Mica Paris

Michelle Antoinette Wallen (born 27 April 1969 ), known professionally as Mica Paris, is an English singer, presenter, and actress.

This led to a collaboration with American soul singer Will Downing on a cover version of a classic "Where Is the Love", made famous by Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack in the early 1970s.

Paris grew up singing in her grandparents' church, and by her mid-teens was making regular appearances with the Spirit of Watts gospel choir (with whom she featured on the 1985 EP Gospel Joy).

At the age of 17, she became a backing vocalist with the UK band Hollywood Beyond.

Paris appeared on their album If (1985).

Her debut album, So Good, was released in 1988, spawning the singles "My One Temptation" and "Where Is the Love".

In 1988, she released her debut and platinum-selling album So Good with 4th & Broadway when she was 19 years old.

"My One Temptation" was the lead single.

She has since gone on to release seven further albums: Contribution (1990), Whisper a Prayer (1993), Black Angel (1998), If You Could Love Me (2005), Soul Classics (2005), Born Again (2009), and Gospel (2020).

The follow-up album, Contribution, was released in 1990.

This extended Paris' soul and gospel influences to bring in hip-hop and house music and featured the track "If I Love U 2 Nite", written by Prince and recorded at his Paisley Park studios.

With Omar Lye-Fook, a classically trained musician, Paris recorded "I Should've Known Better" in 1990.

It was issued on the B-side to "South of the River".

Paris also recorded with Anita Baker, Bonnie Raitt and Natalie Cole on the album Nelson Mandela: An International Tribute for a Free South Africa (1990), and provided the title track to Isaac Julien's Young Soul Rebels movie soundtrack the following year.

She worked with the saxophonist Courtney Pine ("Redemption Song" – 1992), the Stereo MCs ("Don't Let Up" – 1992) and Bobby Womack ("I Wish I'd Never Met You" – 1991).

Her third album was Whisper a Prayer (1993), which included the singles "I Never Felt Like This Before" and "I Wanna Hold On To You", as well as "You Put a Move on My Heart" which was later recorded by Tamia in 1995 on Quincy Jones's Q's Jook Joint album.

Black Angel produced two more Top 20 singles in "Stay" and 'Carefree". More collaborations followed with Omar ("Confection" – 1994), Max Beesley ("High Vibes" – 1994), Dubversive ("Police & Thieves" – 1998), the Mobo All Stars compilation album in 1998, Mister Exe ("One Million Smiles" – 1998), Prince ("Just My Imagination" – 2000) and Boy George ("I Could Be Someone" – 2000). A collaboration with David Gilmour and Jools Holland on Screamin' Jay Hawkins' track "I Put A Spell On You" followed in 2001. The trio had regrouped on occasions to perform the hit.

This followed by more collaboration work on album tracks with Guru on his Jazzmatazz II ("Looking Through Darkness" in 1995), Mark Morrison ("Tears For You" – 1996) and Maxwell ("Mantra" – 1996).

Paris released the album Black Angel on Chrysalis in 1998.

It contained a cover version of U2's "One", and a duet with James Ingram.

Two years later, Paris lent her voice to Walt Disney Pictures (Touchstone Pictures) soundtrack for High Heels and Low Lifes, which was later included in the Primal Screen soundtrack compilation album (2001).

In 2002, Paris hosted a programme on BBC Radio 2, titled Soul Solutions and narrated several music documentaries for the station.

She also presented the 2002 Channel 4 television documentary The Gospel of Gospel which revealed the influence of the black American church tradition on pop music.

In 2003, Paris released the Moby sampling "Heart" with Seraphim Suite.

Paris also joined Omar onstage for his gig at The Shepherds Bush Empire.

She also contributed to the track "I Don't Understand" on Milk & Sugar album.

2004 saw Paris feature as a guest on The New Inspirational Choir's album Inspirations along with Keisha White and Jocelyn Brown.

In 2005, Paris released the album If You Could Love Me (Wounded Bird Records), featuring backing from the Brecker Brothers on the title track, with executive producer Andreas Neumann and producer Bernard Grobman.

Also in 2005, she released the album Soul Classics, with executive producers Rick Blaskey and Andreas Neumann.

Paris collaborated with Lemar on the track "Can't You See" on his album The Truth About Love in 2006, and in February 2008, she released the duet "Secret Lovers" with Alexander O'Neal.

This was followed by a residency at the Indigo 02.

In June 2009, she released her sixth studio album, Born Again.

She embarked on a nationwide tour, which included dates at the Jazz Cafe in February 2009 to showcase the material.

The album was produced by Brian Rawling.

James Morrison wrote Paris' first single, "Baby Come Back Now".

Paris released the second single from Born Again on 17 August 2009.

The track, "The Hardest Thing", was remixed by Stonebridge, Almighty and 2Darc.

Paris performed at various venues prior to the release from the album in March 2010 of the title track "Born Again".

On 4 June 2022, Paris performed "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" with Nicola Roberts and Ruby Turner at the Platinum Party at the Palace concert to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

In 2020, Paris played Ellie Nixon on the BBC soap opera EastEnders.