Shocked struts a talent tailored to electricity fans
by
Penny Thow
Hobart Star
April 23,
1998
Original article: 
American singer Michelle Shocked takes life pretty seriously, and that is reflected in both the content and presentation of her music.
Her live gigs are marathon efforts, often lasting 2 ½ to three hours. They have almost as much spoken word content as music.
Michelle openly speaks about her childhood, her relationships with her family and her views on life.
In contrast with that she has proven a rather prickly subject for interviewers, even walking out of a live interview on Triple J during her tour here in 1995.
Michelle is prepared to stand up and fight for her musical integrity. She took on her former record company in the United States courts in an effort to gain control over her artistic direction.
Such was her strength of feeling in the 3 ½ year battle she used the 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution which refers to the abolition of slavery, to fight the record company. Having won the case Michelle believes her action has been vindicated.
I’m not saying you will win every battle, but I believe you must continue to fight for your own integrity,” she said.
Following the court case Michelle signed with Private Music, giving her the opportunity to act as a free agent in the record industry and allowing her to take her own musical direction.
The company’s president, Ron Goldstein, expressed an appreciation of Michelle’s qualities that her former company had not.
“She represents everything that we look for in an artist and more,” he said.
“Michelle’s dedication to her craft, her unwavering honesty in whatever she does, and the God-given talent that electrifies her audiences worldwide, are to be admired and cherished.
Kind Hearted Woman (her first album with Private Music) is a brilliant album, reflective of Michelle’s innermost thoughts throughout a particular time and circumstance in her life.
“I love what she has to say on this album and how she says it.”
Michelle is on her fifth tour of Australia and will showcase songs from her new limited-edition CD, Good News.
She will be at the University of Tasmania on Saturday.
Added to Library on February 23, 2022. (129)
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