It is very easy to lose hope if we take a look at the current state of the world. There are so many troubles and injustices happening at the same time that can fuel our pessimism in the blink of an eye. But even in times like these there is always an experience or a story that brings back the hopeful idea that music can be the answer. And this is the case of Michi, who found in her talent for singing a gift of life: the important process of returning to oneself again.
A matter of weeks ago, Michi — real name Michelle Guerrero — released her debut album, Dirty Talk. A collection of songs she created during a period of mourning the end of a relationship, as she opened up to the universe to find herself again. And the result is super dreamy; it references retro sounds that showcase her passion for 80s and 90s R&B and Motown, infused with her unique, smooth voice and the right dose of modern production.
Quieting the world around her was key to this development, she moved from Los Angeles to a small coastal home and decided to move with her “natural emotional circadian rhythm”. The album includes earlier singles, Playing Pretend, Michi's baddie song; If You Want Me, simmering with tension and desire, and There's No Heaven, pulsing with house energy. But also, Snoobie, is probably one of the best soul efforts we've heard in a long time.
She explains how she moved through different places in creating this album; and it makes perfect sense. In a way, Dirty Talk is her own space, created with care and honesty, letting feelings breathe and turning them into a source of expression and catharsis of a life experience. For this project she has worked with Blake Rhein (of Durand Jones & The Indications) and Paul Cherry, and has been joined by Stones Throw label mates on her more tender songs: Kiefer plays the keys on Way I Do, a rejection of optimism and Brazilian bossa nova artist Gabriel da Rosa participates in Memmy (Recuerdo), in which they both sing in Portuguese and Spanish, respectively.
Michi grew up as a dancer in Sun Valley, California, before deciding that music was her path in her early twenties, and her name already appeared in 2020 when she debuted her first EP, Sugarbaby. She remembers worshipping MTV-era R&B divas, and her adoptive parents introduced her to the likes of Stevie Wonder; a vivid childhood memory of her is sitting in the carseat, listening to My Cherie Amour and imagining an entire music video in her head.
We spoke to the artist herself as she prepares for her Dirty Talk album release show on 10 April at the Moroccan Lounge in Los Angeles. Get ready to immerse yourself in the beautiful world of Michi's music; the kind you would play on a balmy summer night to look up at the sky and think how lucky we are to find new chances for ourselves in life.
Hi Michi! Your debut album is being released into the world as we speak. Is it difficult to create a first album? Not only in terms of work and obvious efforts, but as a presentation to the world. They always say that the second album is the hardest because you have to maintain a certain level of quality, but I feel that choosing the right music and getting it to sound the way you want it to for a first album is a complex task.
Creating my first album definitely came with its challenges, but I strongly feel grateful to state that taking a conscious effort to put my blinders on truly helped me tap into the most genuine process and alignment of what became Dirty Talk. Quieting the world around me, the industry and just being in it with my album mates was so special and focusing on what made me feel alive in music helped my soul infusion.
In the process you moved around and decided to move with your “natural emotional circadian rhythm". How did this affect the creation of the music?
Definitely, I moved a bit on the map in creating this record (laughs)! I’d say tracking some of the demo vocals from my coastal seaside home to then going to Chicago to finish developing and writing to then the isolated desert all made the energy and sound of this record incredibly intimate and honest. I’m genuinely still learning so much about myself as an artist every day. That being in the room with intentional beings, I felt safe and connected to make this special. I’d say going to Chicago to get into the nitty gritty of the instrumentals and lyrics definitely amplified the energy and helped me feel myself and dive deep into what I had to say and let go!
Snoobie is a song that you instantly fall in love with, it's smooth, gorgeous and relatable. I loved the narrative of the video, quite symbolic but with an interesting storyline. Is it difficult to translate your songs into visual storytelling?
It actually comes pretty easy most of the time to translate my songs into a visual. I think that’s because I embarrassingly enough listen to my demos a lot whether on a walk or at the beach or in the bath and I constantly imagine a music video or what kind of visual aura exists around the song. Snoobie is a big talk my shit song while also being playful, shout out to unstoppable director and sweet friend Mitch DeQuilettes for helping it come to life along with There’s No Heaven!
Soul, 80s and 90s R&B and Motown sounds are obvious influences on the album, but I wanted to know a bit more about your love for these genres and styles. Who were the singers you looked up to when you were growing up?
My mother who raised me grew up in the 70s in the heart of San Francisco and introduced me to these genres especially. Singers I looked up to growing up would be Janet Jackson, Thalia, Stevie Wonder, Britney, Sade! It’s so different when you align with creating music you’re crazy about. A humbling reminder to show my past self grace in the evolution of learning what my sound is while also affirming that there are no rules.
The production on the album sounds fantastic, and there's one thing that stood out to me: the percussion and the beats. I find it really difficult to recreate a truly retro sound but at the same time sound fresh and not overload the tracks. You've succeeded in this; how did you experience the process in the studio shaping these songs?
Blake Rhein (Snoobz) produced my record along with some co-production of Paul Cherry and I must say Snoobz has his drumtones locked the fuck in! The base of these songs created by him, to then Paul and I in the room building from there and the magic of the three of us working super well together in sonic decision making and taste made this entire process really natural. I’m so grateful to have been able to be so involved in the production process. I’d say even the intro skit was exciting, Blake recording off an old recorder while I slammed his apartment door and me recording while he revved his truck engine, that true analogue experience that so much digital music making process dilutes and steals us from.
Why is Dirty Talk the right title for you to name the album?
Dirty Talk is the right title for my album as it carries a cheeky sensuality to it while also encapsulating the overall theme of the messiness of everything that goes on in my head and heart coming out to release!
I love your latest single, Play Pretend. And I love the video for it, you alone on the beach. The song is almost like an ode to yourself and your past experiences, like a reminder to be cautious and confident for the future in terms of relationships. Can you tell us a bit more about it, and how you spent your day on the beach shooting the video?
Thank you, glad you enjoy it! It was super cold in the morning, but I headed with my laptop, pup and coffee to my favourite beach that I will gatekeep on here obnoxiously (laughs). It’s a haven for the real heads that know. It was actually so fun! I love Photobooth so much, it’s nostalgic, it’s a throwback and dancing in the morning light with the ocean in front of me was heavenly. How special to do it privately, no direction, just me getting down.
There's No Heaven has a disco beat that's infectious. And in the video you are partying with your friends. It's very interesting to hear a song about falling out of love and to see a video in which you cope with it by having fun. What is the story behind the song and the video? That house is impressive!
The story behind There’s No Heaven was my desire to convey a deep and tender longing and devotion to someone, the house-like beat made it feel so posh and instantly took my visual ideas to wanting y2k energy of music videos like Brandy’s Full Moon where it’s a party, but intimate in feeling. That song carries so much internal energy for me that I wanted to capitalise on my talent of being a dancer before a singer and musician. That’s my staple song, it’s sadgirl, but make it fetch. I fucking love it and shout out to Knxwledge for remixing that too.
This album is inspired by a heartbreaking break-up, how does it feel these days, has working on your music helped you process those feelings?
Working on this record helped process so much grief and stuck emotions, it also surfaced some experiences in a needed and healing way. If there’s anything I’ve learned, everything at the right time, patience and trust too. I lost myself after this break up and never would have thought I’d be where I am now, passionate about music, life, signed to my dream label and putting out a body of work I’m proud of at that. While these experiences have been difficult, they’ve offered so much growth, learning and humility. I’m so grateful for that partner’s time in my life and even more grateful for my record.
I loooove Memmy (Recuerdo). Bossanova sounds perfect and you have worked with Gabriel da Rosa for this song. How did this collaboration come about?
Glad you dig! Memmy came so naturally after a morning of having coffee with the boys in Blake’s studio in Chicago. The moment we tracked my vocals I sent it to Gabriel and he quickly laid his vocals down. It’s undeniably sweet, only Gabriel could grace that. An honour to do a Bossanova influenced track with him.
How do you feel these days, coming from a Latino family, with the current political climate in the US?
I feel ever so proud to be Latina and so much pride and love in my heart for those who endure the unthinkable and work so hard. Many of my family members came from Mexico and El Salvador and have worked so hard in this country and have made it a better place! I am scared for my people who deserve to be embraced equally, it’s hard not to lose faith, but I have hope in a better future, fuck ICE and Donald Trump too if you’d like to know my true feelings.
Finally, what's in store for Michi in the coming months?
I’m playing my Dirty Talk album release show April 10th at the Moroccan Lounge in Los Angeles! A night to remember, it will be. Outside of that I have been in the studio working on my next project and hope to be touring this year! I’m so excited to continue this journey!
Thank you so much for your time, and all the best with the album!
Immense thanks for taking the time to listen to my record! Thank you!
