Singer Michelle John has performed with the likes of Annie Lennox, Celine Dion and Mariah Carey and was a finalist on talent search show The Voice. The former backing vocalist has released her first solo album, ‘God Is’, a number of gospel songs from her childhood.
Christian Today spoke together with her to listen to about what gospel music means to her, her experience within the music industry, and the way she is trusting God together with her journey.
You’ve recently released your album, ‘God Is’, which is a number of significant songs out of your childhood. Why did you should make this album?
It was time – and I do know that appears like a very cliché answer! But I used to be busy doing numerous things and I feel sometimes in life you get a little bit of a nudge, and something is telling you it’s time to return to the start and pay respect, give homage and say thanks. I just felt that it was time for me to sing these songs and I used to be considering loads concerning the starting.
For example the song “God Is”, which is the title track of the album, is a song that I heard after I was about 10 years old in my church. There was an incredible lady who sang it with the gospel choir. As a ten yr old something happened after I heard that song. I had a moment and I had an emotional response to it. At that time I desired to know more about Jesus, and I wanted to provide my heart to Jesus. So it was very significant and really vital for me to record that song. The album launch took place within the church where that moment happened. It’s really been a full circle moment.
Was a gospel album at all times within the pipeline for you?
I grew up in church and I sang within the choir. I used to sing with the London Community Gospel Choir for a few years. I used to be a toddler of the church and so if I used to be ever going to do music it was going to be gospel music. I used to be going to be a gospel singer, but life took one other turn and a door of opportunity opened. I walked through it and this whole world opened as much as me. The dream of being a gospel singer or doing a gospel album just went further and further away.
I never lost my faith, but I became disconnected from the church. I went through a period where I never even thought of being a gospel singer or like doing a gospel project was even a possibility for me, because I used to be so detached.
You’ve sung on the Royal Albert Hall and other illustrious settings, and have sung for Queen Elizabeth II and former US president Barack Obama. What were those experiences like?
I remember after I was asked to do it I used to be a backing singer on the time. I used to be told I could be singing at a concert within the palace and I just thought ‘oh my God!’ It is just not something you’re thinking that is feasible. I’m a lady from Peckham, I grew up on a council estate. Singing for royalty was never something that I believed would ever occur for me.
I had not even launched into a solo profession at this point and so it was just incredible. I used to be incredibly humbled. I remember they sent a automobile for me and drove me to the palace gates. The whole time I used to be just considering ‘wow, that is incredible’, I used to be beyond grateful.
When I sang on the White House I used to be doing backing vocals for Annie Lennox, who’s such an incredible, powerful, kind woman. As a female, being around one other strong female like that may be very empowering. It’s still strange to place it into words since it’s to this point from my very own reality. I’m incredibly grateful for the experience. This is something I’ll tell my grandchildren sooner or later.
You’ve said your life has been ‘real’ and ‘complicated’, but one of the vital consistent things has been the songs in your album. How were these songs a comfort to you growing up and what has your walk with God been like?
I’d say that the songs have been a comfort to me because I’ve been singing these songs since I used to be a toddler. I went to Sunday school as a 5 yr old and at church we’d sing from the hymn books. These songs have been embedded in me. We would sing them at college assemblies and my grandmother used to sing them. When I actually have passed through difficult times, a number of the songs that I remember in those moments are these songs because they’re related to good times.
They have been a source of comfort and strength throughout my journey, but I only realised that doing the project and that has been a ravishing realisation. I’d say even after I didn’t feel there was a spot for me in church, I at all times had faith. I felt that folks can have judged me and said ‘she’s off singing for this artist and that artist and she or he’s not singing a gospel song or a Christian song’, but I at all times felt that God gave me the opportunities. They were never opportunities that I wanted. I never went to an audition, I never made it my mission to search out Annie Lennox and provides her my CV. It was one God thing after one other. I’ve at all times kept my faith with me and it has been a continuing throughout all the things I actually have done.
What do you admire most about gospel music?
That’s a very good query! What I like about gospel music is that you simply are allowed to specific it in the best way that is correct for you. It’s the liberty of having the ability to express it out of your heart and soul nevertheless you please. I feel that’s the attractive thing about gospel music, it’s a few soul connection to the music and to the words after which expressing it in the best way that feels best for you.
During your time on The Voice you were in Will.i.am’s team. What was that have like and the way has it impacted your profession?
There is a documentary called 20 Feet from Stardom about backing singers and the journey from the back to the front and being the lead singer. I didn’t appreciate the difference between those two positions until I used to be on The Voice. It’s a really different skill being the backing singer in comparison with being the lead singer. That was an actual transition and a rude awakening for me. Being on The Voice was difficult because people judge you not only on the way you sound, but on the way you look and your presentation. It was an actual adjustment for me.
Bringing it back to faith, I made a decision that whatever happened on that platform, I used to be going to take it as a step of religion. Agreeing to do The Voice was me saying to myself it’s time to move forward and to sing my very own songs. I had been a backing singer for 25 years at that time, and being a backing singer was never my plan or my goal, it was just something that happened by accident. Somewhere deep in my heart I’d at all times desired to sing my very own songs. It was a step of religion and I felt it was time for me to be brave and sing my very own songs and push through whatever insecurities and doubts I had, and whatever things had happened in my life. Once I did The Voice I never did backing vocals again. I’m still on this faith walk and I just keep it moving.
What’s next for you?
I don’t know, I actually don’t! I trust God with my life and all the things I actually have done – none of it has been planned. I’m open and God is stuffed with surprises, I’m having fun with the journey and having fun with being present. God has done so way more than I ever expected with my gift already. I could not have orchestrated this. If I’d done it I would not have factored in singing for the Queen! I’ve learnt to trust Him.
