Award-winning singer-songwriter Demi Michelle is swiftly creating a lasting impression through a host of lyrically acclaimed releases that have caught the attention of listeners across the globe. Now, Demi returns with the highly anticipated album “Hear Me Out”!
This latest release features eight emotionally driving songs that reflect the evolutionary growth of Demi personally & musically, With each song looking to share the journeys & experiences within them with listeners & inspire them in their own adventure.
Demi has kindly spoken with Fierce & Fabulous Revolution regarding creating the tracklist for “Hear Me Out” & how she hopes to inspire listeners. You can check out the full interview below.
Hey Demi, thank you for this interview. Can you start by introducing yourself to readers who might be unfamiliar with your music?
Demi: Hi, everyone! My name is Demi Michelle, and I’m an award-winning songwriter and recording artist from Pittsburgh, PA. I started my songwriting journey in 2019, and since then, I have released lots of singles, my debut album, Dear Diary, five-track EP, It Is What It Is, and now, my sophomore pop album, Hear Me Out. Along with being a songwriter, I’m also a published author, freelance editor, publicist for a small press, and the host of two podcasts, Write on Track: A Songwriting Podcast and Literary Blend: A Publishing Podcast. So, in short, I’m very busy all the time but love everything I do.
How would you currently describe your music & feel that it has evolved over the years?
Demi: I’m a multi-genre artist, but I primarily write pop and country music. For Hear Me Out, I definitely returned to my pop roots. I’m currently working on a new country EP and just recorded the lead single, so you can say I like to bounce between the two genres quite a bit.
No matter what style of music I’m writing, I’m always authentic in my lyrics. All my songs are based on my emotions and experiences, so whether I’m working on a pop ballad or sassy country song, my lyrics capture my story.
I have evolved so much over the years. When I started songwriting, I lacked confidence. As I developed my skills as a songwriter and became more comfortable opening up in my music, my songs have reflected my growth, both personally and musically. As I continue to evolve as a person, my music will change too, and that’s one of the coolest things about being a songwriter. I see each of my musical chapters as different points of my life forever frozen in time. I love listening to my old music and being reminded of where I once was and how far I have come.
On August 23rd, you released the brand new album “Hear Me Out”. How did the Idea for this album come together?
Demi: The whole concept for the album popped into my head when I wrote “Quiet,” which is track three. In the chorus, I say, “I don’t have to use my voice for you to hear me out.” This is where I got the title for the album. I started reflecting a lot on the dance between the power in silence and using my voice. I have always been introverted and tend to keep things to myself, but on the other hand, I can be quite bold and fierce. So, I decided to explore this direction for the project and wrote a bunch of songs before choosing the ones that best fit the concept.
The album is a collection of 8 unapologetically honest songs that capture your evolution as a person & songwriter. How do you feel these songs reflect your growth musically & personally?
Demi: Personally, I have become much more confident in myself. When I wrote my debut album, Dear Diary, I was struggling with a lot of insecurities and negative thoughts and feelings. When I wrote my award-winning EP, It Is What It Is, I was trapped in a toxic situation, dealing with manipulation, and all around lost a sense of myself. The changes I made and healing I have done since that chapter led me to where I am now. Without my other projects, I wouldn’t have been able to grow as a person. Hear Me Out reflects this evolution through the lyrics and my vocal delivery.
For the songwriting and recording specifically, I took a very intentional approach to the album. In the past, I put projects together when I felt like I had enough material. For Hear Me Out, I had the concept in my head before I started writing batches of songs. This allowed me to be intentional with the writing process. I also had all the songs written and the tracklist finalized before I started recording. Being strategic with the whole process this time around has made this chapter cohesive, from the music to my outfits for my photo shoot. The whole experience with this album was much smoother than my first, since I learned a lot from my debut days and applied those lessons. I have also improved as a vocalist, discovered my sound, and learned production. I’m excited to keep evolving and can’t wait to see what’s to come.
What does it mean to you to share this album with the world?
Demi: Seriously, this album release means everything to me. This is my favorite collection of songs yet, and I’m excited for my Butterflies to hear a different side of me. It took me years to feel confident enough in myself to fully use my voice through my music. I wrote this album at a pivotal point in my life when I was experiencing a lot of personal growth, so I love seeing that reflected in the lyrics.
What are some of your favourite songs from the album?
Demi: Are you really going to make me pick? Fine! The three singles are definitely favorites, which is why I made them singles. So, those are “Kind Heart,” “Passive Aggressive,” and “I’m Introverted, So What?”
Out of the songs only on the album, I’ll have to choose “Quiet.” Aside from this being the first song I wrote for the project that inspired the whole concept, this one is really special to me. Long story short, one of my wonderful songwriting mentors who sadly passed away around Christmas time in 2022 encouraged me to write a song that was so authentic to me, no other artist could sing it. “Quiet” came to me so quickly, and this became his favorite song of mine. Before he passed away, he told me to replicate my demo as closely as possible in the studio because the production was so unique. That’s exactly what I did. So, “Quiet” always reminds me of my mentor, and this is my way of honoring his memory.
Are there any songs that did not make the album that we could see released in the future?
Demi: I wrote way more songs for the album than the eight that made the project. Out of all of them, I frequently find myself thinking about two. One is called “What I Never Had,” and the other is called “Truth or Dare.” I don’t have specific plans to record these yet, but there is a very good chance I’ll release one or both of them in the future.
What would you like listeners to take from this album?
Demi: I would love listeners to feel empowered to use their voices. For a long time, I stayed quiet about certain things I’ve experienced, but now, I’m at a point of my life where I feel confident speaking my mind. We all have voices for a reason, and I think it takes strength to choose to no longer remain silent. So, I would love for this album to inspire others to use their voices and be heard the way they deserve.
What advice would you offer to someone who is looking to pursue a career within the music industry?
Demi: My number one piece of advice is to always be authentic. Whether you’re interested in pursuing songwriting or a career on the business side of the industry, like a manager or publicist, the best thing you can do is to be yourself. There is only one you, and people are drawn to those who are genuine. If you do what feels right and natural for you, things will start falling into place.
Finally, is there a message that you would like to share with the readers of Fierce & Fabulous Revolution?
Demi: Thank you so much for taking the time to read my interview. I hope you’ll give Hear Me Out a listen. I loved creating this project, so I’m grateful Jess gave me her platform to share it with you.
You can check “Hear Me Out” on Spotify below or on more platforms here.
Demi Michelle: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram.
Fierce & Fabulous Revolution 