Expat Krystle Warren loves her hometown—so much so that she thought she’d never leave. But she did.
Now residing just outside of Paris, KC-born singer-songwriter Warren has built a thriving career abroad with an impressive list of collaborations, having shared the stage with Rufus Wainwright and Joan As Police Woman.
But before Warren’s move to France, she called New York City home for a few years. At 23, she bought a one-way ticket to the East Coast, hesitantly convinced by a close friend who’d just transferred from UMKC to The New School in New York. It was her first one-way flight and her first time traveling alone.
“Leaving Kansas City wasn’t something I desired,” Warren says. “I would’ve been perfectly fine staying, but I’m so glad that I made that leap, that adventure. It was terrifying and exciting at the same time.”
Ultimately, the musician spent a few years in New York performing with her band, Krystle Warren and the Faculty. One night at a Halloween party, a friend interning at Electric Lady Studios invited producer and recording engineer Russell Elevado—though the band didn’t know he was in the audience. Their set happened to include music from Erykah Badu’s Mama’s Gun and D’Angelo’s Voodoo, albums Elevado had mixed.
A few days later, Elevado sent an email: an offer to produce an album.
“That was our very first experience in the studio,” Warren says. “About a year in, we signed to a French label. That’s what brought Paris into the picture.”
Now, Warren returns to KC to headline the Crossroads Music Festival on September 6. She’ll be joined by Mike Stover, described by Warren as a “human Swiss Army knife,” as well as a surprise special guest.
“It’s going to be the most intimate performance I’ve made in KC,” Warren says. “I’m really excited for that.”
Growing up in South KC, the musician was drawn to her mom’s record collection of soul classics (namely Stevie Wonder and a lot of Bill Withers) and her sister’s love for jazz and hip-hop. And she attributes a cohort of KC musicians—Beau Bledsoe, Jeff Harshbarger and Brad Cox—for helping mold her into the musician she is today.
“I looked at them immediately as mentors,” Warren says. “I didn’t think I was cool enough to be hanging out with them, but they insisted that I should. Meeting them completely expanded my relationship and understanding of music.”
Often compared to legends like Tracy Chapman and Nina Simone, Warren is hesitant to self-describe her sound. She prefers listeners come to their own conclusions.
“I like leaving it up to people to listen and pull their own references,” Warren says. “It’s too difficult because I listen to just about everything—my influences are so varied.”
Beyond her festival performance, Warren has already planned her next trip home. In collaboration with contemporary company Owen/Cox Dance Group, the musician will return to KC stages in April 2026 for a world premiere of a tailor-made affair.
Krystle Warren’s Hometown Picks
Although Warren is looking forward to her upcoming headlining performance at Crossroads Music Fest, she’s nearly as excited to hit up a food-oriented list of her KC favorites. Here are her must-haves.
• Room 39
• A rack of ribs from Joe’s Kansas City
• Go Chicken Go’s fried gizzards
• Gates’ beef and a half
•A cold can of Boulevard Wheat, best enjoyed on a porch
GO: Krystle Warren at Crossroads Music Fest. September 6. Stockyards District. Visit cmfkc.com for a full festival lineup
and performance times.
