Following her recent Grammy nomination for 2013 album “Better,” Chrisette Michele is strategically planning for more success in 2014 by releasing her upcoming projects together.
With the Michael Jackson exhibit at the GRAMMY museum providing the backdrop for her latest interview, the “Be Ok” singer discussed many topics with Radio.com including: her relationship with mentor Patti LaBelle, her Rich Hipster project and the inspiration behind her forthcoming acoustic album “The Lyricist Opus.”
On Patti LaBelle:
“I didn’t grow up listening to Patti LaBelle, I grew up listening to Alternative Rock music. [Patti] was one of my mentors. I wasn’t into R&B when I got [in the industry] so it was a crash course. Being on stage with Patti was like going to school.”
On the Rich Hipster project:
“All of the photography that I’ve been taking of different hipster culture things will be put on t-shirts for the Rich Hipster t-shirt line. Go to richhipster.biz on May 26, that’ll be the launch.”
On “The Lyricist Opus:”
“It’s all about matching the sound of the music to my voice and the lyrics. I decided to do [this album] when I had saved enough money to make it. The material is about chasing the light, finding what really matters to you and believing in it enough to support it. I’ll be recording in Los Angeles, I’m hiring a full orchestra, it’s going to be filmed and it will be followed on R&B Divas”
Michele is launching her Rich Hipster project along with her fifth studio album, “The Lyricist Opus” on May 26. She will also appear in season two of TV One series “R&B Divas: LA,” which airs later this year.
Watch Michele talk about her exciting new projects below.