Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Michelle Chamuel, runner-up on Season 4 of The Voice, has released her second full-length album since the show. (Mary Lambert Photo)

Turnpikes because the album includes the smooth electro-pop we’ve come to expect from the talented do-it-yourself artist.

Insights because the album also includes several stripped down acoustic tracks, which Michelle also proves she’s pretty darn good at.

Turnpike highlights include “What Am I (Looking For)” and “Can’t Get Enough Sunlight.” Insight highlights include “In My Blood” and “The Final Swim.”

On Facebook, Michelle writes that she recorded the album in western Massachusetts during a period that included “many walks in the woods, hours of instrument practice and snacks.”

The 10 tracks were selected from 50 songs she wrote in 2016 and 2017, when she was also dealing with her father’s death from brain cancer.

“All that said, this album isn’t TOO depressing, I hope!” Michelle writes in the blog on her website. “In sadness there is beauty, in growing up, there is beauty and wonder, in feeling things – even difficult ones, there is always a counterbalance.”

Michelle also recently released her first music video, for “What I Am.” I’ve embedded it below, and it soon becomes very apparent this was a one-person effort. Well, one person and one cat.

“I used one phone, two lamps, three days, and four instruments,” Michelle writes on Face. “The cat knocked the lamp over a couple times, but it just looks like cool interactive lighting! DIY life is awesome.”

Michelle, of course, finished second Season 4 of The Voice. The new album is her fourth major project since, following her “Face the Fire” album (2015) and her “Drift” (2014) and “Feel It” (2016) EPs.

Now, here’s the DIY video for a song featured on the new album. Oh, and if you want a physical copy of the new album, head here.