Meet : MICHELLE
There’s something about New York. I know this is hardly a revolutionary statement and am fully aware that great music has been pumping out of the City for a very long time, but we are having a big NYC love affair right now. Countless Last Bus playlists are filled to the brim with emerging independent artists hailing from NYC, all producing a plethora of sounds distinct from one other. Sofia D’Angelo, Julian Kaufman, Charlie Kilgore, Layla Ku, Emma Lee and Jamee Lockard make up the group at the front of this movement, the wondrous MICHELLE.
The collective formed in 2018 and two sweaty weeks later they had self-released their baby, HEATWAVE into the world, a delicious 10-track taster of all things the group had to offer. Initially planning for HEATWAVE to be an only child, as support and interest in the band grew, thankfully their minds started to change and they realised that they were in it for the long game. 2020 was a busy year for them; not only was their single ‘SUNRISE’ added to Spotify’s Best Indie Songs of 2020 and ‘UNBOUND’ being chosen as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record in the World but they were also included in the NME 100 ‘Essential emerging artists for 2021’ and then signed to Transgressive Records [Loyle Carner, Blaenavon, Julia Jacklin]. A whirlwind year to say the least.
One YouTube comment reads : ‘This band, their voices, everything screams youth-hood. Just reminds me of a nostalgic feeling that consists of a memory of a carefree, clear-skied day in my childhood.’ ‘Youth-hood’ it is.
LAST BUS MAGAZINE caught up with MICHELLE to talk about their latest single FYO, the first place they’re running to once lockdown lifts and which NYC artists we should keep an eye on… oh, and Michel Roux.
PHOTO BY SOPHIA WILSON
How did you all come together and who is MICHELLE?
Jamee: MICHELLE is a group of six NYC artists who make music together! We originally came together to write our first self-released album HEATWAVE, which we only thought of as a summer project at the time. But, once we released it and began playing shows together, we realised that MICHELLE was something special that we wanted to continue working on.
You're a collective rather than a 'band'. Forgive the ignorance but… what's the difference? How does the creative process work?
Emma: We sit in the middle of this venn diagram. We started by calling ourselves a collective because we weren’t operating or living or knowing each other in the way a band might. Every member has a host of other projects they are working on, be them in music or somewhere else in the arts, and how those are utilised to create the vision of MICHELLE and visions totally separate from MICHELLE, lends to what we think of as our collective. When we write we do so in smaller groups, when we create assets and handle behind the scenes things we work in groups too, catering to strengths and interests of each member. We are able to write in a voice that fulfills MICHELLE, but each song turns out so different because we are operating as individuals too.
There's so much great music coming out of NYC at the moment. You've probably been asked about it a lot but tell us about the scene & how the city inspires your sound.
Julian: There has been so much great hip hop to come out of New York, we try to get the essence of those iconic drums in our tracks as much as we can.
Layla: There’s such an eclectic sound to New York. It’s overflowing with talent which really keeps everyone on their toes. There are constant opportunities to see live music (when COVID isn’t ruining the party) and discover new artists. It’s rich in its cultural history and significance, musically. It’s kind of the best place to be as a musician.
PHOTO BY SOPHIA WILSON
Who should we be keeping an eye on?
Sofia: Middle Part is working on some amazing tunes. Earth Dad are basically our family and they’re cooking up great stuff. And my friend Livia O, she’s from New Zealand and produces all her own electro pop. SO good.
Jamee: Isa Reyes, Kevin Holiday, and Dachelle are some amazing NYC independent artists!
Layla: Cinya Khan. Outstanding songwriter, incredible tone, guitar skills that’ll rock you into the sweetest slumber.
Your songs scream of summer & are helping us Londoners get through these grey months. Who do you all listen to when you need a pick-me-up/motivation?
Sofia: Arlo Parks’s new record has me planning out all my summer adventures in my head.
Charlie: Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchel, Prince - holy trinity!
Layla: Moses Sumney, Jon Bap, Brittany Howard, Angel Olsen, Jessica Pratt, Paolo Nutini - the list rolls down the block. I worship at their alters.
What's the first place you're running to once lockdown is over?
Sofia: The MICHELLE headline show/tour. I miss performing live with my friends SO bad. I’m desperate for it at this point, actually. My bathroom mirror is tired of the performances.
Julian: I'm running into a full MICHELLE team potluck and giving everyone a huge hug.
Layla: To Julian’s house for dinner and a hug, then a stage for a packed show.
Which Michelle would you rather quarantine with; Michelle Pfeiffer, Michelle Obama or Michel (…) Roux?
Sofia: If Michel’s cooking… that’s my answer.
Charlie: Food over everything.
Layla: The First Lady.
FYO is your latest single release & is about 'belonging to different worlds but feeling rejected by both'. This is such a wonderfully personal motive, can you tell us a bit more about the writing process?
Jamee: I had never written such a personal song before, but I knew going into the songwriting session that I wanted to write a song that focused on the feeling of cultural dissonance. On a summer day in 2019, we gathered around Charlie’s piano and bounced around different melody ideas. Before we began writing lyrics, Emma and I spent time writing about our experiences growing up as multiracial minorities in the US. These words, phrases, and anecdotes were then transformed into the lyrics of ‘FYO.’
What's next for MICHELLE?
Julian: Hopefully a summer track to announce something special. We will see how everything plays out…
You've just had your first BIG night post-lockdown and are on the Last Bus home. What are you listening to?
Sofia: I Like It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It by The 1975. It soundtracked all my nights out before, and I’m taking it with me post-lockdown.
Emma: Take Care off of ‘Teen Dream’ by Beach House. For winding down but also levitating.
Julian: I’m Not In Love by 10cc.
Jamee: OHFR? By Rico Nasty
Charlie: Voodoo by D’angelo.
Layla: Everything She Wants by WHAM!
