By Daniel Archuleta
Daily Press Staff Writer

MID-CITY Deciding to sing came easy for Chrisette Michele, who has been at ease on stage since her days in the church choir.

“My mom and dad really inspired me early on. They were singing in church my whole life and I loved watching them be soloists,” Michele said during a recent phone interview.

With a background in church choirs, Michele decided to head out on her own at an early age and soon found herself playing gigs anyplace she could find them. Weddings, bah mitzvahs, small gatherings; nothing was too small a gig.

“I was on every stage every chance I could find. And if I wasn’t on stage, I was always rehearsing,” said Michele.

Apparently, all the hard work has been instrumental in allowing her to parlay what was just a hobby into a true to life career as a pop star. Michele is scheduled to play Temple Bar tonight, and while she has boatloads of experience, she can’t help but be a little apprehensive as she prepares for her first gig on the Westside.

“I’ve played L.A. before and got much love, but this is my first time playing outside of Hollywood. I’m a little nervous because I don’t know what to expect. If the crowd is anything like at my other L.A. shows, I should be all right,” she said.

For some reason, it seems that this laid back soul singer is at ease in front of any audience. With her unique voice — which some say is reminiscent of Nina Simone and Billy Holiday — and progressive choice of material, she should be able to find willing ears anyplace she decides to play.

Michele’s first brush with stardom came by way of doing cameos with some of the hottest rappers in the industry. She’s appeared on singles by Nas and Jay-Z, both of which help reinforce her distinct ode to the old school.

“You know, I’m the type of person to always say no. I say no right away to most of the things that come my way. Jay-Z and Nas were just two of my favorite artists. There wasn’t a no in me to deny them. It was cool, I got to write what I sang on both tracks,” said Michele of her high-profile collaborations.

Her current release, “I Am,” on the Def Jam label is a mix of both new and old. Reflecting her obvious choice to stick to a classic style, the album features Michele in her comfort zone. “Like a Dream,” the first track on the album, has a very cool feel that makes comparisons to classic songbirds a no-brainer. “Be OK” features will.i.am and is a nod to hip hop, a genre that Michele says is central to everything she does.

She is planning on heading back into the studio in the near future and she already has a wish list of who she wants to join her.

“I really want to work with John Mayer, he’s so soulful. I also really dig the Plain White T’s,” said Michele. “Kanye West is who I really look forward to working with. I got to work with him on the Nas album, but I want him on mine.”

Michele is playing the Temple Bar tonight. For information regarding show times and ticket availability, call (310) 393-6607. Temple Bar is located at 1026 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica.

daniela@smdp.com