MaBu: You grew-up in the church like so many music legends and your father is a deacon. Did you come against any adversity pursuing music other than gospel from those in the church?

Chrisette Michele: I’m sure that a lot of my Christian sisters and brothers were a little bit nervous because of the stigma that can come with the music industry.  But they knew I had my mother and father by my side to keep me grounded.  They know the person that I am.

MaBu:  Let’s talk about that vintage soulful sound.  Is this genuinely Chrisette Michele, or did you have to really go to work at creating a unique sound to set yourself apart?

Chrisette Michele:  Growing up, I played the saxophone and the piano; those were the sounds that were around me.  Being a young person with so much soul, I had to actually learn about R&B.  I had to teach myself what it was and what it felt like. Some of the sounds that you hear I have studied while a lot of things like jazz came natural for me.   

MaBu: What’s the story behind the title of your sophomore album Epiphany?

Chrisette Michele: I’m so excited about this album. Ecstatic actually!  The last album I was kind of nonchalant.  This time I feel like I bore my soul a little bit more.  This album is a break-up album.  I think we’ve all experienced break-ups before, so I think we can all sort of relate to this subject.  Epiphany is based on a dream I had. “Blame It on Me” was the name of the song I had written in my dream, and that song is the climax of the album.   The song was about making sure the relationship is over no matter whose fault it is. Even if you want to blame it on me, as long as it’s over, I don’t care, you can say whatever you want.  And that’s the “aha” moment.  That’s the point when you’re so sick of this relationship you don’t care why or how it ends.  The album is about that “aha” moment a girl has when she’s ready to end it. When she can finally say to herself I can do better, I can be better, I deserve better.  I’ve been in some tough relationships too. I’m making a soundtrack for both of our lives.

MaBu:   Other people have tried to define you and put you in a box. How do you describe your sound?

Chrisette Michele:  I think I’m a vocal powerhouse in the African American community with a lot of jazz and gospel influence, and I’m excited about upholding that standard.  As far as fitting into any type of genre, Aretha Franklin is my role model.  I love her because she had a song in every single box on the Billboard chart. I don’t know if that was a goal of hers, but she sung a gospel song, a country song, an opera song, an R&B song.  Yet, if you go to Target, you’ll find her CD in the R&B section.  I can’t put myself in a box. I do all kinds of music.

MaBu: What message do you hope people will take from your new album?

Chrisette Michele:  I hope they take that if their guy isn’t any good they need to get rid of him!  I want them to know that I’ve been in tough relationships too, and there’s really no difference.   I’m making a soundtrack for both of our lives.  I want people to be able to feel me on this album.

MaBu:  There’s been nothing but praise for your music and talent. How does that feel?

Chrisette Michele: It’s surreal. I still can’t believe it.

MaBu: Will you continue to pen hot hooks for Hip-Hop’s heavy hitters or are you going to save the hotness for yourself for awhile?

Chrisette Michele: Oh I got to get on some more Hip-Hop tracks!  I love it because it helps me to come out of my shell.  Hip-Hop is in my soul.  I’m actually sending Young Jeezy some stuff.

MaBu: Upon first hearing it, it was pretty funny, but I sat and I thought how sad it is for fans to say that they liked Mary J. Blige better when she had problems or “drama”.  Do you think stories of love-gone- wrong makes better music than being high off of love and happiness?

Chrisette Michele: Everybody wants to feel better when they’re hurt.  So, if you have someone that makes you feel like you’re not the only one, it makes your time easier.  I think that for every fan Mary lost she gained more.  As for those people who don’t want to see her happy, maybe she doesn’t need those people.  You know people grow, and as people grow they attract more people who are what they’re turning into.  Even if she did lose some fans, I’m sure she’s gained so many more.

MaBu: Who are your music favorites right now?

Chrisette Michele:  I’m so excited for Jasmine Sullivan, Jennifer Hudson, and Estelle.  All the girls that are singing their hearts out, doing what they feel like doing, and not being apologetic for their body image or their vocal style, capabilities or their creativity.

MaBu: Living a life in show business, how do you take care of yourself?

Chrisette Michele:  When spa day comes around every two weeks, I’m literally hibernating in the spa.  My skin has been exposed to every pillow in every hotel, I’m in every bathroom across the nation, and so that’s why I think a lot of people in my position really pamper themselves when they have a chance to.  You really get beat-up a lot.  People’s makeup brushes are on one person’s face and then your face, and it’s a lot for your skin. So I pamper myself when I can.

MaBu: Where do you draw energy from?

Chrisette Michele: Being with family and friends, time out to watch America’s Next Top Model with my girls, to go on a date to a movie theatre no one knows about, and my fans saying I appreciate what you did, or Golden was my wedding song.  Lucky for me my energy comes from a lot of special places.

MaBu: Are you a MAC or Max Factor Girl?

Chrisette Michele: I’m absolutely a drama queen.  If I had a boyfriend, he’d probably say can you come over my house in a sweat suit just one time please?  A girl can’t be a guy and a guy can’t be a girl.  You only get to do this one time, so let me just wile out! I have a good time. I love makeup.

Sample some of Chrisette Michle’s music at www.myspace.com/chrisettemichele.