Meli’sa Morgan is widely known for her smash hit song, "Do Me Baby." With a new album, I Remember, and a single, "Back Together Again," with the soulful Freddie Jackson, Meli’sa shows listeners she's ready to put the soul back in R & B music.

Shelia Goss: It’s been awhile since you’ve had an album out, what have you been doing and why the long hiatus?
Meli’sa Morgan: I’ve been working on Meli'sa Morgan as a person. Perfecting my show and my vocal skills. Just doing what I need to do to survive. I had several meetings with several record companies and felt they didn’t believe in me. When I got a call from Hush, I knew belief factor was there and they were ready to bring back R & B.

Shelia: Who are some of the people you worked with on this album?
Meli’sa: Lesette Wilson; Freddie Jackson on "Back Together Again," the lead off teaser single from this album; and, Ashford & Simpson: They did the interlude of “Ain’t No Way.” I co-wrote my first gospel recording “He’s the One.”

Shelia: What’s different about this album than your previous ones?
Meli’sa: I’m very nervous. I poured my heart and soul into it. I don’t think there’s a vocal lick unturned. I wanted to give my audience and new audience my all and take them on a music journey on this CD. People want to pigeon hold you and categorize you. It’s R & B. It’s my signature. It has some gospel and some old school songs. It’s a kaleidoscope of music.

Shelia: Are any of the songs reflective of your real life experiences?
Meli’sa: All of them are, fortunately and unfortunately; especially all the ones that I wrote. I can’t write from a third party point of view. I can’t write any other kind of way or it’s not real to me. The songs are little journeys I’ve gone through in my life.

Shelia: Who are some of the new music artists you listen to?
Meli’sa: R Kelly; Anthony Hamilton; loving what Charlie Wilson is doing; Ms. Beyonce; Alicia Keys. It has to be top of the line for me to listen, creative wise and vocally. I also gravitate to artists that write their own music.

Shelia: In your opinion, what’s the difference between the love songs from say the 80s and the ones being made today?
Meli’sa: We can get more in depth about love; in the 80s we couldn’t do that. In the 80s I don’t think we could say certain things. We were painting the picture, but now, you’re in the picture and living the music.

Shelia: What advice would you give new R & B singers?
Meli’sa: Believe and know what your talent and creativity is. Once you know that, you know how to go about finding avenues you need to grow and blossom. Don’t try to be like somebody else. Try to find your own niche.

Shelia: What are some of your favorite songs on this new album?
Meli’sa: “I Remember”(it really touches my heart), “High Maintenance”, and all of the interludes are like my favorites. They are little snippets of songs that I listened to growing up. “He’s the One (I grew up in gospel. Never thought I would record a gospel song).

Shelia: What made you decide to sing again?
Meli’sa: I was very disheartened about the recording side of the industry. I was always called for shows because of “Do Me Baby.” Knowing that I was with people that believed in Meli’sa Morgan, I could go in there and do an album being me and there was no one trying to tell me to imitate someone else like a Beyonce. I was able to do what I do by being me.

Shelia: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Meli’sa: The Meli’sa Morgan foundation is doing backpacks for the Katrina children. We’ve been going around the country and seeing the smiles on the kids faces because someone cares is amazing.