Kristina Esfandiari (born 4 March 1988) is an American singer-songwriter and producer who writes music and performs under the monikers Dalmatian, Miserable, and NGHTCRWLR, and with the bands King Woman and Sugar High.

Early life

Kristina Esfandiari was born to immigrant parents, an Iranian father and a Serbian mother. They raised her in a

Charismatic Christian Charismatic Christianity (also known as Spirit-filled Christianity by its supporters) is a form of Christianity that emphasizes the work of the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, and modern-day miracles as an everyday part of a believer's life. Practi ...

church. She was raised in Sacramento. At 22, she moved to the Bay Area.

Career

Esfandiari began her musical career as a vocalist for shoegaze band Whirr from 2012 to 2013 and was featured on the EP ''Around'',before moving onto her own projects. In her early years as a performer, Esfandiari became well known for her heavy and dramatic vocals during live shows. As of June 2021, Esfandiari releases music under a multitude of personas: Miserable, KRIS, Dalmatian, Sugar High, and NGHTCRWLR. Esfandiari is best known as the lead vocalist for the band King Woman. Esfandiari began King Woman as a solo project in 2009. The project later became a band, after she was joined by her childhood friend, Joey Raygoza.

Dalmatian

Esfandiari debuted her Dalmatian persona via her social media channels. Dalmatian is a rap project, inspired by artists including Elkk and JRAL. Dalmatian's first release was single "Pain Thresold", followed by "Friday the 13th", released October 2020. Speaking to '' Revolver'' in October 2020, Esfandiari said that she was working on Dalmatian's first album, featuring JRAL and Elkk.

King Woman

King Woman released their first successful EP, ''Doubt'', with

The Flenser The Flenser (also known as Flenser Records) is a San Francisco-based record label specializing in experimental music. Notable bands that work with or have worked with The Flenser include: Have a Nice Life, Botanist, Deafheaven, Wreck and Refe ...

in 2015. The EP was inspired by Esfandiari's experiences of trying to leave her religious upbringing. King Woman signed to Relapse Records and released their debut LP, ''Created in the Image of Suffering'', which was labelled by ''Pitchfork'' as one of the best rock albums of 2017. Writing for ''Beats Per Minute''’s “Darkest Albums” feature, John Amen called the album “a disturbing journey through consternation, despair, and heretical inquiry.” King Woman's second album, '' Celestial Blues'', was announced in June 2021, as was its July 2021 oncoming release by Relapse Records. The first single from the album, "Morning Star", was released ahead of the LP. This was followed by a second single, "Psychic Wound", and a third single, “Boghz”. The album was released to positive reviews.

Miserable

Miserable is a shoegaze project debuted by Esfandiari in 2014 with EPs ''Halloween Dream'' and ''Dog Days''. ''Uncontrollable'', Miserable's debut album, was released via

The Native Sound The Native Sound is an independent record label based in New York City. It was founded in 2013 by Julio Anta. The label has released a number of dream pop, Shoegazing, shoegaze and folk music releases on cassette tape, limited edition vinyl, and d ...

in April 2016. Written and recorded over the course of a year, the LP is the most emotional release in Esfandiari's history as an artist. The album quickly became a fan favourite and her breakthrough record, according to most mainstream media. ''Pitchfork'' and ''Spin'' praised her work. She later toured extensively in the US.

NGHTCRWLR

NGHTCRWLR has been described as a "mixture of

drone Drone most commonly refers to: * Drone (bee), a male bee, from an unfertilized egg * Unmanned aerial vehicle * Unmanned surface vehicle, watercraft * Unmanned underwater vehicle or underwater drone Drone, drones or The Drones may also refer to: ...

, harsh noise and

industrial Industrial may refer to: Industry * Industrial archaeology, the study of the history of the industry * Industrial engineering, engineering dealing with the optimization of complex industrial processes or systems * Industrial city, a city dominate ...

sounds". Her influences for the project include

Yves Tumor Sean Bowie, best known by the recording alias Yves Tumor, is an American musician and producer of experimental music, born in Miami, Florida and currently based in Turin, Italy. To date, they have released four studio albums: ''When Man Fails Y ...

and The Prodigy. NGHTCRWLR's debut album, ''Let the Children Scream'', was released via Amniote Editions in January 2020.

Sugar High

Sugar High is a collaboration with producer and singer-songwriter Darcy Baylis, who Esfandiari met over Instagram in 2018. The duo released their debut album, ''Love Addict'', in 2020 on Dero Arcade. "Losing" and "Ugly" were released as singles from the album.

Discography

Dalmatian

Singles / EPs * ''Pain Threshold'' (2019) * ''Friday the 13th'' (2020)

King Woman

Albums * ''

Created in the Image of Suffering ''Created in the Image of Suffering'' is the debut studio album by American doom metal band King Woman, released on February 24, 2017, through Relapse Records. The album has strong religious themes, inspired by the band's lead member Kristina ...

'' (2017) *'' Celestial Blues'' (2021) Singles / EPs * ''Degrida / Sick Bed'' (2013) * ''Dove / Fond Affections'' (2014) * ''Doubt'' EP (2015)

Miserable

Albums * ''Uncontrollable'' (2016) Singles / EPs * ''Split with Grey Zine'' (2013) * ''Halloween Dream'' EP (2014) * ''Dog Days'' EP (2014) * ''Loverboy'' EP (2018)

NGHTCRWLR

Albums * ''Let the Children Scream'' (2020)

Sugar High

Albums * ''Love Addict'' (2020)

Whirr

Singles / EPs * ''Around'' EP (2013)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Esfandiari, Kristina Living people American women songwriters American people of Iranian descent Iranian songwriters Whirr (band) members 21st-century American women 1988 births American people of Serbian descent