From Canvas to Song: Don Lee Interviews Chrissy and The Watchful Spirits
- watchfulspirits
- Oct 16
- 4 min read
In my last blog, I had the joy of interviewing the artist Don Lee — the creative hand and vision behind my new band shirt. This time, we switch roles. From canvas to song, Don steps into the interviewer’s seat, and I — Chrissy of Chrissy and The Watchful Spirits — open the door to share the stories, inspirations, and spirits that guide my music.
Meet The Musician: Chrissy and The Watchful Spirits
Interview Q&A
Don Lee: Can you tell us how you came up with the name Chrissy and The Watchful Spirits?
Chrissy: I’ve always felt surrounded by ever-present, watchful spirits since I was a child. Their presence has followed me through life, but it’s in song, guitar, and art that they speak the loudest.
It’s as if the lines of communication open up and messages flow through me when I’m creating — that’s where the name Chrissy and The Watchful Spirits comes from. Sometimes inspiration arrives in whispers — sometimes at 2 a.m., like ‘Dark Night,’ one of the first songs I wrote as Chrissy and The Watchful Spirits.
Don Lee: What gets you inspired to write a song?
Chrissy: Usually I’m inspired by everyday experiences and challenges — especially the dichotomy between the physical realm we exist in and our spiritual nature. Sometimes those two aspects of ourselves fall out of alignment, and when they do, that tension often becomes the spark for a song. Other times, a song is born simply from the overtones and harmonies of a particular chord.
Don Lee: What musicians are in your top five all-time favourites?
Chrissy: Mike Patton would definitely be up there. His eccentric, genre-bending style and those one-of-a-kind vocals have had a huge influence on me, especially when I was younger. As a teenager, I’d never heard anything like him. The way he can slip into different characters and create this funky, fun, oddball music really fired up my imagination.
Björk – Another quirky, genre-blending, one-of-a-kind artist. Her oddball and experimental nature really appeals to me. Her music, lyrics, and persona speak to me as if to say, go ahead, be yourself. I also admire her deep connection to nature and the human experience.
Maynard James Keenan – His soaring, melodic vocals and deeply layered lyrical themes have always intrigued and captivated me. Also, he's another musician who doesn't stay the same, imbodying different characters and conintuing to exlpore his musical craft.
David Bowie – Of course, Bowie. As a child, seeing him sing and perform in such a wide range of styles and characters absolutely fascinated me. His ability to shapeshift through personas tickled my childlike curiosity and sense of wonder.
Beth Gibbons (Portishead) — I really resonate with Beth’s rawness, the emotional quality of her voice. It’s ethereal yet haunting and incredibly emotive.
Don Lee: When did you first start writing music?
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Chrissy: I started writing songs and poems as a kid. I even had a little band in high school, but it never really got off the ground. I picked music and songwriting back up in my mid-20s (around 2015), experimenting with Ableton Live, plug-in synths like the Bazille Modular Synth, and vocal explorations.
Those early—and somewhat cringey—tracks were the foundations or “proto-songs” that helped shape who I am now.
Don Lee: Do you still have your first guitar?
Chrissy: Haha, no I don’t — I sold it! But I wish I still had it. I saved up my pocket money for 6 months to buy an electric guitar and amp combo. My goal was to learn to play 'Blind' by Korn.
Don Lee: Do you play any instruments in addition to the guitar?
Chrissy: I like playing drums, though I wouldn’t say I’m great at them. Interestingly, when I started creating music in my 20s, it was electronic drum machines that really sparked my passion again. I spent many hours playing around on a Roland SPD-8.
Don Lee: What made you want to start writing music?
Chrissy: I just really enjoy creating sounds and expressing myself through music.
Don Lee: Any suggestions on how to deal with stage fright or pre-performance nerves?
Chrissy: You’ve just got to get up there, the more you do it, the easier it becomes. I also try to visualise my performance going well beforehand; it’s encouraging and calming.
Don Lee: Have you played strictly as a solo artist or do you play in groups as well?
Chrissy: I’ve performed solely as Chrissy and The Watchful Spirits, but I also have another project I’ve been exploring with a fellow musician. More to come on that.
Closing notes
It was such a joy being on the other side of the questions! A huge thank-you to Don Lee for the thoughtful set of questions. Conversations like this remind me how much artistry connects us all — whether through paint, melody, or story.
Stay tuned — the next artist feature will spotlight John Malcolm, a brilliant Brisbane musician whose live performance recently left a lasting impression on me. And of course, I’ll be reflecting on my own musical journey over spring.
See you next time.
— Watchful Spirits
The influence of your musical heroes really does come through in your songs but you give them all a feminine twist. It was nice to read about the things that have shaped your style.
You had me at Bazille 😄