Mychelle on Her Debut Album, Touring With Jorja Smith and Staying Grounded
The Culture Crypt sits down with East London's rising soul talent Mychelle ahead of her debut album—diving into her latest single, performing and football.
Mychelle in 2025. Image via Press.
When people set out busking, becoming one of the UK's most exciting musical prospects seems a million miles away. Well, Hackney-born (Chelsea fan) Mychelle has done just that. With the announcement of her first full-length project Good Day, she's bringing alternative R&B to the forefront of UK shores.
Since embracing the guitar at the age of 17, Mychelle's rise has been steady. An unassuming day performing on London Bridge after four years of busking was her key to getting recognised and signed by FAMM, the label that houses one of Britain's greatest musical exports since Winehouse, Jorja Smith, who Mychelle will be supporting on tour.
A lot of hard work went into getting her to that spot. Four EPs blending her exceptional vocals and her raw storytelling—one of which included fan-favourite "Forbidden Fruit" with ENNY—helped build her momentum. Add to that several notable appearances at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Boardmasters, and Into the Great Wild festival.
Her personal favourite milestone? Supporting indie icon, Michael Kiwanuka. All of it has once again culminated in another exciting summer ahead of her. With her stripped-back number, "Seasons", she's serving fans a cheeky appetiser as they prepare for the main course.
The Culture Crypt: It's been a busy start to the year for you. There are three singles out already after a year away from releasing. How have you been keeping up, and how important was that break for you as an artist?
Mychelle: "Yeah, it feels like it's one thing after the other, but it's nice because since I haven't released in a year, it's good to be active again. It's been nice to be in the studio and create music I enjoy listening to, and it has built my confidence in the studio. I've enjoyed my break quite a lot."
Tell me about your track "Seasons". What was the creative process like recording it?
"Basically, I had the track and started creating the melodies while cycling one day. It was stressful because we went to one studio; nothing worked out. Then we went to another studio and that wasn't working out, but we finally got things up and running. I also didn't have a second verse up until the point where I needed to record my vocals, and I was so stressed."
I didn't tell anyone because I felt a bit ashamed. So I asked, 'Can we go on a lunch break?' As I approached the microwave to heat my food, the second verse just came to me—my friend had helped me the night before, and I thought, 'That is crazy'. It was really fun and great to collaborate with a friend I had never worked with before."
"Seasons" is your last drop before you release your album Good Day. What artistic ventures are you exploring with this album, and how has it been working on your first full-length project?
"It feels like a step up, which is nice. My confidence in the studio when creating this album was just in a different place, but in a good way. I would have ideas, and I'd communicate them. I hear this. I feel this. With this album, I really tried to communicate, even when at most times I wasn't really good at it, I still kind of pushed through and tried to get across what I was thinking or feeling needed to be done to each song."
Talk to me about your past few music videos
"With 'Street Nothings', we wanted a football vibe, even though the song isn't really about football. The music reflects how I use football to clear my head amidst the song's themes. It was great to combine both elements and show sisterhood.
In 'You Don't Care About Me', I introduced a love interest in a video. I love the scene where I'm arguing and walking out. The video features me walking through Hackney, which I've always wanted to do. I drew inspiration from one of my favourite videos, 'Bittersweet Symphony' by The Verve."
You enjoy playing football and all kinds of sports. You have an Instagram page about your fitness journey. How did you develop these interests, and how do they affect you when you're in the studio?
"I always ran. I always took part in competitions at school, but as I got older, I stepped back since it didn't seem like a career. However, I realized I didn't have to abandon it entirely. I played basketball in my 20s, but I couldn't play when COVID hit. So, I joined a football team.
Running has become more popular lately, and I've found myself doing it more and making new friends. When we plan to hang out, we often go for a run. I've noticed that starting my day with exercise leads to stronger days. It sets me up nicely for studio sessions or shoots, making me feel better prepared, but skipping it overwhelms me. Having that time to relax and be in tune helps me tackle challenges more effectively."
“I think it’s wonderful to simply listen to a song, but it’s even more special when you feel as though the artist is speaking to you personally, like a friend. When I connect with an artist I like, I enjoy feeling like I’m part of their journey. It’s important for artists to allow their fans to feel involved in this journey because the fans are a crucial part of music.”
Your fans will be seeing you quite a lot this summer. A fully sold-out tour supporting Jorja Smith and then festivals in Europe. How excited are you and what can fans expect from your set?
"I'm excited. Yeah, it's going to be special. I haven't performed that much, and then to be like, this is what I'm doing next, it was like a lot. I look forward to Cross The Tracks in London and Mad Cool Festival in Madrid. Doing the London Apollo is amazing for the Jorja Smith tour. I love to sing—I hope that the crowd feels my connection to the songs when I perform."
What are some of your tour essentials?
"I definitely need to either work out or go for a run whenever I can. Of course, I always have my guitar with me, and I like to wear a bright nail color. I should probably have a vocal routine, but I usually just sing karaoke while I'm getting ready."
You started your music career busking in the streets of London. How did that influence your performing style? Do you have a message for artists in the same shoes?
"It definitely has influenced me to relax. I had terrible stage fright for a long time, and busking really helped me manage it. Also, it helped me have a better relationship with my voice. So, if I want to switch things up, I feel confident using my voice. It also taught me that making a mistake won't kill me. I've had some people walk past, covering their ears. So, I try not to take anything too personally."
For up-and-coming artists, I would just say: 'Luck is what happens when you're consistently preparing yourself and working toward the moment when an opportunity arises.'"
Mychelle's Good Day drops on April 30th. Stream "Seasons" below: