First off, why don't you tell us a little about yourself?
Ok, well, my name is Michelle Penn. I sing, play guitar, and write songs. That's simple.

When did you know you wanted to be a singer?
Probably when I was a little kid. I was a big fan of Barbra Streisand, and then when I got in high school, I absolutely adored The Pretenders. Chrissie Hynde was a huge influence, obviously.  My sound is kind of around that.

How'd you get your "big break" into the musicindustry? 
There are no breaks in the biz, just hard work, talent, and timing that one day pays off.

Who are your musical inspirations?
Sheryl Crow, Matthew Sweet, Michael Penn, Justin Timberlake, Mary J. Blige.

How would you describe your music?
Pop with a ballsy kick.

How would you describe your latest CD, Last Laugh? 
Best stuff to date.

Do you write your own songs? If so, what inspires you?
Yes, I write all the tunes.  People inspire me. 

Do you think being in the music industry for so long(since your debut CD in 1995) has changed you in any way? 
Yes. I appreciate every little bit of success and cherish it.  It’s a tough biz...

What CDs are currently in your CD player?
I always have 100% FUN in my CD player, because I think that's one of the best records ever made. If I could emulate a sound or a songwriting style, Matthew Sweet would be it. He's awesome. I also listen to a lot of Mary J. Blige.

You're currently on tour with Jason Mraz.  How's that going?
Great. He's just been spectacular. I've met a lot of people in the business, and he is very gracious and so talented. The guy is a songbird. He's sweet, and he's got it.

In the past, you've shared the stage with some huge names, such as John Mayer, Paula Cole, Foo Fighters and many others. Do you ever look back in awe (like, "Wow, I toured with them")?
You know what's funny? A lot of that stuff happened so fast. It's because I'm solo at times, and I run the business of Michelle Penn that I don't really get to enjoy it as much as I'd like to [laughs a little]. I've tried to make a point on this tour to really enjoy what's going on, but there are so many things going on at once.

I think my greatest moment was probably when I got to perform on stage with Sarah McLachlan at the Lillith Fair. We were up there singing together and sharing a microphone for a minute. There were a lot of people out there, but for me it was like a full circle, surreal.

You've met a lot of really famous stars.  Have you ever gotten starstruck?
Yeah, I'm an idiot sometimes. I got to meet Chrissy Hynde last month in Las Vegas, when we were playing the House Of Blues.  She was my idol, like I said, and I didn't know what to do, and I was an idiot.  My friends made me take a picture with her. You can tell by the photo on the website that I was like, "Huh?". That's a starstruck look. Sometimes I'm really bad about it, but now I'm a little bit more comfortable with myself, and I feel like "you know what?", this is where I should be. I can aspire to be with really good people and that will make me better.

You've got this awesome cartoon figure on your site, www.michellepenn.com. Was there any special meaning to that, like it being your logo, good luck charm or just for fun/for the hell of it?
That is my logo, because my record label is called PissyMissy Music, as well as my publishing company, because I have been known to be pissy.  That's sort of a little nickname that people have for me.  A friend of mine designed that logo, and it was absolutely perfect.

Do you have any tips for aspiring singers/bands who want to make it in the music industry?
Stick to your guns. Stick to what you want to do.  Don't let anybody tell you what to do. Just do your own thing and success comes in you being true to yourself.  That sounded cheesy, but seriously, I mean it.  It's the truth.  And you know what?  People will understand that and see that, hopefully. If not? F*** them.

Do you have a message to your fans?
Well, my message would probably be that if you listen to a lot of my songs, they admit life sucks sometimes, but you gotta throw a positive twist on it.

To me, music helped me get through high school and everything.  Music is life.  It is, you know?  For me, I really appreciate it and I remember getting through the tough times because of a song and somebody you can identify with.  I hope to be somebody that people can identify with rather than a superstar, untouchable figure.  Like Madonna is great, but who the hell can identify with her?  Nobody. She's a great performer and a great entertainer.  I am on the other spectrum of that as far as just playing what I feel and just going out there and throwing myself out there for people.

That's it! Thanks for doing the interview with Borderless Promotions!
Okay, cool!