Back in 2008 Luciano heard a record that defied categorisation. A sinuous blend of Latin rhythms, tribal drums and an unforgettable Spanish vocal, it didn’t “fit” anywhere – except Cadenza. Luciano signed
‘La Mezcla’ and suddenly the name Michel Cleis was ringing in the ears of Europe’s club cognoscenti, who were dazzled by his unheralded genius.
To know Michel is to understand that only he could have made a track like ‘La Mezcla’ because it embodies the richness and variety of his life and music. Born and raised in the Italian part of Switzerland (contrary to some internet reports, he is ‘100% Swiss’), Michel Cleis speaks five languages, and grew up listening to everything from Miles Davis and John Coltrane to the Beatles ,or Italian singer-songwriter Lucio Battisti. As a student in Lausanne, he witnessed the blossoming of house music with artists like Adamski, Robert Owens and Kid Bachelor. Nevertheless, he did not imagine a career in music. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” Michel jokes, “But I didn’t want a normal job.”
Despite a childhood yearning to become a baker, Michel became a practicing psychologist. His love for music never dwindled, however, and he continued to DJ whenever possible. A fateful basketball game pushed him into production – he broke his leg and was laid up at home for three months. “I was afraid of going crazy,” he recalls, “So I bought a sampler and started playing around with my records.” Michel’s passion and knowledge of music, developed over long years of listening and DJing, came bubbling to the surface and quickly resulted in releases on labels including Rekids, Supplement Facts, Buzzin’ Fly, Aus, Strictly Rhythm and – of course – Cadenza.
Michel credits Luciano with championing ‘La Mezcla’ and turning a personal masterpiece into a worldwide hit. “I never expected it,” he says modestly. Always eager to move forward, Michel is currently working on his debut album, which he envisions reaching beyond the confines of the dancefloor. “It won’t be ‘just for clubs’” he assures. Meantime, he is touring and joins Cadenza at Pacha and Ushuaia in summer 2010.
Selected Discography: ‘La Mezcla’ (Cadenza- Strictly Rhythm); Spencer Parker ‘The Beginning’ (Michel Cleis Remix) (Buzzin’ Fly), ‘East of Eden’ (Supplement Facts), Cortney Tidwell ‘Palace’ (Michel Cleis Remix) (Aus), Skunk Anansie ‘Because of You’ (Michel Cleis Remix) (One Little Indian),Baeka”Right at it” (Michel Cleis deeper and club remixes)River Ocean feat. La India “Loveand happyness” (Michel Cleis remix) (Strictly Rhythm)
La Mezcla
Michel Cleis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Con chinchorro y atarraya,
La canoa del bareque
Para llegar a la playa
Va subiendo la corriente
Con chinchorro y atarraya,
La canoa del bareque
(El pescador) habla con la luna,
(El pescador) habla con la playa,
(El pescador) no tiene fortuna,
Sólo su atarraya
(El pescador) habla con la luna,
(El pescador) habla con la playa,
(El pescador) no tiene fortuna,
Sólo su atarraya
Regresan los pescadores
Con su carga pa' vender,
Al puerto de sus amores
Donde tienen su querer
Va subiendo la corriente
Con chinchorro y atarraya,
La canoa del bareque
Para llegar a la playa
(El pescador) habla con la luna,
(El pescador) habla con la playa,
(El pescador) no tiene fortuna,
Sólo su atarraya
Regresan los pescadores
Con su carga pa' vender,
Al puerto de sus amores
Donde tienen su querer
Va subiendo la corriente
Con chinchorro y atarraya,
La canoa del bareque
Para llegar a la playa
(El pescador) habla con la luna,
(El pescador) habla con la playa,
(El pescador) no tiene fortuna,
Sólo su atarraya
The lyrics of Michel Cleis's song La Mezcla tell the story of a fisherman ("el pescador") and his journey to the beach to catch fish. The current is rising and he is using a "chinchorro y atarraya", traditional fishing equipment, to catch his fish from his "canaoa del bareque". The fisherman speaks to both the moon and the beach, as though they are his companions on his journey. He is not wealthy, but he is content with his simple lifestyle and his atarraya.
The chorus repeats throughout the song, emphasizing the simplicity of the fisherman's life and the importance of the catch to sell in his beloved port to support himself and his loved ones. The melody of the song is upbeat and rhythmic, reflecting the fishing journey of the fisherman.
Overall, the song is an ode to the simplistic lifestyle and hard work of fishermen, and their reliance on just a few essential tools to make a living.
Line by Line Meaning
Va subiendo la corriente
The current is rising
Con chinchorro y atarraya
With fishing nets
La canoa del bareque
The boat of the fishing village
Para llegar a la playa
To reach the shore
(El pescador) habla con la luna,
The fisherman talks to the moon
(El pescador) habla con la playa,
The fisherman talks to the shore
(El pescador) no tiene fortuna,
The fisherman has no fortune
Sólo su atarraya
Only his fishing net
Regresan los pescadores
The fishermen return
Con su carga pa' vender,
With their goods to sell
Al puerto de sus amores
To their beloved port
Donde tienen su querer
Where they have their love
(El pescador) habla con la luna,
The fisherman talks to the moon
(El pescador) habla con la playa,
The fisherman talks to the shore
(El pescador) no tiene fortuna,
The fisherman has no fortune
Sólo su atarraya
Only his fishing net
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: TOTO LA MOMPOSINA, MICHEL CLEIS, JOSE BENITO BARROS PALOMINO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind