uGospel.com interviews Michelle Williams on “Journey to Freedom” album

Michelle Williams recently did an interview with uGospel.com. She gave more details on the projected release date for her next album “Journey to Freedom” and what artist may possibly appear on the new project. Listen to the interview or read our transcript below:

uGospel: The last time we spoke was last year and you were signed to Light Records, are you still on that label?

Michelle Williams: I am, but now it is called E One

uGospel: You also said in an interview that you’d be releasing new music. The album will be called “Journey to Freedom”:

Michelle Williams: Journey to Freedom is freedom from whatever keeps us from being God’s very best. Whether it’s from us worrying about what people are saying or think about us or fear of just moving out or steeping forward.

uGospel: Do you feel like that’s something you had to do in your own personal life?

Michelle Williams: Absolutely! Absolutely! Of course, you want to be accepted. You want people to like you, but you can’t please everybody. As long as I know and believe in my relationship with God, that he’s pleased when he tells me or shows me that he’s pleased then that’s really the only thing I need to worry about.

uGospel: All of your fans know that this isn’t your first time doing gospel music. For those that didn’t know, did that make you decide to come back into doing gospel music?

Michelle Williams: I love gospel music. I love it. This is my third gospel project. I hope that shoes the doubters or people who have may have concern that “Wow, she really is committed to this”. I wouldn’t continue to do this genre of music, cause it’s not isn’t (if I wasn’t committed). So you have to have a love for it.

uGospel: Yes, you have to live it. Of course, anyone who’s a fan of you can see you are gospel even through your social media handles like Twitter or Instagram or Facebook. It’s something that’s easy and natural for you. We can all see that definitely.

Michelle Williams: Oh thank you! i just try to have a balanced life. Still have fun and hang out with my girls. At the end of the day if I have a worldwide platform, to encourage somebody and let them know everything is going to be alright, I’ll do that as well.

uGospel: What would yous ay the sound of “Journey to Freedom” is? We’ve heard two tracks off the album and they’re definitely both very hot. What would you describe the sound of “Journey to Freedom” as?

Michelle Williams: The sound is very progressive, very forward. Relevant to what everyone is into today. The producer that I worked with, Harmony Samuels, he did half of Ariana Grande’s first album, Fantasia, Kelly Rowland, some music for the Best Holiday soundtrack. He’s in that R&B/Pop world and that’s where I come from originally professionally. I want my music to reflect where I come from, but my music is a little different.

uGospel: Did you collaborate with any other artists on the project?

Michelle Williams: I did! I just got great news. I’ve got my remix to “If We Had Your Eyes featuring Fantasia and that’s coming out any day now. I’m very excited about that. That’s the first clearance but I did record with some other people. Hopefully, those clearances take place. Sean Paul! Lecrae! So, we’ll see. I’m excited about those collaborations.

uGospel: Yes, we are excited too, especially to hear the Fantasia collaboration.

Michelle Williams: When I was recording “If We Had Your Eyes”, Fantasia was someone I was thinking of while recording it. She’s so gifted, she’s so talented and she’s been through a lot. People have said all the things they wanted to say about her, but I’m like ya’ll don’t know this girl got some oil on her. I love her to pieces. It was like my way of letting her know that I see her the way God sees her. I thought “Oh my God, if she could get on this song” and support this affirmation, that would be amazing! I have to see myself as God sees me as well. It was also a message for me as well to make sure that I live what I talking about. Am I loving? Am I more compassionate? Am I judgmental? Do I have patience? All those things that I named in the song, those are things I work on on a daily basis. With a song like “If We Had Your Eyes” I have to sing the sing, so I’m making sure that I do those things.

uGospel: Have you set a release date yet for the album?

Michelle Williams: They are saying February 11th.

uGospel: Do you think that you will be hitting the road? Actually we’ve seen you everywhere lately. How did you have time to record the project?

Michelle Williams: Some of the recording took place in 2012. The only reason the album isn’t out now is because I took half the this year touring with the show “Fela” from January to June. So, that come in the middle of my recording, but “Fela” was an opportunity I didn’t want to not take.

uGospel: Next week in L.A. you are doing the Michelle Williams Experience. Can you tell us a little about this?

Michelle Williams: I’m so excited!

uGospel: Will you be performing any new music from “Journey to Freedom”?

Michelle Williams: Yes, we are working that out right now because L.A. is were I recorded a portion of my album. It is where my ‘Journey to Freedom’ begin and especially with One Church (International). They just welcomed me with open arms out there. So, I’m excited to start my promotional tour out there.

uGospel: Black Girls Rock! What did it feel like to be apart of that and to contribute to their message?

Michelle Williams: I was so excited at Black Girls Rock. This is just an extension of what were are supposed to be doing on a daily basis to celebrate ourselves and each other. I was so inspired by the honorees; Mara Brock Akil. You know Ameena Matthews, right up the street from me in Chicago with what she’s doing with the inner city youth. Patti LaBelle and Madam Edelman is the reason why we have “Headstart”. She’s an advocate for education. I was so inspired like I have so much work to do. It’s more to do. It’s more than about sanging. It can be used as a platform to touch lives, but are we really getting our hands dirty and getting out into these streets? So, I was very inspired an very touched.

Source: uGsopel.com