Mel’isa Morgan is loved by many soul and R&B lovers, her voice is extremely special and she evokes passion through song, all with a heartfelt style. She has a new album out entitled ‘I Remember…’, and label mate Freddie Jackson is a guest on one of the tracks. Here’s what this inspirational lady had to say to Just Soul, when I interviewed her.

Matthew: Thank you for taking the time to do this interview, you're a truly gifted female vocalist and I'm very happy to be talking with you. What was it like collaborating with Freddie Jackson for a full album?
Meli'sa Morgan: I only collaborated with Freddie Jackson on one song on my CD. It was the remake of Donny Hathaway's and Roberta Flack classic "BACK TOGETHER AGAIN". It was a joy working with my musical brother (as I like to call him). Freddie and I have been friends for years and it was natural that we would come together full circle on this CD. He wrote a song for me on my first album entitled "HEARTBREAKING DECISIONS" and now even that song is or a sample of it is also featured on Mary J. Blige's new CD. It is track #6 "GOOD WOMAN DOWN" in which she also samples and features my vocals as well.

Matthew: You have a straight from the heart type of voice; did this gift come at an early age?
Meli'sa Morgan: Yes, I had nothing to do with the gift, I am honing and nurturing it to be the best that it can be. My voice comes completely from god.

Matthew: What was it like growing up in NYC, talk to us a bit about your family/child hood memories?
Meli'sa Morgan: It was great. My mom, my dad, my sister and my brother and all of my aunts and uncles were and are always getting together to have B.B.Q.'s and get togethers and the adults would have card parties. My father was a coach for a baseball team that all of my uncles were on. It was a good time growing up in NYC. We had a backyard and my father planted vegetables and we gave talent shows in the backyard and invited our friends. My father passed away in 1997 and I miss his spirit and the joy he always had in his heart. I enjoyed growing up in Queens, New York.

Matthew: You have covered some great songs, what re-makes are you most proud of?
Meli'sa Morgan: I would have to say so far, "DO ME BABY" only because my version seem to have touch so many more people than could have ever imagined. To this day, people still come up to me and "girl, that is my song!!!!". Who knew it would have this impact still. My next is "AIN'T NO WAY". I only did a snippet of it on my new CD but that song is so true to my heart that I had to do. I just did it the way I felt it and I know it has been covered before but for me I will always love singing that song.

Matthew: You say your mother encouraged you to sing, do you think you'd be here now, with this much success, if you hadn't experienced her support from the start?
Meli'sa Morgan: Everyone needs the support and love of their mother. I am no different. I could not be half the person that I am today if were not for my mother and her love and of course her support. That the pure truth.

Matthew: I enjoy your music as much as your voice. When you're in the studio what gets you working?
Meli'sa Morgan: Energy!!! I have to feel the track and believe in what I am singing about and the energy in the studio has to be right. If it isn't I will suggest coming back and singing on another day but I have been lucky so far, when I come into sing most of the time everyone is as excited as I am. I love creating new songs and singing and stretching my vocal ability to challenge me to be more than I thought I could be. It's magic.

Matthew: You have definitely taken the inspirations of Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle and Aretha Franklin to your music, what attracts you to some ones song?
Meli'sa Morgan: It has to be that I feel their trueness when they sing. I can feel the pain, the joy and the passion of their voices. You see when you go into the studio to record, you have to have these feelings in your heart or it doesn't come through on the song. Pain can pull out some of the most gut wrenching feelings from your voice that you will ever experience. It is amazing how the human emotion and the vocal chords come together to produce these sounds that come out. They become one.

Matthew: For me classic soul music has played a massive part in my music world. I never have a day without playing the greats like Roberta, Donny, Marvin, Otis. Why do you think they are timeless acts?
Meli'sa Morgan: Because they sang from their hearts and from the pure joy of wanting to be the best singers or groups during that time. They did not do for money, they did for the love of the song and we can still feel that when we hear their songs today.

Matthew: At 8 years old you were in the church choir, what's the best feeling about performing?
Meli'sa Morgan: The response that you get back from the audience. I LOVE THAT!!!!. To me when I perform from the time I hit the stage until the time I leave it is like me and audience are friends and we are going on this musical journey in person. I get to see them, they get to see me. I sing to them, the react, I tell jokes they laugh and for that time while I am on stage we are friends and that feels good.

Matthew: How did it feel to be back up vocals for Chaka Khan?
Meli'sa Morgan: It was the best schooling for a vocalist that I could have asked for. I would not have been able to get that kind of teaching anywhere. I attended Juilliards School of Music and when I got the call to sing background with Chaka Khan, I left school and went on tour with her. Juilliard would not have been able to teach me one on one what Chaka taught me and I knew that. It was a great learning experience for me and to this day,

Matthew: Tell us about Chaka Khan and your friendship, what is she like in real life?
Meli'sa Morgan: I consider Chaka Khan one of my dearest friends and mentors in the Music industry. She's one of the best!!!!

Matthew: You're talents aren't just in singing I see; you branch out to be a producer and actress. When did these talents begin to shine?
Meli'sa Morgan: I don't think that these talents are shining yet. I am still learning about acting. I attended Lee Strasberg Institute for Acting. I went to not be so shy on stage. It helped. I was asked to star in a few gospel plays and I did but I am not at the point as an actress to say that I am good. I am getting better and I hope to be good one day. I have always produced my own songs especially the one's that I write. I think that goes hand in hand it is hard for someone to tell you how to sing and feel a song that you wrote, so it is only natural that you guide yourself through that when you are in the studio. Producing comes natural for me. I have been doing that since I was a child.

Matthew: What would you like to say to all your fans and Just Soul fans?
Meli'sa Morgan: My new CD "I REMEMBER" has brought me full circle in the music industry and the songs reflect that. I have been out of the public eye so to speak for a while but I am back and I have a lot to say in my songs. I ask my fans old and new to come and take this musical journey with me. Go out and buy the CD, I am giving you the best of Meli'sa Morgan now!!!! I have worked to be a better person as this is something we all should do to have a better life. I stay committed to my foundation "THE MELI'SA MORGAN FOUNDATION", for educational excellence. We gave out backpacks to the Katrina Children following the Katrina Disaster. It felt so good to give back and help. There is more to Meli'sa Morgan than just singing but I love what I do and I love giving the gift of songs to my fans. Thanks for the support.

Matthew: Thank you again for being apart of the ever growing interview catalog for Just Soul. We will be here to support you in any way we can.