Lady Lash is a Kokatha woman with Greek ancestry. Pushing beyond all expectations she has carved a successful career in the male dominated Hip Hop industry. After living in Melbourne city for decades, working through and rising above self-sabotage, she returns to country for self growth. She tackles what reconnection to country brings up. Spiritual connection together with the resurfacing of the colonial mindset her people continue to face. Lady Lash inspired by her connection to country is rewriting her narrative, breaking stereotypes and singing up a storm of creative fusion.
We Are Song, We Are Dreaming, We Are Country is a compelling blend of music performance, story and conversation. It features song, story and discussion between host Neil Morris and a powerful line up of First Nations song people.
The lineup includes songs of Wurundjeri song keepers Djirri Djirri, the highly prodigious Butchalla Songman, Fred Leone, Noongar Soul artist, the stunning BUMPY, and the mesmerising ever-evolving force that is Lady Lash. Don't miss We Are Song, We Are Dreaming, We Are Country, a special evening that evokes reflection about the position First Peoples Song and Story have in the present.
Spiritual Misfit Lady Lash spent her childhood days listening to her Mum’s cassette tapes and learning how to sing & rap by emulating what she heard on those tapes and on the radio.
In 90’s and only 16, Lash was invited by her Uncle Bunna Lawrie to be a backing vocalist for his legendary Indigenous band ‘Coloured Stones’ out on the Koonibba Community, located 35 km out of Ceduna, South Australia. Touring and featured on their album ‘Rhythm of Nature’ Crystal got a glimpse into the Music Industry.
Lash cut her teeth in the Hop Hop scene in 2009 with underground beats and dark lyrics, straight out the bedroom to the stage, A Femme Fatal with a sharp tongue and twisted lyricism set her rise to the Hip Hop stage as she flicked up a well-timed track ‘7 Deadly Sins’ to ABC’s Triple J Radio Station.
She then dropped her first ep in 2010 entitled ‘Pearl’ that featured songs ‘It aint easy’ & ‘Busy Bee’ which was featured in ABC’s Trial Blazing Series ‘Ready for this’, which was Produced by Skitzo Productions. This release has seen her nominated for A ‘Deadly Award’ and earning a spot-on stage for The One Movement Festival in Perth whilst winning the Redfern Records ‘Female of the Year’ Award in 2010.
Performing and touring Australia for a few years, it was time for a change to re brand herself as Crystal Mercy in 2012, she pushed the boat out artistically with a High Quality multi-award-winning album, ‘The Fisherman's Daughter’, Produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Mercury Prize Winning Producer Wayne ‘Lotek’ Bennett at Counter Clockwise. Working closely with distribution and management label ‘Third Verse’ this release is on the 25 ‘Highly Regarded’ list for the 2013 Coopers AMP (Australian Music Prize) alongside Bliss & Eso, Mantra and Ngaire.
Crystal has taken out a VIPA (Victorian Indigenous Performer Awards) for Most Promising Act of 2013 and an Age Music Victoria Genre Award 2013 ‘Songlines Best Indigenous Act’.
Her single ‘Green Cherries’ was featured in NITV’s Choreography and dance show ‘Move it Mob Style’.
After a brief 2 year hiatus Lash reawakened her soul in a Hip Hop/Jazz album ‘Milky Way’ in 2015 & working closely with her Producer Skitzo Productions, they gave some boom bap goodness laced over jazzy licks, this release then got her nominated for ‘Best Aboriginal Act’ for The Age Music Victoria Awards 2016. Followed by a Trip Hop EP ‘Cats Eyes Sirens Mouth’ which one of her songs ‘Crimson Blockard’ was featured on Wu Tang Clan Mixtape by Dj Symphony and RZA.
Lash kept writing and digging deeper into her spiritual journey she released ‘Therapy Tapes’ in 2018 receiving radio airplay throughout Australia.
The time came to finally document her journey through music and working closely with Genetic Circus Productions on her Documentary ‘Lady Lash’. Filmed over 2 years a strong Aboriginal story told on her own in her own way, navigating deep into Culture, Music and Self Healing.
Crystal’s journey into music and the doco has evoked a calling so deep she released 3 singles ‘Shifted Midnight’, ‘Night lounge 3000’ and ‘Yadu’ in honour of the Women in her Family on the Far West Coast of South Australia.
With numerous Festivals and Shows under her belt, her natural talent has seen her perform at the Sydney Opera House as a cast member of Deborah Cheetham's first Indigenous Opera 'Pecan Summer'.
Crystal has also supported the likes of Jessica Mauboy, Archie Roach, Paul Kelly, Dan Sultan, REMI, Urthboy, L-Fresh the Lion, Jimblah, Jungle Brothers, Yung Warriors, Lowkey (Aus Tour), Madchild (Aus Tour), True Live and Paris Wells just to name a few.
Lash is also apart of the first Indigenous all female Hip Hop Group OETHA, who are gaining fast attention in the music industry with their singles ‘Sista Girl’ and ‘Cruisin’ played on Triple J and Rage, this got them ‘nominated for an Age Music Victoria Music Award - The Archie Roach Foundation ‘Emerging new artist’, there set to release their first selftitled EP in 2021.