Emeline Michel
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Emeline Michel is widely known as "The reigning queen of Haitian music, the new goddess of Creole music".
Emeline Michel Born in Gonaives, Haiti on March 21, 19??. Her first experience in music was singing gospel music at her local church.
She is a very captivating performer, versatile vocalist, accomplished dancer, songwriter and producer.
After completing her education in Haiti, Emeline accepted an opportunity to study at the Detroit Jazz Center in Detroit, Michigan. She soon returned to Haiti as a professional musician.
Emeline Michel soon released her first album "Douvanjou ka leve" (May the Sun Rise) which featured the hit "Plezi Mize" (Pleasure in Misery), a song written by Beethova Obas.
Subsequent releases "Tankou melodi" (Like a Melody) and "Flanm" (Flame) established her as one of the top artists in Haiti and the French Antilles, and she was soon hailed as the "new goddess of Creole music".
Emeline Michel has recorded and appeared on concert stages throughout the Caribbean, Europe, North & South America, and Africa for the past 15 years.
Later, Emeline Michel moved to France where she became a leading musical icon. She was performing at venues such as the Jazz Festival of Nice and Theatre de la Ville, and making numerous appearances on French television and gracing the covers of many music and culture magazines.
From her new base in France, Emeline's work quickly spread throughout the French-speaking world, including Belgium, Africa, the French Antilles, French Guiana, Quebec, as well as Chile and Japan.
The album Tout Mon Temps (All My Time) delivered her international smash hit A-K-I-K-O. While set to an infectious dance groove, the song calls for Haiti to look past the political turmoil that has long gripped the nation and to return to a time of innocence and joy.
She soon left France and moved to Canada. Signing to a Montreal record label, she enjoyed a high profile as one of the leading young female vocalists working in Quebec and a regular act for Canadian festivals, radio and television.
In 1996, she released the album Ban-m Pase (Let Me Pass), a CD which showcased her developing talents as a mature writer and producer.
This huge-selling and influential release featured the international hits "Ban-m Pase" and "Mwen bezwen-w" (I Need You), fully incorporated her jazz/blues/samba influences, and secured her position as one of the leading songwriters in the Haitian Creole language.
After signing with several record labels in France, Canada and the United States, Emeline formed her own production company called Production Cheval De Feu in 1999 in order to gain full control of her career and artistic vision.
Emeline Michel's latest CD Cordes et Ame is a groundbreaking recording for a Caribbean artist.
This CD features a sophisticated song-cycle centered on the theme of perseverance, the CD features the sound of voice & acoustic guitars bathed in the ancient and modern rhythms of Haiti.
Soon after its release, the album became the fastest selling recording in Haiti surpassing even the dance music giants of compas and received Haiti's Musique En Folie awards for Best Haitian Album and Best Production for the year 2000.
Singing both in French and Haitian Creole, her music have catapulted her to international acclaim
Emeline Michel is beloved by Haitians for combining traditional rhythms with social, political and inspirational content.
She is a member of a new generation of Haitian musicians, which also includes guitarist/vocalist Beethova Obas groups like Boukman Eksperyans and Boukan Guinen.
In contrast to most contemporary Haitian music, this new wave of artists emphasize complex themes, conscious lyrics, and a broad palette of musical styles, including the native Haitian compas, twoubadou and rara along with jazz, rock, bossa nova and samba.
Emeline Michel's Discography:
Douvanjou ka leve (May the Sun Rise)
Pa gen manti nan sa (There's No Doubt)
Rhum & Flamme (Rum & Flame)
Tout Mon Temps (All My Time)
Ban-m pase (Let Me Pass)
Cordes et Ame (Strings and Soul)
