Highly acclaimed Pittsburgh-based country-pop singer-songwriter Demi Michelle has caught the attention of listeners through her captivating lyrical storytelling & memorably emotive melodies.
With singles like “Four Leaf Clover”, “Across The Pond”, & “LA Will Wait For Me” to her name. Demi now showcases a new side to her artistic style with the sassy pop anthem “You Get What You Give” & has kindly spoken with Fierce & Fabulous Revolution regarding the release.
Hey Demi, thank you so much for this interview. Can you start by telling listeners who are new to your music a little bit about yourself?
Demi: Hi, everyone! I’m a songwriter from Pittsburgh, PA. I primarily write pop and country, but blending genres is something I love to do to stay creative and inspired. My music is authentic. I think it’s so important to write from a place of truth, so all of my songs are rooted in my personal life in some way.
I’ve been releasing music since 2019, and my debut album, Dear Diary, was released last October. I’ve been working on so much new music that I can’t wait to share.
Along with being a songwriter and artist, I’m also the host of Write on Track: A Songwriting Podcast. This show is so close to my heart, and I have the honour of having genuine conversations with songwriters, artists, industry professionals, and many other talented individuals in the music business. The show is on all the major podcast platforms, and new episodes are released every other Sunday.
As if all of this isn’t enough, I’m graduating in June from graduate school and will be receiving my MFA in Writing Popular Fiction. So, you can say I’m a super creative girl.
You are about to release your brand new single, “You Get What You Give.” How did the idea for this song come together?
Demi: “You Get What You Give” was inspired by various relationships and other situations where I felt like I was giving much more than I was receiving. I consider myself to be selfless and caring, but things got to the point where my kindness was being taken advantage of and I felt used. I feel like I let people get used to treating me a certain way because I’ve always been kind, forgiving, and let things go easily.
During the second half of last year, this really started to get to me. I realized that too many lines were crossed, and it wasn’t healthy for me anymore. So, I made the decision to set boundaries and take care of myself and my mental health. For a while, I was allowing myself to settle for things I didn’t deserve. Now, I’m not anymore. I wrote this song to capture the message that I’m not going to continue to give and give in situations where I’m not being appreciated or respected.
The concept of this song is a universal one that I hope my listeners will be able to relate to because we’ve all found ourselves in situations where we weren’t treated the way we deserve to be.
How would you compare the creative process behind this song to your earlier releases?
Demi: The creative process was very different. In the past, I did a few rewrites & then ran to the studio to record my music. It got to the point that I had too many songs going, instead of focusing on the ones that hold the most potential. I really connected with “You Get What You Give” when it was in its first draft, so I knew it was a special one. I revised it for months and allowed myself to go much deeper with the process than in the past.
Also, I spent a lot of time planning out the vision and production, too. I wanted to blend pop and country in this song, so it was really fun pulling elements from both genres. As always, I loved bringing it to life with my producer, Bob McCutcheon, and my guitarist, Luke Wood. It was a super fun session. I filmed the whole thing and created a studio vlog, which is available to watch on my YouTube channel.
I was so invested in the whole creative process of this song, and I’m super proud of it. Now that my debut album is behind me, I’m taking what I learned from that whole process and being much more mindful with my next chapter. I seriously can’t wait for everyone to hear “You Get What You Give” and the other songs I have in the works.
Did you always plan to release “You Get What You Give” as a single?
Demi: Yes, I love this song so much, and it shows a different side of me. I wanted it to be a single from the start because I felt it would be a great one to give a glimpse into the EP that’s in the works.
Also, the message is universal, and the melody is super singable, catchy, and memorable, which is always great for a single that’ll be getting sent to the radio. For me, I choose my singles based on my personal connection to them and their commercial quality. “You Get What You Give” checked all of the boxes for me.
What does this song personally mean to you?
Demi: This song means so much to me because it shows my growth as a person. When I was writing and recording Dear Diary, I was dealing with a lot of insecurities. I was stuck in a place where I found it hard to love and accept myself. After releasing the album, my life changed. I’ve become a stronger person. I’ve learned to love myself more. I started to see my worth, and from that, I found more confidence. “You Get What You Give” makes a strong statement, something much more direct and bold than my music in the past. I feel like this song is a turning point for me, and I’m really excited to see what will come next.
If listeners could take anything away from this song, what would you like it to be?
Demi: I’d love listeners to take away the point that they shouldn’t settle for less than they deserve. If you have a kind heart like me, that doesn’t mean anyone has the right to use you or keep taking without any reciprocation. I want my listeners to know that they deserve nothing less than love, appreciation, and respect.
This song is from your upcoming EP, It Is What It Is. What are some of the things that listeners can expect to hear on this upcoming release?
Demi: First, let me just say that I am so beyond excited for It Is What It Is. The EP will have five songs, and it’s a self-empowering project. While Dear Diary is reflective and introspective, this EP is more direct and has a mix of sassy and heartfelt songs.
Also, even though the project is pop-country at its heart, there are flavours of other genres blended into some of the songs. It will have a fresh sound, and as a whole, I hope it inspires and empowers others.
Finally, is there a message that you would like to share with the readers of Fierce & Fabulous Revolution?
Demi: I want to thank you so, so much for taking the time to learn more about me, “You Get What You Give,” and It Is What It Is. I’m really looking forward to this next chapter, so I hope you’ll come along for the ride. Thank you so much, Jess, for this interview. Your support means the absolute world to me. Sending lots of love to everyone! 🙂
You can check out “You Get What You Give” on Spotify below from May 20th
Demi Michelle: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram.
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