II Juicy

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"My boyfriend calls me Juicy," says Michelle Feaster with a laugh. "I wanted to get 'Juicy' on my license plate, but it was already taken. I wanted to be creative and I didn't want to use 'Juicy 2'; it looked lame when I put it in the computer at the BMV. So I wondered if anyone had the Roman numeral II, and I put that in and it stuck like glue."

Feaster's musical upbringing began naturally in church where she built a solid Gospel foundation, gaining exposure to other genres as she got older. She also attended the School for Creative and Performing Arts, where she received professional vocal training, which included Broadway and operatic instruction.

"Shorty kept trying to get me to go to these jam sessions and I would say, 'No, I don't like the Blues, I don't want to cry and I'm not that sad,' " says Feaster. "One night, she talked me into it. People who didn't even know each other were getting up and having a good time and jamming together and it looked like fun. Finally, Shorty was like, 'I'm not going anymore,' so I started going by myself. Next thing I know, I'm standing at the microphone going, 'You guys might know me, my name's Michelle, I'm Shorty Starr's sister and I'm going to try to sing a Blues song.' From there it just took off. People were like, 'God, you sound great!' and I loved the feeling I got when I sang the Blues. It's that real good feeling like when I sing Gospel."

Since solidifying the lineup, it's been a whirlwind year for II Juicy. The band recorded a full-length self-titled CD and has begun to explore out of town bookings. Although still playing just weekends, Feaster looks forward to a time when band activities provide more of their livelihood.