Michel’le is one of the most underrated vocalists of 90’s R&B. The way she belts out songs will have your jaw dropping down to the floor. In this Zumble exclusive interview, I got a chance to speak with the songstress about her career, her return to music, and the legacy she wants to leave behind. Here are a few highlights.
On the process of recording her debut album:
“We were just doing what we love to do. So we had no expectation of now. We just did it because we wanted to have good music we wanted to listen to, something we liked. You know what I mean? It sounds different now. Like we didn’t go in with the expectation of trying to get to the top 10. I don’t even know if we knew what the top 10 was. We were just trying to be creative and love what we wanted to hear. It was a learning experience because I’d never been in a studio. I didn’t know that you needed headphones to record on the mic. I had never been in a professional type studio where I was recording. I visited Sam, but I’d never been in the booth”.
How she got into songwriting:
“I considered myself a writer before I had considered myself a singer, because I used to just write. I didn’t know where it was going. I have to be honest with you, I always wanted to sing, but I never thought it would be something that I would actually get a chance to do. I was just, you know, something I did. It was natural to just do it. I never had any thought process of when I was doing it”.
On her collaboration with Tupac for “Run Tha Streets”:
“This man was so unique in every way. From a philosopher, to a preacher to, an activist I mean, he was an intelligent brother. He didn’t mind saying, “Here, do you need me to help you get in front of me?” He was that type of man he really was, so getting on the song with him, he didn’t have a problem with it. He was like come in here and I need you to sing this part. He was a dream to work with and a workaholic.”
What we can expect from Michel’le in the future:
“I’m working on music as a matter of fact, I’m working on a song right now. which I’m always now will, I’ll get it out. I don’t know because I always get to the point of, okay, are we ready? But I do owe my fans a record and if I’d give them nothing else I am doing that. I’m not looking forward it to chart, not looking for it, to do anything other than give to them. It’s something that they can hear that is fresh from me to just add to what they already have”.
On the type of legacy she wants to leave:
“I never thought about having a legacy. I didn’t care about having a legacy, nor idea of when I’m gone, what people would think of me. I had never wrapped my head around that because I watched how legacies played out. So I think my legacy will be those for whom believed who I was while I was here, and those who would cherish what I’ve done when I’m gone”.
Check out 90’s R&B University for the full interview!
