"I was thirteen years old when I started to write songs for my first album. Actually, they weren't intended to be featured on an album at all since I had no idea I was going to enter the music industry professionally at that time, so they were really just written in my spare time as a sort of hobby and way of expressing my thoughts. When it came round to my second album, I was about sixteen years when the writing process began and I was going through a really traumatic time. As you know, I was diagnosed with kidney cancer and that really took its toll on me and heavily influenced my writing during the whole 'Exiled' era. Now I'm nearly nineteen years old, I've recovered from the illness and I've also met the perfect man so I'm almost a completely different person from the one I was when writing my previous records. I've grown, experienced so many things and I've finally found myself. I'm not naive anymore and I feel like I have a lot more freedom with this record. Previously, I felt the need to record a certain type of song or wear a certain type of outfit so I met a certain criteria, so I was like the Michelle Green that everyone wanted me to be. Now, I'm really experimenting and pushing the boundaries and I don't feel so constrained in what I can and cannot do. 'Live To Tell' has themes of freedom, overcoming things, growth and the journey into womanhood. It represents me."



Many artists are inspired by the music they grew up with and loved. Was this new direction inspired by a turning point in a fellow artist's career? Madonna's 'American Life', Mariah's 'Butterfly' and Rihanna's 'Good Girl Gone Bad' are all famous turning points in their careers. Did you look at that and think 'I want to do that'?
"Em...in a way, sort of. I mean, sound wise the album sounds nothing like it but I was really inspired by Rihanna's 'Good Girl Gone Bad' purely because of the growth she shown as an artist at that time. In no way I'm I trying to replicate that album, 'Live To Tell' is a mixed bag and has a sound of its own. I was just really inspired by the risk she took from ditching the sunny Caribbean pop tunes, the colourful outfits and the long flowing hair to a sassier, edgier image and sound. I think it's good for an artist to mix it up a little. I used to be so afraid of change and like I said before, I felt like I was given a certain image that I had to stick to but now I've learned to have fun. It's good to experiment and I really love other artist who constantly keep it fresh and that's what I'm also aiming to do."

The single that showcased your new look and put the grown up Michelle out there was of course, 'Break The Dawn'. It was warmly received and propelled you back to the high regions of the charts. How did you feel when it peaked at No.2?
"I was absolutely delighted. Over the moon! I think it was just as exciting as 'Dark Days' and 'Red Symphony' reaching number one because it felt like I was relaunching myself as an artist. I hadn't released a single in a long time and it was highly anticipated so there was a lot of pressure for the track to do well and fortunately it became another hit single. I was really nervous because the fans might have hated the new sound and look but I'm so glad they supported the single and my new direction. I sort of see 'Break The Dawn' as like another debut single, a second chance for me. That song was the one that kick started the 'new Michelle's' career and I'm extremely proud of the track."

Does the single 'Break The Dawn' represent you? Are you a bit of a party animal?
"It represents me in a way, yeah. I am definitely not a party animal, I haven't even had an alcoholic drink in my life. Yeah, I'm the boring one at parties....just kidding, I never even get invited to parties. Anyway, the track represents me through the youthfulness and liveliness of the song. It's one of those let your hair down songs that you just get lost in and when writing for the album I said to myself that I really need to let my hair down and I did. The result was this song and whilst I don't usually party and break the dawn, the song is still a reflection of my carefree attitude that I now have. Also, the structure and composition of 'Break The Dawn' is like rollercoaster. It builds up and up and as it approaches the chorus you can feel all the tension and excitement before it bursts into the chorus and 'whooshes' you away and I thought that's a representation of the build up to this album. For years I've been all tense and on edge, not wanting to put a foot wrong but I've gradually made my way to this album and now it's my turn to 'whoosh' off and finally enjoy the ride. Am I rambling on too much?"

The video saw you dancing in the street, showing off some impressive moves and a lovely pair of legs. You seemed to be enjoying yourself. What was it like making a music video again?
"Oh I just loved it. We went to L.A to shoot the video which was an amazing experience. Previous videos have been shot in the UK so it was nice to go to a new location with a new look for a brand new video. It was a night shoot but it was still very warm over there which was a bonus since I was wearing pretty much just a leotard for the majority of the shoot. There was a lot of excitement in the air, the whole crew were very enthusiastic, my adrenaline was rushing and the dancers were incredible. This was my first dance video and this was the first time we introduced major choreography so it was very different to past videos. I trained as a dancer and I was finally getting to show off my skills so I was a real happy bunny. I think that everyone put all their energy into it and we all had fun with it so it really reflected in the end result."



People have accused you of sexing up your image a little too much. What do you have to say about that?
"I was expecting a bit of backlash so I wasn't completely thrown by it. I wouldn't say my image is 'sexy', well it depends on your definition of that word really. Um...I just want to express myself and be more creative. I love really kooky designs, unique, vintage stuff and I want to incorporate more of that into my style now. I really live high fashion too but then again if I see a nice top from George at ASDA, I'll buy it. I'm just keeping all my options opened when it comes to fashion and I'll wear something if it looks cute or funky. I don't wear something because I think it's sexy."

Why this particular edgy image?
"Like I said, I love really wacky and bold designs. They make me feel very confident when I wear them and I feel happy in them so why not? I want all girls and guys to feel confident and not be afraid to show off who they are and one way that I like to get my personality through is by the clothes I wear and hopefully this new image will spur people on to become more creative and stand out."

We know that you're a bit of a perfectionist and like to take a lot of time to focus on your music. How long have you been working on this record?
"Oh God, I'm such a perfectionist I actually think that it's a disease or something. I actually need therapy or medication because I get so stressed out over things (Laughs). Surprisingly, this has been the quickest album to write and record by far even though it seems like it has been forever and a day. It's been about a year in the making and we're just tidying things up at the moment. We've had a few delays and many songs have been scrapped but it's been OK because I've found it so easy to write for this album and I'm actually going to miss the team I've been working with and the vibe we have in the studio. The first album...well, you have as long as you like to write for it and prepare for it really. Once I was signed, I was in the studio everyday and had endless meetings about which direction I should go in and it was a real hassle to get the project off the ground. The second album was by far the worst to work on. I was really ill during that time, I was confused because I didn't know what direction I was going and there was the pressure to make a great record because my debut did so well and that whole 'second album curse' thing was constantly going on in my head so 'Exiled' was a really stressful project. However, I'm all refreshed and glowing now so the recording of this record has been a breeze."

A few months back, you posted the track listing of your new album and little snippets of some songs but we've heard nothing since. Has there been changes to the tracks? Can you give us some exclusives on the album?
"Yeah, um, the track listing has been reworked and we just settled on the final one last week actually. The original list of songs were all great but every time we locked down on the album, somebody else would approach me or the label and ask to get involved. I would never let any opportunity pass me by so I worked with everyone who wanted to get involved and we created some amazing songs. I can't give away too much but I have a few collaborations on the album. One of them is with Deneil Khan who is such a sweetheart and is super talented. Another one is with.....I can't say (giggles). I'd love to tell you but I love surprising people even more! Another thing that I can say is that there is a great throwback record on their which is like a Motown song, I'm really excited about that one and can't wait for Team Green to hear it!"



It's been a while since you've performed live. Are you excited about performing a whole set of brand new songs for the dedicated Team Green?
"Definitely. It's been a long time coming. I felt like I was performing the songs from 'The Voice Of Me' forever and as much as I love them, it's nice to mix things up. I didn't perform many songs from 'Exiled' because I was told to just rest, basically....yeah, so I think that my first performance of new, unheard material will be great. I can't wait to see how the audience react to it, I really feed off their energy. Also, since their are more upbeat songs on this record I'll be able to do a lot more dancing this time round instead of standing still and looking sad."

Your new single, 'Explode', is your sexiest yet. It came as quite a shock to everyone and it raised many eyebrows. It also raised a few questions and one that we have for you is; what is 'Explode' really about?
"(Laughs) Oh my goodness....erm, 'Explode' is about.....Gosh, you had to ask such an awkward question. Um, 'Explode' is about passion. That's the best way to put it. It's about lots of passion, heat of the moment situations and real love. All those romantics out there will know what I'm getting at. So yeah, basically just lots of desire and intensity. That's what 'Explode' is about (giggles)."

Why did you choose this track to be the next single?
"The reason that I chose 'Explode' was due to the fact that it's the track I'm most proud of. I wrote it was Sara Hollywood and compared to every other song I have written, this one just stand out on its own and is nothing like the rest. I have never made any other song like this and I was so proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone and really experimenting. Also, this is very different to 'Break The Dawn' as that was very upbeat and dance inspired but this one is very gritty, dark and it's the only urban track that I've really done so it just had to be a single. It stands out, I'm proud of it and it's very current."

What does the 'Explode' video have in store for us?
"It has a lot of dancers and even more new moves. I love videos were everyone just gets involved and just like 'Break The Dawn', I was working with a wonderful director and a great team of backing dancers. It's a very urban, dark and intense video which goes perfectly with the song. It's set in an old warehouse and basically, I've taken my love interest there, tied him up and blindfolded him so he has no idea where he is and when I take his blindfold of he's greeting by me and lovely dancers who put on a little show for him. It was quite awkward to film because I was being told to 'look into the camera with a sexy expression' over and over again and I have no idea how to do that. We also had to be careful because we wanted the video to be very tasteful and classy so we had to make sure we weren't overdoing it and making it seem seedy and trashy. It was a lot of fun to shoot and it will be premiering pretty soon so make sure to keep your eyes opened."

You've touched on collaborations earlier and we want to know who your dream collaborations would be.
"I would love to work with Foxxxy. She is really edgy and stands out from the rest. I would also love to work with Jennifer Armstrong. Her voice is amazing, she's one of my idols. Jennifer is such a sweet girl and it would be a dream come true to work with her. Another person I would love to work with is Jacob Estrada. His voice is just like honey!"



Nowadays, you can't just be a singer in this business. Nadia Berry is releasing fragrances every two minutes, Stephanie Fierce is starring in her own film, Riley Hamilton and Ryan Ross Hernandez have their TV shows so will the 'new Michelle' be venturing into anything else?
"I've got a few things up my sleeve that I'm really looking forward to. I've been working with a few fashion designers and pitching a few ideas. I design a lot of my own outfits and I was hoping to either get a deal with a brand that will allow me to create my own line of clothes in association with them or I was hoping to start my own brand from scratch. It's early days and nothing is concrete yet but I will find a way to get into the world of fashion sooner or later. It's something I'm really passionate about. Also, I'm looking to venture into the acting side of things. I've seen what Riley is doing alongside quite a lot of others in the industry and I thought that maybe I should give it a stab. I've been approached by some producers and I've went to a few auditions but I'm keeping quiet. Something is definitely in the pipeline though."

On top of all that, you are going to embark on a huge tour alongside Ellie-Grace Summers. How does it feel to be touring again? Are you a little nervous?
"I'm not really nervous actually, I'm really pumped for this. It's like a dream come true. I love Ellie-Grace, her music is amazing and she is such a lovely person so to be sharing a tour with her is just unbelievable. The support acts that are set to come with us are also great artists and I know that it's going to be fun. It might take a while to get used to since I've been out of the game for a while but I'm sure I'll get into the swing of things in no time. I'm really excited to see my fans again. I feel like I really owe them because I've been silent for such a long time and they've stayed by my side throughout it all. This tour isn't just for me, it's for the dedicated Team Green."

It's a pretty long tour and for someone who hasn't done something of that scale in quite some time, it could prove quite straining. Are you getting into shape for the tour already?
"Oh I really need to get into shape, honestly! I actually eat like a pig, no word of a lie. Most celebrities hang out at fancy bars and hotels but I hang out in McDonald's, it's shocking, I really need to stop. I feel so guilty because I crave those McChicken sandwiches like 24/7 and I live with a vegan so it's really awkward. He's sitting on one end of the couch nibbling on lettuce whilst I'm at the other end stuffing my face with chicken. Though I have an excuse to munching on all those calories because...I'm eating for two now. Yeah, there's going to be a little one running around soon. I will still be going on the tour and Riley will be flying out to see me as much as possible. I'm not going to slow down. I'm going to be one of those cool mums (laughs)."

Well that was unexpected!
"I told you that I love to surprise people!"

Congratulations to you and Riley. Before we finish, can you tell us what you will personally bring to this year in music?
"Aw, thank you very much. I will bring a lot of fun and hopefully some dance trends that will catch on. I've got a few routines that could rival Gangnam Style so watch this space (laughs). I also hope to bring even more surprises this year and continue to keep it fresh and exciting for everyone. I can't wait to see what the rest of 2013 has to throw at me. Whatever it is, I'm ready."