Michelle Williams is back with her third solo album "Unexpected." As a member of the critically-acclaimed group Destiny's Child, Michelle helped to establish a long list of party hits. Now, after two solo gospel albums, she's ready to make everyone dance again.



Michelle recently spent some time with BlackVibes.com discussing her new album and her acting career.

Take us through the process of how the album was created.

Michelle: I kind of limited myself in the beginning. I knew I wanted to do an R&B album, but I was trying to go the safe route and do the good ol' R&B music. When I got through with the first sketch of the album, I played it for my mother and she was not impressed at all. She told me she didn't like it because I didn't have anything on there for people to dance to. She challenged me so I got back in the studio with Rico Love and the second sketch of Unexpected was born. [Because I re-recorded the album], I have another album sitting that I can't release.

What do you plan to do with the songs that weren't released?

Michelle: I would love to release them somehow. I only used 2 songs from that album on Unexpected. Maybe we can do a digital release of some of those songs because there are some good songs on that album. It was a good album, but it just wasn't the type of album that Michelle should have put out. If I'm trying to change the perceptions of me, that was not the album to put out.

This is your first non-gospel solo album. What made you decide to go back to R&B?

Michelle: Solo-wise, I've always wanted to do one. I've always been the type to do what I wanted to do. I just didn't want to be pigeonholed into one genre. I love all types of music, which can be bad because you can confuse people. At the same time, I feel like I am gaining a new fan base of people who never knew who Michelle was.

What should people expect from Unexpected?

Michelle: Definitely expect to have your cardio rate heightened a little bit. It's a rollercoaster. I only have 3 slow songs on the album. I made sure that you can listen to this whole album top to bottom without skipping a song. I compiled this album in a way where it was telling a story. I stole the Destiny's Child formula for how I sequenced this album and it works.

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Let's talk for second about your acting career. What was it like for you when you got the job for The Color Purple and you had the chance to perform on Broadway?

Michelle: I was so thrilled about that. The audition itself was so much fun. I came in with the outfit on; it was hilarious! I wish that was on tape. I worked so hard planning that audition. I was honored to be chosen. That was the best experience of my life. It taught me so much discipline. The first Broadway show I did was Aida. It taught me discipline as well. It's always good to get some Broadway under your belt so I plan on doing that between each album. If it's not a Broadway show, I want to do a movie.

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Going back to your album. Why should everyone go out and pickup Unexpected?

Michelle: You should definitely go pickup my album Unexpected because it's one of the dopest albums coming out in 2008. I said it and I can back it up.








Listen to the first single, We Break The Dawn (feat. Flo Rida)