Gospel according to Michelle

Destiny’s Child’s newest recruit Michelle Williams has just released her solo album Heart To Yours in which the Chicago singer returns to her gospel roots.

Michelle Williams initially began her singing career as a backing vocalist for the US R&B star Monica, during which time she met Destiny’s Child. Line-up changes within that outfit led to a call offering the young singer a chance to become a part of America’s biggest female R&B outfit.

“I couldn’t believe it when I got the call,” she remembers, “because suddenly at that time I wasn’t working and I’d been used to being on the road and making money, money, money! And I was very nervous at first especially with the situation I was getting into with a member change. I wondered if I could step into someone else’s shoes and if I would be compared to them but eventually I got the confidence to just be myself.”

It’s apparent that the trio have a very close relationship, yet Michelle insits that they are all very different personalities.

“I’m the one that’s funny and I’ll say anything. And even if I think I shouldn’t say something I always will. Kelly is very gentle but she’s like a scorpion, if she attacks you know you’ve been attacked! Beyoncé is very nurturing. Sometimes if I say something she’ll say, ‘Michelle, are you sure that that’s true?’ She cares about so much and I like her for that. But we all support each other and that’s why we’re still around. And because we all love our jobs too.”

As if singing with the hardest working girl group in the world isn’t enough, Michelle has just released a debut solo album, Heart To Yours. Heavily influenced by gospel music, she’s turned the accepted progression, where gospel singers graduate to mainstream soul and R&B music, around.

“I recorded the album while Beyoncé was filming the Austin Powers movie and I was pleased to be able to write five songs myself, my lyrics and my melodies. I’d always been a fan of singers like Aretha Franklin and Yolanda Adams and I also wanted to do something that was different to Destiny’s Child. And gospel music is really coming up in the States and I’d like to be a part of that. And I admit I was nervous about talking about my religious beliefs but I figured if everyone else can talk about sex, drugs and alcohol then I can talk about something more… happy. The word gospel means good news or joyous message and I guess we can all use some of that today.”