Chrisette Michele may be one of the lesser-known performers who have been invited to this year's Bermuda Music Festival, but she will probably make a ton of new fans in the process with her sultry old sounds.

The young singer looks like a dainty flower who might have been transported from a time in the 1950s when women dressed in classy frocks with their tresses is bouffant styles.

She is in possession of a unique old sound and some of her idols include Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Lauryn Hill, Sade, Alicia Keys with her gospel favourites being Kim Burrel and Yolanda Adams.

Chrisette Michele was predestined to be where she is today, as she sang her first solo at a mere four years old.

When the singer/songwriter was asked, during her interview with The Royal Gazette, what was her favourite song so far, she chose one with lyrics that would touch the soul of anyone who had suffered the misfortune of a broken heart.

"On my album 'I Am', it is the song 'Best of Me' — she sees him with another woman with a ring on, she moves on and she basically finds herself within it all."

The singer, who is university educated, offers advice for budding vocalists as unique as her sound.

"Get a job!" she said in her soft but stern voice.

"Work, keep your credit good, and keep yourself in nice clean sneakers. You don't go into the music business and suddenly become famous.

"I had three jobs on my way in!"

Even before she signed with Deaf Jam she had toured with more established artists like Kem and India Arie.

"India saw me singing at the Village Underground in New York City. She came backstage that first night and graciously offered me a gig as her opening act."

Regarding what she attributed to her success, she replied: "People believing in me, even when I didn't believe in myself.

"And people holding me up and saying it's going to happen.

"Otherwise I would have been a professor in the next two years or so."

Majoring in music at 5 Towns College in Long Island, she also cited her lecturers' nurturing for where she is today.

"Although I did have talent, often that is not enough," she said.

"My professors taught me how to be a professional and to be serious about my music. They taught me how to put the music that I dream about at night on paper in the morning."

So how does someone so young have such a deep appreciation for Jazz. Well she was first introduced to the sounds of jazz singer Astrud Gilberto by her high school teacher when she 17.

"Afterwards my life was all about jazz."

But her jazzy beginnings were also introduced to her in a real life blues song fashion, because of the many folks that her mother allowed to room in their house.

"If my mother saw a homeless pregnant woman on the street, chances are they would soon be staying with us," she said.

In addition, to these experiences she learned so much about the world whilst listening to their stories.

"And to this day their experiences can be heard in my material."

On working with the likes of Kanye West and John Legend, Chrisette Michele explained: "I was never in the same room with Kanye West, but John Legend was down to earth and we were shaking it together."

It has also been reported that while growing up, her parents kept her busy with Girl Scouts, tap dance and piano lessons and she didn't spend an awful lot of time sitting in front of the television.

However, when asked if she would keep her children free of media influences, she explained: "I was very, very busy, but I'm not sure what I would do or what kind of kid I would have."

In addition, although it is still early days in as far as, her career is concerned, she says that one of the highlights of success is "going to different places and meeting different people".

Chrisette Michele said the Bermuda Music Festival audiences could expect "a full band, back up singers, lots of laughter and singing".

"I can't wait to meet everybody," she said.

Chrisette Michele is due to perform on Thursday night.

For tickets visit www.bermudatourism.com or in person at the Soundstage, Washington Mall (292-0811) or the Fairmont Hamilton Princess (295-3000).