INTRODUCING: MYCHELLE
From busking on London’s streets to gracing major festival stages, Mychelle’s rise has been nothing short of magnetic. Raised in Stoke Newington, she turned quiet confidence into soulful power, building a sound rooted in R&B, neo-soul, and acoustic warmth. Her journey—from guitar lessons at 10 to a record deal with FAMM—has been marked by bold moves, heartfelt songwriting, and a voice that stops you in your tracks.
Now, with her latest single “You Don’t Care About Me” making waves, we caught up with Mychelle to talk growth, grit, and the passion that keeps her pushing forward.
Interview by Kofi Owusu
“Sweet Nothings” has such an effortlessly confident energy. Can you take us back to that cycle home when the song first came to you? What was going through your mind?
Hehe thanks! So on that journey home I was actually creating melodies with my voice as if it was the production. I was like oo, I like this vibe and I definitely need to work on it. When I attended my first ever studio session with Fred Cox, I played the voice notes that I’d made and we worked on making the sounds come to life, which was fun.
The video places you on a football field, a space that symbolises strength and sisterhood. How does sport influence your mindset and creativity as an artist?
When I am on the pitch, I am so locked in to the game that everything else in my mind disappears. I love having that headspace back especially when something is weighing really heavily on my mind.
It’s also a space where I can feel confident at times, and that energy can be translated into my music. Football represents strength and sisterhood but it’s also about working hard, pushing through challenges and staying grounded. That same focus and confidence is something I try to bring into my artistry.
"You Don’t Care About Me” is your latest single and seems very intentional. What energy did you channel for this single?
I wanted to sing about the emotional rollercoaster of dealing with someone who isn’t fully invested. The mixed signals and that annoying back and forth where you don’t know where you stand and you feel like you’re not enough.
It’s also about hitting that point where you realise there is no point wasting energy on someone who doesn’t care.
You’ve collaborated with artists like ENNY and supported legends like Michael Kiwanuka. What have been some of your biggest takeaways from working with such talent?
I would say that I walked away from both experiences feeling so grateful that I get to be around people who are authentic and make great music because of that. They’re just being themselves, and that’s what makes their music so special. It’s real, it’s raw, and it connects with people. It’s a reminder for me to just keep going and make music that I enjoy. Being on tour with Michael Kiwanuka also showed me that a show is about creating a journey with your music and the audience there for the ride.
Honestly, I’m so grateful for busking because it really helped build my confidence. My stage fright used to be really bad, but as I got used to singing for people walking past me every day, it helped me focus and enjoy more on my performance and concentrate less on what the audience thinks.
It’s also a great reminder of how special an engaged audience is. Every time someone stops and connects with me, that’s when it starts to feel show-like.
I’m always grateful for every interaction, because it’s amazing to know that I’ve intercepted someone’s day with my music.
— MYCHELLE ON HER TIME BUSKING IN LONDON
You’ve performed at major festivals and toured internationally. How does your live performance compare to your studio recordings—do you approach them differently?
I love making and getting excited about music. I enjoy anticipating how everything is going to sound. My favourite thing to do in the studio is to record harmonies stacks. I wish I could sing them all on stage at the same time. I love performing though. It’s my favourite part of being an artist. I like the feeling of showcasing what I’ve been working on and every show being a chance to get better at telling my story. There’s also something about the energy of a live show that makes it feel even more special.
Your discography has evolved beautifully over the years. Looking back at projects like Closure to Me & Gaz, how do you feel you’ve grown as an artist and storyteller?
I feel like my sound has definitely matured over the years. I’ve become more confident in what I want my music to sound like sonically, and I’m really starting to own that. There’s also a deeper sense of self-worth that’s come through in my music. I’ve learned to trust my instincts more and embrace who I am, which has contributed to my growth as an artist.
What’s next for Mychelle? Any dream collaborations, new sounds, or surprises in the works for 2025 and beyond?
So I’m looking forward to sharing more music and to start performing again! Can’t wait to hit the stage and share all the songs I’ve been working on. I’d also love to collaborate more as I haven’t done many so far in my career.