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

Bay Area The San Francisco Bay Area, often referred to as simply the Bay Area, is a populous region surrounding the San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun Bay estuaries in Northern California. The Bay Area is defined by the Association of Bay Area Gov ...

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 ''

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'' 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 in 2015. The EP was inspired by Esfandiari's experiences of trying to leave her religious upbringing. King Woman signed to

Relapse Records Relapse Records is an American independent record label based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990. The label features many grindcore, death metal, metalcore and sludge metal artists. History The label was ...

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 ''Celestial Blues'' is the second studio album by Kristina Esfandiari-fronted American doom metal band King Woman, released on July 30, 2021 through Relapse Records. It follows King Woman's debut album, 2017's ''Created in the Image of Suffering ...

'', 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 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

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, harsh noise and industrial sounds". Her influences for the project include Yves Tumor and

The Prodigy The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music band formed in Braintree, Essex, in 1990 by producer, keyboard player and songwriter Liam Howlett. The original line-up also featured dancer and singer Keith Flint and dancer and occasional l ...

. 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

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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'' (2017) *''

'' (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