Diva Notes

Gospel according to Chrisette Michele

by A.D. Amorosi

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With her smoke-curling voice and elegant, soulful songs, Chrisette Michele might seem part of another time. She nearly says as much on her debut CD, I Am (Def Jam). "I've been studying Miss Billie, Miss Ella, Miss Sarah Vaughan and Miss Natalie Cole," she cries out quietly on "Let's Rock." But those low-slung vocals and those cool chords belie something deeper in the 25-year-old. Part of it is that there's God in the details (her dad was a deacon and an organist and her mother the church choir director in their hometown of Patchogue, N.Y.). That doesn't mean she's coming from a gospel place — it's just part of the story.

City Paper: I can sense the power of church song in your voice. But is it fair to imagine that you rebelled against such music?

Chrisette Michele: I don't know if I'd say rebel. Free-spirited is what I was — about life, the world around me. Being creative was a part of that and my parents were very liberal. But the moral way in which I was raised carried into my music.

CP: You've worked with Jay-Z, Nas, T.I., the Roots. How does it feel to be the hip-hop vocal queen du jour? Why you?

CM: I'm framing that line. I'm grateful to have a place in that culture. Why me? I think they're looking to create yet another culture — a fusion between their hip-hop and the jazz and soul I bring, because I'm not your usual R&B diva. I bring some adult contemporary and even gospel to the table.

CP: Have all those collaborators been gentlemanly and shown respect to you while in the studio?

CM: There's been some weed smoking. Someone needs to be slapped on the wrists there. [Laughs] Other than that, the utmost respect.

CP: Tell me about "Golden" and "Best of Me." One coin, two sides?

CM: With "Golden," I was in love. And I really thought something was going to come out of it. So I went to sleep, dreamt "Golden," then ran to the Village Underground and performed it to the man I was in love with. And when I wasn't in love, I wrote "Best of Me."

CP: Why was it so crucial to you to write every song?

CM: It wasn't. Jay-Z and L.A. Reid found out I could write when I went into the studio with Babyface. They wouldn't have it any other way. They seemed to think no one could showcase my voice better than me.

CP: So then it's you who's responsible for the slow tempos. It's very chill.

CM: They wanted to showcase my tone and my vocal range. And I'm flattered by that. But you know what? Maybe it's because my voice is so deep they think I'm 90. I'm sick of the slow jams. You can put that in print. I have to do a lot more dancing. My next album is gonna be fast. A little edgier.

CP: Well, you do talk up Ella and Sarah on I Am.

CM: I'm gonna have to call out Beyoncé on the next record.

Chrisette Michele with Raheem DeVaughn | Sat., June 14, 9 p.m., sold out, TLA, 334 South St., 215-922-1010, livenation.com