Check Out Cherise Michelle’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cherise Michelle

Hi Cherise, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Of course. I was born and raised in Gary, Indiana, and I lived there until around 18 before moving to SoCal to attend Pomona College. I was in Claremont from 2017 right up until the pandemic in 2020.

The pandemic paused a lot of my progress because I went back home to shelter in place for a bit. I finished out senior year of college in Upland, CA while working at a nearby grocery store to make ends meet. A lot of people were throwing around the “essential worker” phrase during that time, but actually being in the mix at the height of the pandemic was a trying time. After graduation, I had about a month to find a job before I had to move back home and start over, and thankfully I got an offer. AV Squad turned out to be one of the best places to work in all of Hollywood for sure.

I recently decided to pursue a doctoral degree on a whim, and it’s been pretty cool so far. I just wrapped up my first semester at UC Berkeley.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I think a lot of people would agree that the pandemic altered the trajectory of our lives. There’s this one tweet I can’t remember at the moment, but it’s something along the lines of “what happened in 2020 through 2024 financially and emotionally CANNOT happen again” haha. That’s me.

Basically, it has not been a smooth road. I witnessed a lot of things my mom went through during my childhood, and I used to think of it all as random, horrible things that would constantly happen to my family. These days, I’ve reframed my perception of my childhood quite a bit, and I see those “struggles” as foundational building blocks for who I am today.

In my twenties now, one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is understanding my emotional capacity and developing emotional intelligence. I grew up with a bunch of siblings, and we were always encouraged to share our feelings with each other. My mother did a fantastic job of cultivating a home where we all felt safe enough to express ourselves as freely as we wanted.

As I got older, I began to understand that not everyone was able to express themselves as freely as I was able to growing up. Everyone deals with their emotions in different ways, and it might not always be in a way I’m familiar with. I’ve really been learning how to give space for different forms of expression.

I also struggled with overextending myself in friendships and relationships because I believed that it would make people like me more. Being everyone’s therapist is amazing in theory, but in practice, it can be extremely draining. There’s that analogy about emptying yourself out because you are too busy pouring into everyone else’s cup but your own. That was me in a nutshell, for sure.

These days though, I would say that I have a handle on my emotions and the amount of emotional support I can give to others. I’m slow to speak and quick to listen.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’ll admit that I’m a bit all over the place these days since starting school. Outside of being a vocalist, performer, and songwriter, I just finished up my first semester of this program. I feel like I usually describe myself like this: Believer, artist, scholar, music nerd, and rockstar. Many people know me from different versions of myself I’ve presented over the years, but I see 2025 as the year of me bringing all the sides of me together.

I would describe myself as a performing artist who is interested in researching the Black Creative Process. I currently specialize in Black popular music, but I dive into Black music from the 1970s as well. I’m a huge fan of archives, and a lot of my creative and scholarly work deals with finding ways to maneuver between the past, present, and future of Black music. I really enjoy finding hints in the archives on Black life that provide insight into ways of knowing and being within the community. I think this spills out into all areas of my life–whether that be mixing jazz, soul, and R&B in my upcoming singles, or staying up late on Monday nights to dig through old Essence magazine articles.

Okay, so what actually sets me apart from other creatives? I think it’s the fact that I am coming with the whole package. I feel like I had a hard time identifying Black vocalists who had actual musical talent/songwriting abilities, music business knowledge, plus the academic chops to back it up. I won’t say that these are the things needed to be a good artist. However, I really believe that my work can be impactful because I have a good amount of experience in all three spheres. Creative communities and the individuals I mentor, teach, or perform alongside see me as a valuable resource because I have acquired various insights and skills that can be transferred and implemented in many different spaces.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Hmm, this question is always so revealing haha. Some people might not know that all my old music lives on my Soundcloud. I promised myself that no matter how embarrassing it sounds now, I wouldn’t completely scrub the internet of songs like “Icarus” and “Moongirl”. There was a time when those songs meant everything to me. Definitely go check out those gems if you haven’t, and I will prepare for these new songs.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cherisemichelle.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dailycherise/reels/?__d=1%2F
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailycherise
• Twitter: https://x.com/michellecherise
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cherisemichelle4393
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/cherise-michelle47/tracks

Image Credits
Edward | @lil.eddie