A passion for people can be just the muse one needs to propel them towards their destiny. For MECHELLE JOHNSON, Memphis, TN based singer, educator, wife and mother, that passion is just the inspiration guiding her to a journey of Christian music ministry and artistry.
A full-time schoolteacher for over 14 years (Arlington Community School District), Mechelle has found that teaching is a selfless vocation and more importantly for her, a ministry. With her God given gift of music, and with the help of her Husband and songwriter Aldtric Johnson, she believes her songs will connect people to God beyond the four walls of the church. “Every good and perfect gift comes from above…(James 1:17), and I believe that when God gives you a gift, He gives you that gift to glorify Him,” says Johnson.
Mechelle’s music influences include Smokey Robinson, Angela Bofill, Chaka Kahn, Ronald Isley, and Gospel greats Dorinda Clark-Cole, Cece Winans, and Yolanda Adams who have inspired her to merge Jazz and Neo-Soul with Traditional Gospel lyrics. Mechelle delivers smooth, soft, airy and jazzy vocals causing many to refer to her as the “Sade of Gospel”. When asked how she describes her music, Mechelle says, “My music is Jazzy, Spiritual and Sophisticated, what I like to call SOPH Gospel.”
Mechelle’s style of Gospel music embodies sub-genres of Jazz and Soul offering another great option to contemporary gospel music fans and consumers. She is making her entry into gospel music fusing that smooth blend in her debut single “Urgent” which will be available on itunes and amazon May 12. With God’s favor and debuting such a unique song, “Urgent” was heard by and cleverly covered on a recent episode of “THE TONIGHT SHOW Starring JIMMY FALLON” on NBC.
With salvation and bridging the connection back to God as her agenda, Mechelle wants her music to aide helping the world to know God as He wants to be known. “I pray God anoints these songs and the listeners so they experience joy, peace, deliverance and restoration. I want people to be able to enjoy smooth, soulful music and hear a word from the Lord during the week, not just during worship on Sunday morning,” states Mechelle.
So, get to know Mechelle Johnson and her jazzy, sophisticated approach to gospel music.
