Finding Beauty In The Quiet Pulse Of Life

There’s something disarmingly human about Cherise Michelle’s latest release Flatline. In a world where most songs chase the next high, Cherise chooses to linger in the in-between: in the soft, everyday moments that often go unnoticed. The result is a vintage-flavored, neo-soul slow-burn that feels both tender and timeless.

Co-produced with Charles Nutrivore, the song glows with warmth: live brass swells like a deep breath, while Cherise’s layered harmonies unfold with an intimacy that recalls Solange. Yet her voice, smooth and golden like honey, carves out a space entirely her own.

Originally written as a journal entry after a breakup, Flatline has since evolved into something broader and more universal. “It’s about pausing long enough to appreciate the intimacies around us, Cherise says. And being present and intentional in all our relationships — including the one you have with yourself.” That ethos pulses through every bar, especially in the outro, where she repeats “I’ve got it” like a mantra. It’s quiet but powerful: an affirmation of self-love, survival and stillness.

The addition of rapper Jian J adds another layer, his verse swooning and reflective, balancing Cherise with a grounded tenderness. Together, they turn the track into a conversation, not just between two voices, but between resilience and vulnerability.

What stands out most is Cherise’s organic feel for music. There’s room for air, for instruments, for improvisation, for the listener to breathe alongside her. You can feel the influence of gospel and jazz in that freedom... the same freedom she first learned in church, where sound was less about perfection and more about feeling your way through.

Flatline is Cherise Michelle’s first official release since Honey (2020) and serves as the heart-opening prelude to her debut EP, coming in 2026. It’s an invitation to slow down, listen closer and find comfort in life’s softer cadences.

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