CHRISETTE MICHELE: Def Jam’s R&B darling shares a heartfelt ‘Epiphany’

Chrisette Michele: Epiphany
By Alyssa Anne

For the many stars in the music industry, the repetitiveness of press interviews is often the main source for monotonous answers, but not Chrisette Michele. While promoting her new sophomore album, Epiphany on Def Jam, Michele’s hybrid of genuineness and professionalism shines through with the Grammy Award-winning songstress: she’s serious one moment and giggly as if conversing with an old friend the next.

The depth and subject matter of her music makes it hard for anyone to imagine that she is still a relatively young songbird, but she is, and doesn’t mind making fun of herself. “Because my voice is so raspy and I got this waist and these thighs, all of a sudden people wanna call me Sistah Souljah, so yes, I’m an old soul but I am sooo silly,” she says. “I remember one time I went parasailing and I wanted to do a trick and I ended up landing on my head in the water. It was so fun that I did it twice! I like to go out with my girls and play at the beach. I am just 26, ya know!” But with a resounding voice like hers, who would have ever guessed?

Chrisette, a native Central Islip, New Yorker who was raised by parents who were church deacons, utilized her strong gospel roots to ultimately become one of the most revered singers in the industry. Her signature sound initially garnered respect in the hip-hop scene after blessing tracks like “Can’t Forget About You” and “Lost Ones” for rap royalty Nas and Jay-Z respectively. Eventually, Chrisette’s 2007 debut album I Am went gold in a time when newcomers were excited to even go copper, thanks to her multi-generational and compelling songwriting to complement her soulful vocals. Now, in 2009, her album continues to move the crowd.

An epiphany is an awakening–a sudden, intuitive perception or gained insight into the reality of a lesson learned. On her sophomore release, a newly enlightened Chrisette seems to want to shout to all of us, “It’s okay to break up.” After leaving a tumultuous relationship, Chrisette sat down to write material with label mate, singer and songwriter Ne-Yo for the Epiphany album, resulting in the beautifully laced title track. “The inspiration behind this album was a break-up,” Chrisette explains. “Ne-Yo said he’s felt vulnerable before so why not me? And I actually loved the release that I got to have on this album. You know, I feel really empowered by this album, not just for myself, but for anyone that’s been through a tough break-up; this is their moment, their time to have an epiphany.”

Gaining a rep for quality music was undoubtedly accomplished on I Am with the chick anthem “Be OK” and the softer, more vulnerable single “If I Have My Way.” Regarding Epiphany, the self-described old soul (complete with a black and white cover photo of her seemingly honoring the classic jazz divas of yesteryear) is going for an edgier sound with surefire hits like the dance-inducing “Our Song” featuring Ne-Yo. So is the MTV crowd the new target audience? “I just want to broaden my horizons,” Chrisette replies. “My favorite place to be is on the stage. When I’m writing my music, I always think about how it’s going to translate onto the stage, so I did more up-tempos this time around because I wanted to move a little bit more.”

Although she’s gearing up to have more fun, Chrisette is very serious about her craft and stays focused while she weathers pressuring comparisons to legends including the late, great Billie Holiday and current he-said-she-said nonsense that tends to surface in the music world. Ever the lady, Chrisette shies away from the high pedestal and resists the urge to single out any artist deemed undeserving of accolades. “I try to stay as positive as possible because there’s so much negativity and I just don’t want any part of it, but I will say this: Every artist has something incredible about them and if they are in the limelight, it’s for a reason. I try to find something to appreciate because hey, I don’t know everything.”

Wisdom-infused lyrics? Check. Singing and songwriting prowess? Got it. Stage presence and pleasing to the eye? No doubt. Chrisette is so on point that she deserves a second coming out party with her Epiphany. She’s had hers, now it’s time to get yours.