When she is not performing, recording or dealing with the business end of her career, Michelle Xavier enjoys spending time with her family and sometimes sneaking off to the movies. She also gets in as much sleep as she can.

"People really don't know how important sleep is and whenever I am not working, I try to get in as much of it as I can. Now that I am a solo artiste its much more pace than when I was with the band where my responsibility was making sure I delivered a great performance. Now I have to get everything done with the support of my team," Xavier said.

The former lead singer with Imij and Co who now performs as a solo artiste known as Michelle X recently completed her first year out there on her own. She has enjoyed nominal success and is looking towards the 2013 Carnival season with great expectations. Xavier is seeking to release six songs for Carnival 2013 and she also intends to compete in the International Power and Groovy Soca Monarch competitions.

"I released, "No More Tabanca" a week ago, but we pulled it to do remastering and will re-release it in a couple weeks. I'm dropping a song titled, "If You Want To" on the Project 5 Riddem on Friday (today). That was produced by Millbeatz and some youngsters calling themselves, Starblu. This riddem will also feature five other artistes, including Benjai and Patrice Roberts. Later on I'll release a groovy soca called, "Hold Somebody" and I am also working on a power soca with Neil Bernard (producer) that was written by Shaft and we should be releasing that on Boxing Day."

"This will be the most number of songs I've ever recorded in one season and I am really looking forward to the season. It's been a tough year, but that's always the case when one is starting out. After being in a band for ten years and with that being everything I knew, it was a totally different ball game for me. I don't regret the decision though and anyway, when I joined the band I said I would give it ten years. I was just surprised that the time passed so quickly, but I was ready for the move," Xavier said.

Xavier said she adjusted as the time passed and the challenges presented themselves. She overcame them and today the rewards are coming her way. For a while people thought she was still with Imij and Co, asking her why they did not see her with the band at gigs. The phone was not ringing much for some time, but Xavier is now getting the calls she has been looking forward to and she is well prepared to deliver at whatever event she is booked to perform at.

"New and different opportunities have been opening up for me and I can really showcase my versatility. I can also choose the jobs that I want to do and perform what I wish to. I am getting the calls from people who want just me and I am happy because I am doing what I want to do, sing and entertain people."

"The other day Blaxx asked me if I would not consider joining a band like Roy Cape. I said that I did not leave one band to join another. I am focused on getting these six songs completed and on the radio stations."

"Being on my own I have to face long, late nights and early mornings. I'm up late in the studio or performing and then up early in the morning to go get the music to the radio stations and do promotions and also see about the business side of things. It is much different from my band days even from the angle of having a live band accompanying me as compared to singing to tracks. I love live music from a band, but have got accustomed to the tracks. I do look forward to the times I can run on stage and perform with a band," Xavier said.

As for "No More Tabanca," the actual first of her 2013 releases, Xavier said its not a weepy, heart-tugging song, nor does it lash out against men. The song is about a woman standing strong in the midst of her problems.

"It's not a typical man-bashing song," said Xavier, "so I really liked that approach to the song when I first heard it because the focus is not on the man, its on the woman — and she's not crying or wasting time feeling sorry for herself. Instead she's moving on with her life, going out and enjoying herself."

"I feel like women everywhere can identify with that philosophy and when we were recording it, I was able to draw upon my own personal experiences to deliver that emotion of someone who had enough and just decided to move on positively. I feel like there's a different energy this time around. I gained some valuable experiences in 2012 that made me stronger and wiser and able to make better decisions regarding my music and my career and my life in general," Xavier said.

For more on Michelle Xavier, log on and like her Fan Page on Facebook and check out her personal VLOG on www.overtimett.com to see exclusive footage of her recording sessions, radio and television interviews, performances, as well as behind-the-scenes looks at her upcoming music video shoots and special appearances throughout the season.

Partial lyrics for "No More Tabanca" Intro: I'm not gonna cry, I'm not gonna cry, I'm not gonna cryyy — cause I'm over you!!! Yayyye... Verse 1: What more do u want tell me what u want/ How much more yuh want from meh?/ Cause U took my heart and tear it apart/ Now u want my company/ When u had your chance it was a good chance/ But u mess it up for we, now I'm getting over u... Pre-chorus: So I already move on, by getting meh groove on/ Jamming in dis party, and behaving naughty/ Cause is only wine wine wine on meh mind/That is ah sign that de jamming wukking: Party every weekend on d avenue/ To get over u... Chorus So ah go party in d night time night time/ Party in d day time day time No more weeping, ah partying till ah morning... There will not be no next time/ Putting myself on de line for no man/ Cause man could be so ungrateful That's why I not wasting my tabanca tabanca tabanca... That's why I not wasting my tabanca Over u I not wasting my tabanca tabanca tabanca...... I could do something better with my time! Verse 2: I want to be alone stop calling meh phone/ There is no more you and me Fed up of de going and coming back For me that is not healthy I give u so much ah changes already, and u still want more I already close that door