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Music Therapy | Mary J .Blige Releases The London Sessions

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I’m always excited when my favorite artists drop a new album. So when I heard that Mary J. Blige (MJB) was working on something new, I was thrilled! I don’t know about you, but I’m still listening to What’s the 411 and Growing Pains – those are my favorite albums from her. So what’s new for MJB? Her highly anticipated and universal 13th album, The London Sessions, is set to drop on December 2nd. Christmas gift, anyone? 🙂

I had the pleasure of listening to the entire album last week. When I listen to new music, I like to listen to the album all the way through once, no skips or repeats. Then I listen once more to try and pick out my favorite songs. I listen for head-nodding beats, lyrics with depth, and the overall vibe of the songs. I did just that with MJB’s The London Sessions and I must say, she’s got something really great with this new project.

Nobody But You is a song I can see doing very well on a plethora of radio stations. The sound is very London, but that’s a good thing. It has universal appeal, just like the rest of the album, and has the potential to reach so many people. MJB took a leap of faith with this project by not only recording (in 3 weeks) in London but also working with artists like Sam Smith, Emeli Sandé, and Disclosure.

My favorite song, hands down, is Whole Damn Year. It was as if she was singing from a page of her diary. From the beat to the lyrics, to her vocal tone, the song is very MJB. It’s a really good song filled with so much raw emotion and passion, and that’s what MJB is known for. She is a passionate artist and her previous bodies of work prove that she’s a remarkable storyteller. That’s something I feel is extremely important for a good artist/songwriter to be – a good storyteller.

So tell me, are you a Mary J. Blige fan? Will you be purchasing The London Sessions on December 2nd? Let me know!

The London Sessions definitely reveals MJB’s evolution as an artist and I cannot wait to add this classic and universal album to my collection. If you want to pre-order The London Sessions, head to iTunes or Amazon. Trust me when I say this album will make a great Christmas gift for any music lover on your Christmas list. Until tomorrow, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

Mary J. Blige Facebook Fan Page

Mary J. Blige – The London Sessions Website

**I participated in the Mary J. Blige The London Sessions album review program as a member of bLink Marketing Network. I was provided a free album to review but all opinions are my own.**

 

Chrisette Michele Interview: Rich Hipster, R&B Divas of LA & More

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Yesterday morning, I had the pleasure of speaking to the lovely Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter Chrisette Michele. A fan of her music and overall style for years, I was thrilled and humbled to be one of the bloggers to interview her. Chrisette has been diligently working on her upcoming music project, The Lyricist Opus, as well as her new blog/website Rich Hipster. She’s also been busy filming the latest season of R&B Divas LA. With so much going on, Chrisette still took the time to graciously share her thoughts on beauty, style, fashion, current events and more. Following Chrisette’s style evolution from her first album I Am, I can tell that she has an appreciation for vintage and thrifted pieces. So of course, I had to throw in a question about thrifting. 😉

Chrisette Michele - Rich Hipster

Who are your mentors and how did you find them?

I have so many right now. India Arie is one of them; we started off being signed to the same label. She came to see me perform at an open mic night one day without knowing I’d be performing and ended up taking me on tour with her. She’s been my mentor ever since. Iyanla Vanzant is another person I speak to often, just to talk and get advice from. Pattie Label, Lionel Richie – these are just people I’ve met maybe backstage or on stage, they decided to give me their phone numbers and told me to keep in touch. They’ve been very helpful throughout my life.

 What are 3 of your top vintage/thrifted pieces? 

(1) Those long silk kimonos. You throw them on with a white tank top, a pair of ripped up jeans, stilettos, and all of a sudden you’re fabulous! (2) Levi’s jeans – the cutoffs you get in the summertime. They last for a really long time, you can ruin them bleach, and they cost like $7-$10! (3) This long rectangular patent leather French Connection clutch I got in San Francisco. It has golden and sequin stripes across it and was like $6…brand new with tags and everything! I carry it with me everywhere I go when I want to be fabulous!

How do you determine who you want to collaborate with?

It’s all about vibes…we have to be able to connect. I have to understand why you’re making the music. Usually, I’m in the studio hanging out with the person I’m working with before we even make the song. Most of the hip-hop collaborations I’ve done, I met them outside of the studio and hung out. I mean, it took hanging out with Jay-Z 4 times before I could execute my part on the song correctly. It’s really about friendship and a connection.

Chrisette Michele - Rich Hipster Interview

Chrisette also explained that as she grows as an artist, she has a “responsibility to let her fans know what she’s doing”, hence the launch of Rich Hipster and her decision to join the cast of R&B Divas of LA. From watching her on R&B Divas, you can see that she’s willing to open up and share (most of) her thoughts and feelings with the other ladies. And despite the tension between her and Chante Moore, Chrisette made sure she let me know that “women can get along even if they don’t like each other – they can figure it out”.

Women can get along even if they don’t like each other – they can figure it out. – @ChrisetteM

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Chrisette’s excitement for her next musical project, The Lyrics Opus, was evident and I too cannot wait for the musical masterpiece to drop! She explained that “this is what real music looks like” and says there will be no rap or hip hop collaborations with this project. And as far as launching Rich Hipster, this is the 1st time she” has not been afraid”. When you visit the site it’s clear that she’s inviting you into her world. She shares outfit posts, some behind the scenes footage of crafting The Lyricist Opus and so much more. It’s quite an enjoyable experience! I applaud and commend her on being so fearless with her vision. I really admire that.

Rich Hipster - Chrisette Michele

So tell me, have you checked out Chrisette Michele’s new site? Are you excited about her upcoming project? Let me know!

Again, I was truly honored to have an opportunity to chat with Chrisette yesterday. She has a sweet spirit and is not afraid to show the world who she is. For more on her upcoming projects, visit Rich Hipster and be sure to catch her on Wednesday nights on R&B Divas of LA. I’m really looking forward to finding out the outcome of that “I Know Right” collaboration with her, Chante Moore, Leela James, and Lil Mo. Mmmm…. 😉

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