Michalangela grew up in the northern Idaho town of Moscow where she spent the first 22 years of her life. She grew up singing, and then gained an interest in Jazz through the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, hosted by the University of Idaho. She competed in highschool in choir and in solo competitions, and then ended up attending the Lionel Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho. She was able to have individual lessons with some of the top jazz performers today, like Roberta Gamberini, Dee Daniels, Vince Falcone, Claudio Roditi, Houston Person, Jeff Hamilton, and Tamir Hendleman. After graduating, she relocated to Portland, Oregon, performing with some of the best artists in the area. Some of the artists she performed with are Devin Phillips, Mel Brown, Tony Pacini, Jonathan Swanson, Scott Steed, Gary Hobbs, David Evans, Tim Gilson, Pere Soto, and the Oregon Jazz Orchestra. This is her debut album, \"Portland Rain.\"