Michelle David - The Gospel Sessions Vol. 3

“Music that feeds the heart and soothes the soul, that’s what it’s all about for me,” says Michelle David, lead singer of ‘Michelle David & The Gospel Sessions’ when asked what Gospel means to her / when talking about the band’s latest album. 2017 was a tough year for me. In a short period of time I lost some of my loved ones, including my dearest Mother. More than ever I needed music. Music that got me through the tough times, music that comforted me and music that gave me the strength to keep going. I’m sure people will hear this message of hope and strength in the new songs on this album. This album is probably my most personal one yet.”
 
The lyrics may be the most personal so far, the music on Vol. 3. certainly sounds more versatile than ever. Vol. 1 was created following the search of Onno Smit and Paul Willemsen for the origins of Gospel. Something that was created by the love of both men for Soul and Rhythm and Blues music. They searched for the origins of their beloved genres and ended up with Gospel as interpreted by, for example, Sister Rosetta Tharpe. This inspired them to make an album in which the songs were stripped down to the essentials. Often performed with nothing more than a tambourine and an old guitar. Vol. 2. already had a more soulful approach. A more refined sound that could be heard from the late '50s, like Sam Cooke and Bobby Womack had. For this album they were inspired by the early years of Funk and Soul. This can be heard in the increased use of the bass guitar and certainly also the addition of horns. The 'Jakthorns' can be heard on three songs, who have played with the Gospel Sessions on several shows. Benjamin Herman can also be heard on this album. He provides the Ethiopian-inspired song “Walk With Me” with an extra mystical edge.
Other ethnic influences, such as Afrobeat and Cumbia (listen to Proverbs 3 for example) can also be heard on this album. The addition of percussionist Bas Bouma made the sound even broader.
 
Onno Smit explains: “Vol.1 and 2 were a search and a journey for us to find the roots of the music we love, but also to find our sound, our voice. On Vol. 3 we found it. Both live and in the studio. It is our interpretation of Gospel, wrapped in a blanket of Soul, Blues, Jazz and Afrobeat.
It's a record that will blast from your speakers in Technicolor!”
 
With this album the band is ready to conquer the rest of the world. Last year the first steps were carefully taken with performances in London and several shows in Belgium (including Deep in the Woods festival) and everywhere they played they saw the same reaction from the audience. There was dancing, cheering and people were connected by the message of Love.
 
“And that's what we want to do all over the globe,” shouts Michelle David. “World, get ready to be GOSPELIZED”.