Charasmatically pleasing country-pop singer-songwriter Demi Michelle has charmed listeners through her heartfelt lyrical storytelling & emotionally stimulating energy.
With songs such as “Will I Ever” & “LA Will Wait For Me” causing an impression on the music scene, listeners have eagerly anticipated further releases from this gifted artist.
Demi has unveiled the anticipated sophomore project, “It Is What It Is“, which is a five-track EP that combines pop/country & shimmers with honesty, attitude, & self-empowerment.
The message of Demi’s new EP is twofold. First, she made choices to create a healthier life for herself. Demi set boundaries, stopped settling for less than she deserves, and took back control of her life and mental health. Removing herself from toxic relationships and situations allowed her to feel empowered and centred again. Second, there are many things in life beyond her control. Some people never change, and some circumstances simply are the way they are. After all, it is what it is. Combining these two angles boils down to a powerful message Demi hopes inspires others.
Demi has kindly taken the time to speak with Fierce & Fabulous Revolution regarding the release of the brand new EP & you can discover the full interview below.
Hey Demi. Thank you for this interview. Can you start by telling readers a little about yourself?
Demi: Hi, everyone! I’m Demi Michelle, a songwriter, recording artist, podcast host, and author from Pittsburgh, PA. I’m an extremely creative person and love all that I do. I’ve been releasing music for three years, and my podcast, Write on Track: A Songwriting Podcast, has been one of my favourite side projects over the past year and a half. When I’m not in music land, I’m chasing my other dream as an author and currently seeking representation by a literary agent. Wish me luck!
Some of my favourite musical memories so far have been appearing on Pittsburgh’s Top 40 station, 100.7 STAR, for an interview and airplay of “Will I Ever,” my two trips to Nashville, and being nominated for the Josie Music Awards, which I attended in October.
How would you currently describe your musical style?
Demi: My musical style is a fresh blend of pop and country. As an independent artist, I feel like I have the freedom to explore and be innovative with genres. At the heart of every song is my honesty and authentic voice as a songwriter, so no matter if a song leans more pop or more country, or if it has other genre flavours mixed in, each song fits with who I am.
I also tend to craft my songs based on the emotions attached to the concept and writing process, so that is a contributing factor to how the style will unfold. I’m looking forward to writing more music and exploring different sounds and styles. That helps me stay inspired and interested while I create music.
You have just released the five-track EP “It Is What It Is”. How did the idea for this EP come together?
Demi: For a really long time, I focused on things in my life that I couldn’t control, and I settled for being treated in ways I didn’t deserve. Since I was like this for so long, I honestly don’t think I really noticed I was in these situations, until they started to get to me last fall. I began to feel inferior and underappreciated. I lost a sense of myself, and my mental health started to suffer because of the emotions I was feeling. I realized that I couldn’t let myself keep feeling that way, so I decided to make changes in my life.
It Is What It Is captures my journey of separating myself from toxic situations and accepting harsh realities for what they are. Each song on the EP comes at the title from its unique angle, and they all have a quality of me taking control of my mindset and my life. I made changes where I could, and I found ways of accepting things I had no control over. Through writing the EP and recording these songs in the studio, I went from feeling lost and inferior to becoming a better version of myself, someone who is much stronger.
Songwriting has always been a way for me to heal and process my emotions and experiences. Turning to my craft during this period of my life helped me move from the darkness into the light.
I had many realizations along the way, and I’m more sure of myself than ever. I’m grateful that I wrote It Is What It Is because it shows my growth as a person and songwriter.
What inspired you when creating the tracklist for this EP?
Demi: Choosing the songs for the EP was a little tough. I’m a prolific songwriter, so I write way more songs than are possible to record and release. I knew I wanted It Is What It Is to be an EP, not an album, so that led to a careful decision-making process.
While I selected the songs, I kept several things in mind to help me make my decisions. First, I wanted to include the songs that best supported the concept. I wrote some very special songs during the writing process for the EP that didn’t make it because they didn’t fit the overarching message. Second, I wanted to showcase my best work. I have songs that would’ve fit perfectly concept-wise, but others were written better. Also, I needed a variety of vibes on the EP. I didn’t want all uptempo or all ballads. I needed a mix of styles, tempos, and keys to keep the project interesting, while at the same time, making it cohesive. I wanted this project to be a snapshot of my various influences as a songwriter, and I feel like I achieved that with the tracklist. Finally, I had to make sure that the songs are ones others would be able to connect to as well. As a songwriter, I always have to find a balance between being personal and universal. The songs that made the tracklist are close to my heart but also touch on universal themes that others can see themselves in, too.
I enjoyed choosing the songs for the EP because it forced me to be analytical of my own work and make decisions that best served the project. I love all five of these songs, and I hope my listeners do as well.
How would you compare the creative process behind this EP and your debut album Dear Diary?
Demi: Wow, they couldn’t have been more different. From a personal standpoint, Dear Diary explores my thoughts, feelings, and insecurities about myself that I struggled with for a really long time. During the creation of that project, I went on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. I had to get the album out of me before I could move on to a new chapter of my life, where I could write about a wider variety of concepts that are meaningful to me. Also, the album has a contemporary pop sound, pretty much the full way through. I didn’t allow myself to be as free with the production as I did with the EP.
It Is What It Is was a natural step beyond Dear Diary. I was both more selective with the songs I recorded and more creative with how I chose to bring the songs to life. After the journey of self-discovery the album took me on, I was able to look at my life with a fresh perspective and take control of it and my mindset. I’m more confident now than ever, and when I started writing my album, I wasn’t confident at all and drowned in self-doubt. Yet, I’m blessed for both projects because they capture two different parts of my life, and I’m all about being authentic and sharing my story.
I think that the very different experiences I had while creating both projects comes through while listening. The songs on Dear Diary are much more reflective and introspective, whereas the songs on It Is What It Is are more bold, fierce, and self-empowering.
What does this EP personally mean to you?
Demi: This EP means the world to me because the creation of it taught me a very valuable lesson. I have the power to take control of the things in my life that I can and accept the things I can’t. It’s that simple. There’s no point fixating on realities I can’t change, but there’s strength in making decisions to create a better life for myself, though sometimes, these decisions can be difficult. Realizing this has helped me find my centre, and I’m grateful for that.
If listeners could take anything away from this EP, what would you like it to be?
Demi: I’d love my listeners to embrace the concept of this project. It’s really all about mindset. Think about how certain people and situations make you feel. If those emotions are negative or if you’re left feeling insignificant, you have the power to separate yourself. If you spend a lot of time focused on things that are beyond your reach, try to find closure to avoid them weighing on your happiness. These things are easier said than done, but I hope that my EP serves as an inspiration. It took me a while to see my worth, set boundaries, and change the way I viewed certain situations, but doing so has made me so much happier and stronger.
Were there any songs that did not make the final tracklist, which we could see released in the future?
Demi: I love this question so much. As I mentioned above, there are many songs that didn’t make the final tracklist. I’ve already started writing material for my next project, but one song is coming to mind that I’d love to record at some point. It’s called “Imagine.” This is one of the songs that I love so much but didn’t fit the concept of the EP well. I think it’d do well as a standalone single. It’s a very emotional piano ballad, and it has some themes from Dear Diary, which is interesting. Who knows? Maybe I’ll revisit “Imagine” for the anniversary of my album one year or maybe as a single to fill the gap between projects. I frequently return to this song and sing it, which is a sign it’s a special one, since I wrote it over a year ago.
Finally, is there a message that you would love to share with the readers of Fierce & Fabulous Revolution?
Demi: Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to read about my new EP, It Is What It Is. I truly hope you love this project and that it inspires you.
With the holidays right around the corner, I want to send lots of love to all of you for a blessed holiday season. My third original Christmas song, “Winter Cold,” is releasing on November 25, so I hope it gets you in the holiday spirit.
I can’t believe 2022 is coming to an end so soon. I hope your year wraps up on a high note! I’m sure I’ll be back on the blog to chat about new music next year. 🙂
You can check out the full EP of “It Is What It Is” on Spotify below or via Apple Music here.
Demi Michelle: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram.
Fierce & Fabulous Revolution 