After taking a short break from releasing music, Chrisette Michele is back on the scene. With a new mixtape titled Audio Visual Presentation: Audrey Hepburn, coming December 8, the Grammy-winning singer recently dropped the official video for “Charades,” a new song featuring ATL rapper 2 Chainz.
Chrisette Michele releases her new mixtape, Audio Visual Presentation: Audrey Hepburn, on December 8
Michele spoke with HHW about music, dating and love. She says Audrey Hepburn will prepare listeners for her next studio album, Better, which she describes as a “happier” project compared to previous releases. Below are excerpts from our interview, which will be available in full in next week’s issue of HHW.
HHW: I read somewhere that, while you’ve had guys play with your heart, you’ve played with a few of theirs, too.
CHRISETTE MICHELE: It’s terrible, I’ll be honest with you. I work really hard towards my dreams and my goals and it’s really hard to balance love and music. So a lot of times, if I want to go on a date, I really do have to fly to Amsterdam to see the one I love, or I really do have to fly to Miami to see the one that I love. So I have to keep figuring out ways to keep you, and you’ve gotta keep figuring out ways to keep my attention because I have ADD! So it’s really hard to make time for the same person when I don’t even have time for myself.
HHW: So you don’t date one person at a time?
CHRISETTE MICHELE: It’s not easy for me to date one person at a time. I’d rather have fun with alotta different people. And then if somebody sticks, then they stick. Usually, the type of person that sticks is as busy as I am, and we only have enough time to see each other when we schedule it. I can’t see myself dating an R&B singer because we’re very emotional. But if I were to date a high profile type of person, I find athletes to be very motivated. I find rappers to be very cool, they’re like these sexy poets … they just happen to have a hot beat underneath the poetry.
HHW: Now I’m interested, because you said rappers. What rapper would you agree to go on a date with?
CHRISETTE MICHELE: [Laughs] There’s alotta really cool rappers out. I don’t know … Wale?
HHW: Wait, you have a song with Wale on your new mixtape. You two could definitely make something happen …
CHRISETTE MICHELE: Yeah, call him up and see what he thinks. Maybe you can set something up, we’ll go hang out after his show.
HHW: I was first introduced to your voice in 2006, when you were on “Lost One,” with Jay-Z and “Can’t Forget About You,” with Nas. Looking back, which record was your favorite?
CHRISETTE MICHELE: Well I’m a jazz head. I went to school for Vocal Jazz Performance. When Will.I.Am put the beat together for “Can’t Forget About You,” and I got to meet Natalie Cole, I was honored to be a part of that moment. I can’t choose between the two songs, but I do know it was a privilege to marry hip hop and jazz in that way.
HHW: Someone tweeted a picture of you and Beyonce at the Brooklyn Nets game. Is that your new team or is your heart with the Knicks?
CHRISETTE MICHELE: Ok! Now it’s gonna get ugly because this is where I have to get loud. You’re gonna have to answer the question first: How do you feel about the Nets?
HHW: As a movement, it’s a beautiful thing for the city and of course another win for Jay. I feel good about ‘em.
CHRISETTE MICHELE: The Nets is my home. I live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I got my Nets fitted for the nostalgia, for the movement. I bring my Starbucks coffee and I sit in the front row. But the Knicks … don’t get me started.
HHW: You’ve gotta pick one!
CHRISETTE MICHELE: This is tough. I don’t know if I can do this in print! One thing I will say, is that I just put out a song with Iman Shumpert of the New York Knicks so you see where my allegiance lies!
Check out the official video for Chrisette Michele’s “Charades,” featuring 2 Chainz below:
Be sure to peep the FULL interview in the next issue of HHW, on newsstands nationwide next week!
Twitter @J_Bachelor
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