Born from childhood dreams and an unwavering devotion to the golden age of glam and hard rock, Star Crystal is a band that transforms nostalgia into pure electric energy. Led by Susanna Radimovskaya, whose journey began at the age of six singing power ballads on a kitchen chair, the group has evolved from its Ukrainian roots to stages across Europe — always carrying the fire of the ’80s at its core. With big choruses, glittering attitude, leather, wind machines, and a spirit that refuses to ask for permission, Star Crystal channel the era of glam into something both heartfelt and explosively alive. Their music blends heavy riffs with pop-bright melodies, their lyrics draw strength from personal struggle, and their shows turn any stage, large or small, into an arena of dreams.

By Sandra Pinto

In this interview, Susanna opens up about the origins of the band, the challenges behind its lineup, the role of positivity in their lyrics, and the unstoppable drive that took a childhood fantasy and turned it into a living, breathing rock spectacle. From iconic music videos to massive festival stages, she reflects on Star Crystal’s journey so far — and on the dreams still waiting to be conquered.

Susanna, you started singing at 6 and dreamed of power ballads. How do those early dreams influence Star Crystal today?
My dreams are actually the reason why Star Crystal exists. We’re turning everything we imagined as kids into reality. We look the way we always wanted, we play the music we always loved, and we live the life we once only dreamed about. Those early dreams still guide us — the ’80s energy. Every time I step on stage, I feel like that little girl again, standing on a chair and pretending to sing to thousands of people. Now it’s real, and that feeling is what keeps us moving forward.

The band was born in Ukraine but now plays across Europe. How has your origin shaped the band’s sound and energy?
I don’t think our origin shaped us very much in terms of sound, because from the beginning we were guided by the music and the look of the ’80s of USA. That was always our direction, no matter where we came from. When you come from a place where things are not always easy, you learn to fight for your dream with everything you have.

You describe Star Crystal as an ‘80s glam/hard rock time machine. Which elements of that era do you try to capture, and which do you modernize?
I never really overthink it — we just do what we genuinely love. Our fans sometimes tell us that Come On Baby sounds more modern, probably because it has that heavier guitar tone. But honestly, we don’t sit and calculate what should be “modern” or “retro”. We just follow our taste.

How do you create songs that blend heavy riffs with catchy pop melodies?
Heaviness is mostly a matter of sound design — distortion, tone, arrangement. The notes themselves stay the same, so you can place beautiful melodies on top of even the heaviest riffs. That’s why artists sometimes release acoustic versions of their songs: the core melody still works.

You’ve mentioned that assembling the lineup wasn’t easy. How does each member contribute to the band’s unique chemistry?
We spend a lot of time together, so we know each other extremely well. Making music keeps us focused on our main goals instead of individual desires — it reminds us that we’re building something bigger than just one person.

Your songs often carry motivational messages, like “Power of Love.” Where does the inspiration for lyrics that mix energy and positivity come from?
Our path in music — trying to achieve success — is the biggest inspiration. We’ve struggled a lot, faced many obstacles, and had to break through a lot of walls, so we actually know what it feels like to fight for your dream. That’s why we can write about it honestly and share our experience with the audience. All those moments — the hard ones and the beautiful ones — turn into lyrics. We want people to feel stronger, more confident, more hopeful when they listen to us. If our songs give someone energy or motivation to keep going, then we’ve done our job.

What do you love most about turning any stage into an “arena”?
In those moments, we’re building our old dreams. Every stage — big or small — becomes the place where our childhood fantasies come true.

You use a lot of costumes, makeup, and choreography. How do you balance that with musical performance?
We usually prepare everything in a way that supports the performance instead of distracting from it. The clothes must be comfortable enough to move in, the makeup needs to survive the heat of the stage, and the choreography has to feel natural, not forced. We’re not dancing like a pop group — it’s more about attitude, presence, and creating moments that match the music.

What has been the most memorable show so far, and why?
One of the most memorable shows for us was at Metal Days Festival. It was the first time we felt what it’s like to stand on a truly huge stage with a massive crowd in front of us. The energy was unbelievable — like the whole audience was breathing with us.

Your music videos are described as ‘80s fantasy, with wind machines and leather outfits. How do you plan such an iconic look?
We gather all together and start to think about images in our heads that can fit our song and make a video from that image. Some scenes from movies that we like helps us a lot.

Do you see your videos as an extension of your music, or as a form of art in their own right?
I think it’s more like an extension—they should blend and look like different sides of one thing. The video isn’t just a backdrop for the song; it’s the same energy, the same emotion, just shown instead of sung.

Susanna, you once turned a kitchen chair into a sold-out stadium. What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome to get there?
I did it when I was a child, and that’s how I tried to imitate my dream. I’d stand on that kitchen chair like it was the biggest stage in the world, singing my heart out with a wooden spoon as my mic. Now, every stadium feels like a kitchen for me—I’m relaxed there, and I know every “utensil” I need to make magic.

What advice would you give to musicians who want to launch themselves without waiting for “permission”?
If they’re wanting it and understand that they don’t need permissions—they just need to do it, and not put it on a long shelf. Dreams don’t wait, and neither should you. I started singing on a kitchen chair when no one was watching, because I didn’t need a stadium or approval—I just needed the song in my heart.

You have fans who say your music helped them through tough times. How does it feel to experience that kind of personal impact?
This feels incredible—it’s always unexpected, and those stories are the most meaningful. We feel a deep connection with our listeners because some of our songs come from our own feelings after we’ve gone through hard situations.

How do you see the band’s sound evolving in the coming years?
We haven’t locked it down yet, but we’re excited to see how our sound evolves while staying true to our ’80s roots.

Are there any dreams or projects you haven’t achieved yet but are determined to pursue?
Yes, of course—many big stages haven’t seen us yet, and many great bands we haven’t played with yet. We dream of sharing the stage with legends like Whitesnake or Heart and many more, maybe even doing a special version of their songs together. We also haven’t played in Latin America yet, and we’re so determined to bring our music there—the fans’ passion for glam and hard rock is exactly what fuels us.

Do you plan to continue “reviving the ‘80s,” or are you looking to explore new styles and influences?
80’s is the main thing for us right now, and it has a lot of forgotten musical ideas.

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