whatever happens, happens

The Duke

Midnight Morning

New York - Addis - London: The Story of Ethio Jazz 1965-1975

Tezeta

Gucci Tried To Tell Me

Stack The Deck

STILL SUCKS

Turn It Up, Bitch

An Evening With Silk Sonic

Smokin Out The Window

Here while the years pile
I know it's been a long time
If you've been taking it slow 
You already know
It's still worth a try
I know there's some love in your life

The view of the stars from the roof of your car never lasts very long
You're driving around while it's all burning down 
Playing just the right song
I'll see you round if you want

Erstwhile preferred styles come and they go in the wind
Blowing off of the shore 
Far in the north 
When fall's ushered in 
As far from the west coast I've been

The view of the stars from the roof of your car never lasts very long
You're driving around while it's all burning down 
Playing just the right song
I'll see you round if you want

The view of the stars from the roof of your car never lasts very long
You're driving around while it's all burning down 
Playing just the right song
I'll see you round if you want

The view of the stars goes askew and you start wondering where you went wrong
You're driving around while it's all burning down 
Playing just the right song
I'll see you round if you want
credits
released November 5, 2021 
Josh Augustin - vocals/lyrics, keys/synths, drums, production
Samuel Winemiller - guitar, bass, synths, drums, production

Mixed and mastered by us

Cover design by Sam 
Cover photo by Josh 
litte Vansire guy drawn by Emily Augustin
Thanks for listening

Just the Right Song

Complete Mythology

Soul Heaven

Dinking in the Shadows of Zizou

Pork Belly

It Rains Love

Special Night

Never Be Another You

Endless Summer

July

Float Back To You

Hypnosis

Reasons

KOKOROKO

Ti-de

Get On The Otherside

I Got Love

When Leon Michels name first appeared on a record, he was 16. That release was Thunder Chicken, and the group was his high school band, The Mighty Imperials. The record was essentially an homage to The Meters, at the time it was near pitch-perfect for the budding retro-soul scene. While that release was an early step for Michels, aspects of it have almost become trademarks of his work: a unique raw-yet-disciplined approach to his sound and songwriting, and a soulful genuineness that has a sense of humor one minute and a sense of solace the next.

Right from the jump his hustling work ethic was evident, always involved in a lot at once. While finishing Thunder Chicken, Michels began touring and recording with Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings—which he did for the next 7 years. During that time he was also recording songs in a makeshift home studio and preparing for what would be his first full-length record, Sounding Out The City, and the first release under the name El Michels Affair. In 2004, when Sounding Out The City was recorded, Michels’ obsession with Euro Library, American soul, and early rocksteady crept its way into the songwriting and recording aesthetic, the outcome was something Michels appropriately dubbed “Cinematic Soul.” The album was to be the first release on Truth & Soul Records, a new label Michels co founded.

The lo-fi warm recording aesthetic and bottom heavy production alongside the immediate success of EMA’s debut release lead to playing a show with Raekwon of Wu-Tang fame. That show went over so well it lead to a tour with El Michels backing multiple members of the Wu-Tang Clan. It was these shows that ended up laying the groundwork for the release of El Michels Affair’s second full-length, Enter the 37th Chamber, which eventually introduced them to a worldwide audience. While the band’s fanbase went through the roof, the industry also quickly recognized that EMA was a force to be reckoned with. Almost in a domino effect, a huge range of hip-hop artists sampled Michels’ songs, from Ghostface Killah, Just Blaze, and Jay-Z to J Dilla, J.Cole, and Travis Scott.

While simultaneously running a label, playing / touring, and co-producing other artist’s music Michels helped found The Menahan Street Band, co-produced Aloe Blacc’s sophomore smash LP, Good Things, and received a writer credit on Adele’s Grammy-nominated album, 19. Shortly there after Michels found himself on tour with The Black Keys after being cold-called by Auerbach and asked to join them on the road. It turned out that Auerbach was a big fan of the sound and approach of the Lee Fields record “My World”, which Michels produced. When Auerbach was tapped to make Dr. John’s critically acclaimed album , “Locked Down” and Lana Del Rey’s LP, “Ultraviolence”, Michels was brought along to play and add his signature sound. That led to being included in and touring for Auerbach’s psych-rock project, The Arcs, which features Michels as a musician and co-producer. 

in 2016, Michels co-founded Big Crown Records with Danny Akalapse, the second record label Michels has helped build from the ground. Since then, he has produced a majority of the albums from the labels roster including Lee Fields, Lady Wray, Brainstory, Paul & The Tall Trees, Liam Bailey, and Thee Lakesiders.  Michels has also produced records for Beyonce & Jay-Z’s side project, The Carters, Hanni El Khatib, Chicano Batman, Marco Benevento, and Don Toliver.

In 2020, Michels will release the second album of original material under the El Michels Affair moniker.  The Album, entitled Adult Themes, which Michels calls “the soundtrack to an imaginary movie,” creates a lush, evocative, complex and eclectic collection of tunes that will keep your ears on edge as you nod your head.

how you doin'

german/albanian singer/songwriter/model/photographer/creative chameleon

Stack The Deck

El Michels Affair

Recent comments

HUSKI (HUSKI BASS) 🐺

shrapnel

Related tracks