After one of the best years a new artist could have, Chrisette Michele is setting her own trends and making her own rules. Although she is currently headlining her own tour, she is hard at work on a new album and ready to share more love with her fans. MiddleChild spoke with Chrisette about her success and the new project.

MiddleChild: Hey Chrisette! What's going on?

Chrisette Michele: Hi RoJay. How are you?

MiddleChild: All is good my way. How are you doing?

Chrisette Michele: I'm doing good.

MiddleChild: That's good. Well you're on the road right now doing your thing with Rahaam DeVaughn. How is that going for you?

Chrisette Michele: Being on the road is the road is the best, most wonderful thing in the entire world. I'd rather be no other place. And I mean that.

MiddleChild: I believe you. I've actually got to see you twice live. Once last fall when you were opening up for Musiq and then a few months ago when you headlined in Atlanta at Sugarhill. I must say that you shut it down. So since there is nothing like it in the world, what exactly makes it the best thing to you?

Chrisette Michele: The best thing is the people singing your songs. I mean that's crazy, you know? You don't know anybody's names. You don't know their backgrounds or back stories, but you're sharing something.

MiddleChild: Okay. I see. What's your favorite song to perform on the road?

Chrisette Michele: I think my favorite song to do is "Golden". I love that one.

MiddleChild: That's my best friends favorite song. She sings that one all the time. Now it's been a great year for you. Did you expect all of this to happen to you so soon? I mean the Grammy nominations, headlining your own tour, acting on "Girlfriends", the Nivea campaign...you got a lot done within the year.

Chrisette Michele: You know with this industry you never know what's going to happen. You just try and stay prayerful and see what happens. I didn't know what was going to happen, but I've been practicing my Grammy speech since I was five.

MiddleChild: I hear you. Well I know you came out the gate and worked with Jay Z and Nas on their previous albums and then with your debut I don't think you had too many features, but you still did the thing. Have you started working on the sophomore yet?

Chrisette Michele: I started working on it and it's coming out in September. I've been in the studio with a few rappers and I feel that I've been on a few features now that I need somebody to rap my hook.

MiddleChild: Well I know at Sugarhill you brought your brother out on stage to rap. Is he going to be doing any work with you?

Chrisette Michele: Oh yea. Definitely. Absolutely. We're family. So absolutely.

MiddleChild: Okay. So what has been the biggest lesson that you have learned over the past year or so?

Chrisette Michele: That your dream is worth the wait. Don't rush your way into anything. Everything comes in time.

MiddleChild: That's cool. So who would you say has pulled the most out of you right now as you work on this new album?

Chrisette Michele: Oh man. Everybody has pulled so much out of me. I think everyone has definitely challenged me, but Babyface kind of gave me my place. He let me know that I'm a producer and a writer. So I would definitely say he was my mentor and he pulled the most out of me.

MiddleChild: Cool. Babyface is the coolest. So with the decline of CD sales and people using the internet more than ever, has there ever been a time where you thought about doing something other than music?

Chrisette Michele: The Lord always made a way for me to be provided for. Music is my life. I don't use the CD sales to determine success. Selling Gold today is like being Platinum ten years ago.

MiddleChild: I feel you on that. Well it's Black Music Month so I want to know what black music means to you personally.

Chrisette Michele: Black music means so many things to me. Jazz is a great part of my culture. I think we've had a great contribution to Jazz music. Hip-Hop is a great part of the world's culture and I think we had a great part to do with that. So I'm just proud of us and our contribution to culture in general.

MiddleChild: Sounds good. Speaking of Jazz...when you first came out you didn't have the conditioned sound of what we're used to from new R&B artists. Did that make you nervous?

Chrisette Michele: Absolutely. Everybody's nervous when they're going to do something new. My hair, my face, my voice, my sound...I was just nervous. But when I came out I was so welcomed and it was wonderful because everyone was so supportive of me and I'm grateful.

MiddleChild: That's what's up. Well back to your debut album. Was there any song that you may have wanted to push as a single that you didn't get a chance to before working on the sophomore?

Chrisette Michele: Oh "Good Girl" was my first choice as my first single from my debut album so...

MiddleChild: Okay. Another good one. So when can we expect a new single from the new album?

Chrisette Michele: "I'm Gonna Love You Babe" is going to be my first single from my sophomore album. It's an uptempo. Really really fun song and I can't wait for you guys to hear it.

MiddleChild: We can't wait. Got an album title yet?

Chrisette Michele: Yes. "Love You Babe" is the name of the album.

MiddleChild: Okay. Well we're going to be on the look out for that Miss Chrisette Michele. Out on the road doing your thing. Raheem DeVaughn is on the ticket and I know Solange is opening up for you as well.

Chrisette Michele: Yes. Solange is opening and doing her thing and I wish her the absolute best.

MiddleChild: That's the business and the album is coming in September, right?

Chrisette Michele: Yes. September 16th.

MiddleChild: Well we're ready for that. Good luck with all of that and I know you're going to do well with that as well.

Chrisette Michele: Thank you!

MiddleChild: No problem. Have a good one.