Every month, Consequence puts the spotlight on rising artists with CoSign. For September 2024, we can’t get enough of New York band MICHELLE and their new album, Songs About You, Specifically.
The members of MICHELLE didn’t set out to become a band, but fate had other plans.
Six creatives, all raised in New York and individually immersed in the city’s music scene, initially came together to work on a 2018 album, HEATWAVE, which was envisioned as a one-and-done project dedicated to the city they called home. Producers Julian Kaufman and Charlie Kilgore assembled Sofia D’Angelo, Layla Ku, Emma Lee, and Jamee Lockard to bring the concept to life, when they made an unexpected discovery: They all enjoyed working together far too much to call it quits.
Now, six years since that spark, these individuals who never intended to become a band sure do act like one. The day we all jump on Zoom, squares dotting the screen one by one, the bond between the members of MICHELLE becomes viscerally clear. Vocalist and songwriter Layla is under the weather — “down bad,” according to Julian — and Emma starts offering her favorite home remedies to help her turn the corner. Charlie explains that he went to elementary school with Layla, who now lives with Jamee, while Julian is convinced he saw Emma’s dance performances growing up because she moved through the same training grounds as his sister. Maybe New York City isn’t that big after all, or maybe they were just destined to work together.
There’s a bit of a vague buzz underscoring our whole conversation: It’s release week. On September 27th, Songs About You Specifically will arrive out in the world. The LP was preceded by three singles: the bouncy, bright “Oontz”; the dreamy, resigned “Mentos and Coke”; and the yearning “Cathy.” Over the course of the album’s 11 tracks, MICHELLE play with R&B, whispers of funk, and dance elements, making their strain of pop music feel bigger and just a bit more addictive than some mainstream fare.
The playfulness and curiosity in their music make MICHELLE stand out. Fans are drawn to the level of theatricality they weave into their work, primarily their live sets, which often involve choreography from Emma. They shout out K-pop superstars BLACKPINK and rising act KATSEYE as inspiration points for the discipline required to take performance-heavy efforts from good to great. When they use the word “show” to describe their upcoming West Coast tour, it raises questions about their backgrounds and types of training.