Sink Your Teeth Into Krimson

The band members of Krimson never expected their first ever gig to be shut down prematurely by police officers, due to someone lighting their pants on fire in a show of “performance art.”  

Friday, Dec. 29, started out as a normal day. A few days after Christmas, the weather was still cold out and darkness came early. 

Unbeknownst to their apartment neighbors or landlord, Krimson bassist Chizuki Maruyama and guitarist Katelyn Heath, roommates as well as bandmates, were hosting a DIY concert in the alleyway near their apartment. Their garage would act as their stage. 

While headlining a gig is something you spend some time working towards in the music industry, Krimson was performing after just 10 days of officially becoming a band. 

Started by Maruyama, 20, and Heath,18, the two bonded over their love of music when first moving in together. They had the idea of creating a band after realizing they both could play instruments. 

Krimson had a clear vision since its inception. Aesthetically, the band would be easily identifiable through their distinct red lip, lace and all-black outfits. Musically, Krimson doesn’t want to be pigeonholed to one genre, but they do take inspiration from “80s goth rock, 90s shoegaze, a little bit of punk and hardcore,” according to Heath, their resident music expert. 

Krimson bassist Chizuki Maruyama is behind the band’s look and aesthetic. As a fashion merchandising major at CSULB, she uses her skills to create Krimson’s visual concept and potential merch. Image credit: Acsah Lemma 

Drummer Sophia Depecol, 22, was the third member to join. Unlike Maruyama and Heath, Depecol had been in several bands before Krimson, and had been playing music since she was young. While she originally focused on the piano when she was younger, she transitioned to drums at age 17.

“I love making music. It's a hobby that I love, and if I am able to do it on a grander scale that would be amazing,” she said. 

Krimson rhythm guitarist and lead singer Jessica Sutter, 23, was the last to join. Unlike the other members, Sutter underwent an audition process. Having been mutuals with Depecol on Instagram, Sutter saw that she had joined a band that was in need of a singer. Sutter swiped up and responded to her story, not wanting to let that opportunity slip.  

“I almost didn't send that message,” Sutter said. “But… you miss 100% of the shots you don't take and I'm sitting here saying, I want to be a musician so get the fuck up and try out bitch.” 

Similar to Depecol, music had been a part of Sutter’s life since she was young. When she was a child she would put on shows for her family. “I would even write little show flyers and I would slip it under all my siblings' doors, and I'll be like, show at 7 in the living room, be there,” she said. Before Sutter learned how to play instruments, she would just sing. This eventually led to her parents getting her a karaoke machine to flame that fire in her. 

Having passed her audition, Krimson, now four members and an official band, went straight into practicing for their first gig that had already been scheduled. 

Krimson members are photographed from top, guitarist Katelyn Heath, left, bassist Chizuki Maruyama, center, vocalist Jessica Sutter, and right, drummer Sophia Depecol. Photo credit: @Katelinayayo on Instagram

“We booked the show before we had even practiced together and it was in two weeks, so we practiced and rushed,” Sutter said. The “girls” as they affectionately like to call each other, practiced almost everyday for hours in preparation. 

“We needed to learn how to be able to play together,” Maruyama said. “That's like the hardest part, even if we memorize the songs, being able to play together is a completely different thing. So that was a challenge.” 

Using Depecol’s backhouse in Newport Beach as a practice space, the girls not only learned to play as a whole, but became fast friends despite only knowing each other for a short time. 

“I feel like we've known each other for years,” Heath said. 

The band members all agreed that playing music together connects you to one another on a deeper level. “You're getting into a rhythm with each other musically and also emotionally…,” Sutter said. 

Not only does their close bond and willingness to be vulnerable with each other allow them to feel like “sisters” according to Sutter, it also helps their music.

“I feel like being vulnerable is very important because that helps us all understand the sound we're trying to go for and also understand each other… so we're more comfortable expressing our ideas,” Heath said. 

Depecol echoed that sentiment adding that “...getting to know them in that way has been really beneficial to understanding who they are as people, and the better that you understand someone the better that you can play with them….” 

Krimson performs at their first ever gig in the apartment garage of band members Maruyama and Heath on Fri. Dec. 29 in Long Beach, CA. The show had a turnout of 50-60 people. Photo courtesy of: Krimson

Maruyama, who was one of the main creators of Krimson’s concept, made a conscious effort to recruit other female musicians since the local music scene in their genres was mostly male-dominated. 

“I was very adamant about it being all girls because the songs that I wanted to write, and talk about, and let the world hear, are the struggles of being a girl…” she said. 

While the band may be made up of girls, Maruyama says that “If you want to be Krimson, just wear a red lip and show up to the show.” 

With only 10 days to practice for the gig, the girls worked on performing the covers they would be singing. On the actual day, Krimson opened up with a cover of “Rosemary” by the Deftones. They went on to sing a 4-song set and were followed by another local band, Narcotics Division. 

A flier publicizing Krimson’s first ever gig. Not included in the flier was the band Priapizm. Unfortunately, only Krimson and Narcotics Division were able to perform as the evening was cut short by cops. Image credit: Chizuki Maruyama

Although two other bands were scheduled to perform after the second act, they wouldn’t have the opportunity. During one of their songs, the lead singer of Narcotics Division lit his pants on fire. 

Maruyama says that when she first noticed what was happening she thought, “Oh, that's sick.” 

“I felt like I was just part of the crowd,” she said. “I was watching as if I was part of the crowd, not somebody that's hosting the show. So then when it clicked afterwards, I was like, oh shit, we're really the hosts, we can't just be watching this.” 

Heath remembers that she felt “scared, worried and concerned,” when she saw what was happening. She wasn’t the only one. A neighbor of Heath and Maruyama witnessed what was happening and alerted police officers. Hearing that cops were on the way, the turnout of around 50-60 people scattered, cutting the evening short. 

While the members can only describe the night as “chaotic” they do agree that it was a memorable experience for better or for worse. 

Krimson vocalist Jessica Sutter belts out a cover while bassist Chizuki Maruyama strums along in the back at their first gig. Photo courtesy of: Krimson

Now after being a band for about 2 months, the girls are working on creating some original music. While each member has different things they like most about songs, they all want Krimson to have a unique sound that doesn’t conform to just one genre. 

“I guess it's about the feeling that comes when you're listening to a certain song,” Maruyama said. She wants Krimson's music to feel familiar. 

While in that musical process, Krimson members also balance work, school and their social lives. Heath, Maruyama and Sutter all attend California State University Long Beach and maintain busy schedules. Depecol, while not a CSULB student, attends an online school with the hope of transferring to a UC. 

Although they all agree that it is difficult to balance all those aspects of their lives, Maruyama says that “I’m motivated because I love my girls, I love music and I want people to hear our music because I think a lot of people would enjoy it.” 

With the hopes of releasing four singles this year, and potentially an album as well, 2024 is looking like it’ll keep Krimson pretty busy. Check out their Instagram and TikTok to stay updated on their journey.