A quiet dance in the kitchen, a candlelit dinner, a long walk to the corner store… These are the fragments of life Cherise Michelle holds close, and they’re exactly what she transforms into her music.

Her latest single Flatline is a warm, 90s-flavored neo-soul gem that blends playful vocals, organic instrumentation, jazzy brass and a swooning verse by rapper Jian J. It began as a personal journal entry after a breakup, but over time it has grown into something bigger: a lifeline for all kinds of relationships, romantic, platonic, and even the one you have with yourself. One of the most moving parts of the song is indeed the outro, where Cherise softly repeats “I’ve got it”, like a gentle affirmation reminding you that this might as well just be a love song for yourself.

“It’s about pausing long enough to appreciate the intimacies around us, and being present and intentional in all our relationships,” Cherise Michelle shares. “This song is currently my lifeline through grief, a time when it’s been extremely important for me to be in fellowship and community with those around me.”

Born in Gary, Indiana, and now based in Los Angeles, her sound is shaped by gospel choirs and the voices of Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan and Mariah Carey. Her musical journey began early: narrating her day like a musical and journaling since the age of eight. That lifelong habit of archiving the mundane has blossomed into a sound that leaves so much room to musical depth and play, all at once.

A GRAMMY U Los Angeles Chapter member, the singer-songwriter has opened for Lucky Daye, Coi Leray, Mereba and Dreezy, and performed at Breaking Sound: LA and Juneteenth in the Park. Whether in church choirs, jazz clubs, or festivals, she brings that same sense of home and freedom to every stage.

Flatline is her first official release since Honey in 2020 and previews the rich, grown sound she’ll continue to explore in her debut EP, coming in 2026. Meanwhile, may you all keep on romanticizing your lives, and feeling supported, seen and held, even in the smallest moments.