Emeline Michel

Emeline Michel: New Afri Prod
As her band delved into regional styles from voodoo drumming to the lilt of the urban compas, her voice kept revealing new aspects - serene and breathy, sharp and percussive, warmly declamatory or nearly operatic - as she soared above the beat like a dancing ambassador.
-NY Times
Emeline Michel is the reigning queen of Haitian song. A captivating performer, versatile vocalist, accomplished dancer, songwriter and producer, Emeline has recorded and appeared on concert stages throughout the Caribbean, Europe, North & South America, and Africa for the past 15 years, including Joe's Pub in the Park and GlobalFEST. Singing both in French and Haitian Creole, Emeline is a member of a new generation of Haitian musicians, beloved by Haitians for combining traditional rhythms with social, political and inspirational content. She has won numerous awards in her native country, including Haiti's Musique en Folie awards for Best Haitian Album and Best Production of the year 2000 for her last album, Cordes et Armes. On her latest album Rasin Kreyol (Creole Roots), Emeline's compositions emphasize complex themes, conscious lyrics, and a broad array of musical styles, including the native Haitian "compas", "twoubadou" and "rara" along with contemporary Caribbean, North and South American influences. Her songs express her faith and hope that her people's roots are so strong that they will rise above the political turmoil in her country and together build a strong, peaceful and prosperous Nation of the Sun.