Jackson 5 will have you singing and dancing along. You'll learn interesting facts about these key artists and about the historical and significant impact that Motown music has had on contemporary soul music today.
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Length: Live show: 45-min plus 15-min QA (only available for theatre bookings or festivals)
Pre-recorded performance is 30 min.+ 15-min Q&A with Krystle
Formats: Virtual show available for schools. Live shows available for theatre bookings and festivals.
Ages: Grades K-12; all ages for family events
Band: 4 members (vocals, bass, drum, keyboard)
Live School Show Promo video
Virtual Show Promo video
BLAK | Canadian Women in Music
Krystle Dos Santos and her 4-piece band take you on a powerful musical journey celebrating notable Black Canadian women in music. She shares historically important stories about the underground railroad, civil rights movement and key events in black history while weaving in iconic songs from the eras in which these women lived and performed. You'll learn about contemporary opera soprano Measha Brueggergosman; Canada’s First Lady of the Blues Salome Bey; Vancouver’s First Lady of Jazz Eleanor Collins; internationally renowned Opera Singer Portia White, BC Entertainment Hall of Fame inductee Candus Churchill; and jazz singer-songwriter Dee Daniels. Krystle also shares songs by some contemporary Canadian artists, along with some of her own from her award-winning album Bloom | Burn. You'll be introduced to an array of musical styles including spirituals, jazz, blues, soul, R&B, pop and hip hop. The show also includes a multimedia component with photos and videos of spoken word poetry.
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Length: Virtual performance is 45 minutes + 15-min Q&A with Krystle
Formats: Pre-recorded video and Q&A available for schools. Live with 4-piece band for theatres and festivals.
Ages: Grades K-12; all ages for family events
Tech: Access to a computer to watch to stream concert with a virtual Q&A over Zoom, Google Meet or Teams.
Band: 4 members (vocals, bass, drum, keyboard)
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SCHOOL SHOW TESTIMONIALS
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"We loved the "History of Motown" virtual show and Q&A ! I’m a librarian and that was the most entertaining history lesson I have ever watched. If only all history could be taught like that! The kids thought you were awesome! Also, they wanted me to tell you that your band rocks! Thanks again!"
Judy Fung, Teacher-Librarian, Vancouver
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"Krystle and the band were spectacular. I’ve never seen so many kids line up after a show for autographs! The staff loved it just as much as the kids and all were dancing in their seats. Thank you for teaching us about Motown music and sharing it with our school community. We highly recommend this incredible show.”
- Ripple Rock Elementary, Campbell River
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“Krystle and her band engaged kids from the beginning to the end and showed how fun it can be to play real musical instruments. She sprinkled in a lot of facts and history about the Motown era and we loved the overall energy and the music. Students were clapping their hands, moving their bodies and having a great time. I would definitely recommend her to other schools!”
—Jacquie Lavoie, Principal, Trafalgar Elementary School
MEDIA STORIES
CBC Vancouver article - Feb. 2021
CBC Interview with Margaret Gallagher on Hot Air - Feb. 2021
General Audience Show Descriptions
More than Motown
WCMA award-winning soul singer-songwriter Krystle Dos Santos presents an entertaining and enlightening live show celebrating soul classics from artists like Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Etta James, as well as iconic Motown artists like Steve Wonder, The Temptations and The Supremes. She’ll open your ears to the entire Motown era of music with artists from Chess and Stax Records, and all of the feel good tunes you’ll remember from the good ‘ol days. She'll also share original music from her newly released album BLOOM | BURN.
Bloom | Burn
Krystle's new album, BLOOM | BURN, is a two- sided album exploring the darkness and light that life has to offer. Both title tracks from this album showcase the power and versatility of her voice: from soaring highs to throaty lows, from whispers to a howl, with a warmth that envelops you. Dos Santos writes to her younger self with songs like "Worthy" and "Walk On Through," promoting self confidence and self worth, while bringing light to serious issues like domestic violence in the song, "Buried Alive."
TESTIMONIALS
“Krystle's voice is an eclectic mix of Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, with a touch of Natalie Cole and Ella Fitzgerald. Like so many outstanding singers before her, Krystle’s voice is undeniably unique and is showcased further by her unique phrasing reminiscent of the fabulous Billie Holliday.”
—Ty Lowe, musical director and master vocal teacher
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“She commands the stage with her elegant statuesque form and her easy banter draws you in, making the whole experience naturally intimate. However, it’s when Dos Santos grasps the retro microphone she sings into and unfolds that tremendous earthy, sexy voice you are captured.”
—Shelley Gummeson, radio host, Jazz on the Rocks
“Krystle's embodiment of this female force of nature grabs you by the gut as she sings the familiar songs that serve as the soundscape for Viola's life. But don't be fooled: this isn't a jukebox musical where scenes are mere set-ups to belt a popular tune. This is an altar for the life of Viola Desmond, for the BlackLivesMatter movement, and for any woman whose endured systemic, unjust punishment meant to rob her of her power. This musical knows in its bones how we honour and heal those who've been silenced: we sing their truth, strong, clear, and loud.”
—Amy Lynn Strilchuk, Magnetic North 2019 Festival Producer & Touchstone Theatre General Manager
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“Both title tracks from her forthcoming album, “BLOOM | BURN,” showcase the power and versatility of her voice - from soaring highs to throaty lows, from whispers to a howl, with a warmth that envelops you. Her writing pays tribute to her heroes and influences while exploring fresh new vistas of urban soul.”
—Lynnda McDougall, Bulkley Valley Concert Association