Jeanie Crystal on Queen Bee, the White Boys and The End of The World
Photo credits: Photography: Greta Kalva | Hair: Solomon Paramour | Make up: Sofia Paradis | Make up assistant: Sofia Sarina | Special thanks for loans from Gloria Jane Royer
Video credits: Band: Jeanie and the White Boys | Co-Directors: Jeanie Crystal and Mark Farry | Lizard: Pfion Vince | DOP: James Sharpe | Hair and make up: Yasmine Khan | Editor: Robert Fox | Additional edits: Peggy Sue Cranney | Colour grade: Micheal Pearce | Producer: Alex Izzarrd
In ‘Queen Bee’, the newest song by Jeanie and the White Boys, there’s an unbridled sense of rage represented in not just the catchy lyrics, but the pointedly anti-royalist music video. Front woman, Jeanie Crystal, has spent her entire career as a DJ and musician using her platform to rally for the right causes, ensuring that there is always a point behind the party.
Below, we speak to Crystal about her recent influences, the guts that goes into performing live and why we should all be rebelling against the upper classes.
For our readers who aren’t familiar with Jeanie and the White Boys, how would you describe your sound?
It’s punk rock n roll, trashy and sleazy, it's sounds of the streets, it's for the moon children - those that like to go bump in the night. Ha! I think I write pop songs, but many love to disagree with me.
Could you describe the world you inhabit musically and lyrically?
We have been described a few times as a band out of a Tarantino movie which I love! We don’t fuck with Tarantino characters - a lot of them are on the path of violent revenge - so that comparison brings me great comfort. I think my lyrics are double edged swords, -they all true stories about my experiences with people who have tried to bully me into their idea of human order.
It’s all personal. I write a lot about banal men. I know, I apologise, but I think the lyrics can be applied to a wider context of the new world order we see unfolding before our very eyes. But to present this in a super serious way would just bring people down and what we really need now is hope, and transgression, so I use humour and satire and just generally being a cantankerous cow to poke fun at all these sad little oligarchs that want to ruin all the fun.
Who are your biggest influences musically and aesthetically?
I like to keep a lot of these close to my chest, but I’ll give you a few. It’s pretty obvious I’m the bastard love child of Poison Ivy and Lux Interior of The Cramps - not only their music, but their love for each and relationship and swapping of gender roles I revere them as the ultimate example of love.
Can you talk about the inspirations behind “Queen Bee”?
Queen Bee came about after I watched a documentary about the royals robbing us all blind. I’m bored! I’m bored of the rich, I'm bored of their art. Bored of their music, bored of their frozen fucking faces. Look - I have nothing against people with money. I want money - Send me your money now! - but please for the love of god STOP BORING ME! Queen Bee is a war cry - we are still here, you aren’t going to stamp us out!
The video for the track is amazing. Tell us about the process of making it and your reasons for evoking the royal imagery in this way?
Remember when those horses escaped from the royal barracks? What an omen - it was a really potent warning for us to rebel to push back. It really struck me. If two bloodied horses wasn’t a prophecy I don't know what is. It’s said to me - Dark days are coming and low behold here we are. Then I started thinking about Nostradamus predictions - the towers will fall and the death of the princess - I’ve been thinking about all these events that have been in my lifetime and the idea of revenge and how that is taking a new meaning in this new world.
Your sound is really raw and visceral, which tells me it lends well to a live setting. What’s the best thing about a live show?
It’s the only time I really feel fear just before I go on and I never know how I’m going to deal with it show to show. It's fun for me, like going on a white knuckle ride naked crying while everyone stares at you waiting for you to fail.
What’s your ultimate stage outfit? What makes you feel amazing?
I don’t really like wearing much - I like it all hanging out.
Any advice for any readers who are thinking about starting a band?
Do it! Do it this instant. But don’t be shit or don’t be shit for too long.
Finally, what’s the rest of 2025 looking like for Jeanie and the White Boys?
We have three more singles coming out before the album in spring - loads of shows and some art shows coming up and we have a couple of really special support slots we can’t announce yet. Also my night ART STUD CLUB is monthly at The Old Blue Last - all moon children welcome.
