Meet MICHELLE
By Nóra McIntyre
MICHELLE is a collective of six members: Sofia D'Angelo, Julian Kaufman, Charlie Kilgore, Layla Ku, Emma Lee, and Jamee Lockard. Individual interview answers are designated by first name.
N: What is your process of songwriting?
Sofia: It varies. Sometimes there’s two of us, three of us, four of us in the room. Sometimes the energy is high, sometimes we’re feeling a little low. Regardless of how we show up, we do our best to cultivate a space where we can funnel how we feel into a song. Sometimes this means we capture the feeling, sometimes it means creating something to combat that feeling or find meaning in it. It’s just really cool to be able to share that with other people that you’ve known for so long.
N: What’s been your favorite show or venue?
Charlie: Personally my favorite was a show we played approximately a million years ago - it was a pajama party acoustic show in a weird warehouse above a pickle factory and the whole joint reeked of pickles. I love pickles.
Layla: We played a show at Brooklyn Steele once with the homie Gus Dapperton. We’re all New Yorkers, so playing a venue so significant to all of our musical memories was incredibly special.
N: Can you talk a little bit about the art for your album covers?
Emma: I started by sketching ideas for all of the singles/the album cover on my iPad. Then I’d paint them on to canvas when everyone in the band gave a green light. I did all of these paintings in my room.
N: What is the influence of “place” or geography on your music? What are some other outside influences (outside of music)?
Jamee: Since we're all native New Yorkers, our music is heavily influenced by our home. We write what we know. However, since we've started touring together, we've been able to bring our experience traveling into our song writing. We spent a few weeks in Ojai, California writing in the desert, and I feel like these songs have a vibe that's different from our past work.
N: What have been your favorite things about collaboration?
Julian: It's quite unlikely that none of us is feeling inspired. Somebody always has an idea. Constant inspiration is super helpful when you're in the business of creativity.
N: What’s coming next for MICHELLE?
Jamee: We're working on new music right now! It's exciting to start a new era after touring AFTER DINNER for a year and a half.
S: This is a large band. How do you ensure balance between writing, song selection for concerts, soloing, and overall creative vision?
Charlie: It’s a pretty tricky tightrope to walk, and we don’t necessarily always get it right, but we all know that whatever decision we come to or however many revisions it takes to get to the right place, it all comes from a baseline place of love and respect for each other as artists and friends! In terms of creative vision, I think it tends to come in waves - certain periods of music or visuals feel quite Sofia-ish, or Jamee-ish etc. to me, y’know? But I think because everyone has their turn at the wheel in these gradual shifting moments, it all balances out in the end.
Savannah: Much of your music revolves around food: EXPIRATION DATE, MANGO, THE PEACH, and of course your album, AFTER DINNER WE TALK DREAMS. What influence does food, identity, and eating play in MICHELLE’s artistic expression?
Sofia: We’re all pretty damn good chefs, if I’m honest. Food is communal and builds connection, it’s how we got closer outside of the music I think. Or maybe we’re just hungry and using our environment.
Savannah: One of your iconic TikTok trends is describing your outfits for shows. If you had to describe yourself as a food, what would each of you be?
Julian: I would say I'm a triple decker turkey club. An American classic with height. Sometimes too much, but often a joy.
Sofia: I’ve been told I’m a roast chicken, which I’m not mad at. It’s juicy, tender, and savory; as a dish it’s fancy but accessible. But I’d like to think of myself as a molten chocolate cake.
Emma: some kind of dumpling or bun with a filling I think. Someone in the band once identified me as an artichoke so idk maybe that too.
Jamee: I think I'm probably a stir fry. A lil bit of this, lil bit of that, whole lotta of fun.
Charlie: I’d be a scallion. Underwhelming by itself but always livens up whatever you put it in.
Layla: Garlic. Interpret that as you will.
Some question for this interview were supplied by Savannah Crichton.