El Michels Affair is an American cinematic soul group led by musician and producer Leon Michels. Based in New York, the group is noted for its wide-ranging influences, analog production approach, and hip hop collaborations. The group released its first single in August 2002, and its debut album Sounding Out the City in 2005. After touring behind Raekwon and other Wu-Tang Clan members, the group recorded the popular cover album Enter the 37th Chamber in 2009. After releasing other tribute albums in the following decade, El Michels Affair returned with the original albums Adult Themes in 2020 and Yeti Season in 2021. Since then, the group has released collaborative projects with Freddie Gibbs & Madlib, Liam Bailey, and Black Thought, including 2023's Glorious Game.
History Michels played with Soul Fire Records house band The Mighty Imperials before forming his own ensemble in 2002.El Michels Affair at Allmusic This group released singles for Soul Fire and for Misty, a sublabel of Daptone Records, as well as a full-length album which was released on the Michels-cofounded label Truth & Soul Records in 2005. Titled Sounding Out the City, the album drew from library music and afrobeat influences. After performing with Raekwon at a concert, the group began working with other members of the Wu-Tang Clan and covered several of their songs for vinyl single releases. By 2009, this had yielded an album's worth of material, which was released in 2009 as Enter the 37th Chamber, the name is a play on the album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).Review of Enter the 37th Chamber. Pitchfork Media, May 11, 2009. El Michels Affair followed this with a second album of arrangements of songs by Wu-Tang Clan and from its members' solo releases, titled Return to the 37th Chamber.Review of Enter the 37th Chamber. Consequence of Sound, April 25, 2017.Review of Enter the 37th Chamber. Allmusic.
In 2019, they accompanied Freddie Gibbs and Madlib at their popular NPR Tiny Desk performance and later recorded The Diamond Mine Sessions with them.
El Michels Affair began the 2020s with new original material; they released their album Adult Themes in 2020 and followed it less than a year later with the Turkish pop and prog-inspired Yeti Season in March 2021; the album features vocals from Hindi language singer Piya Malik and The Shacks.
On September 5th, 2025, El Michels Affair released 24 Hr Sports. The album features collaborations with Dave Guy, Clairo, and Norah Jones, and was inspired by fashion and graphic design of the 1980s and 90s, Sports Illustrated magazines and certain works by MF Doom.
Personnel Leon Michels – bandleader and producer, tenor saxophone, flute, keyboards, guitar, bass, percussion, engineering
Other contributors include:
Homer Steinweiss – drums Nick Movshon – bass, drums, guitar Thomas Brenneck – guitar, bass Michael Leonhart – trumpet, brass Toby Pazner – keyboards Aaron Johnson – trombone Sean Solomon – guitar Dave Guy – trumpet Marco Benevento – keyboards
Discography
Studio albums Title DetailsSounding Out the City Released: August 23, 2005 Label: Truth & Soul Format: LP, CD, digitalAdult Themes Released: May 8, 2020 Label: Big Crown Format: LP, CD, digitalYeti Season Released: March 26, 2021 Label: Big Crown Format: LP, CD, digitalGlorious Game(with Black Thought) Released: April 14, 2023 Label: Big Crown Format: LP, CD, digital24 Hr Sports Released: September 5, 2025 Label: Big Crown Format: LP, CD, cassette, digital
Tribute & remix albums Title DetailsEnter the 37th Chamber Released: April 21, 2009 Label: Fat Beats Format: LP, CD, cassette, digital Wu-Tang Clan cover albumWalk on By (A Tribute to Isaac Hayes) EP Released: 2009 (12") / November 12, 2010 (CD) Label: Truth & Soul Format: 12", CD Isaac Hayes cover albumReturn to the 37th Chamber Released: April 14, 2017 Label: Big Crown Format: LP, CD, cassette, digital Wu-Tang Clan cover albumEkundayo Inversions(with Liam Bailey) Released: August 13, 2021 Label: Big Crown Format: LP, CD, digital Collaborative remix album of Ekundayo
EPs Title DetailsPJs... from Afar(with Raekwon) Released: March 1, 2007 Label: Truth & Soul Format: 12", CD, digitalLoose Change Released: 2014 Label: Truth & Soul Format: 12", CD, digital Outtakes from Sounding Out the CityThe Diamond Mine Sessions(with Freddie Gibbs & Madlib) Released: May 7, 2020 Label: Madlib Invazion/ESGN/Keep Cool/RCA Format: digital Reinterpretation of tracks from Bandana
Singles Title(A-side/B-side)YearAlbum Label Format "Detroit Twice" / "Too Late to Turn Back" 2003 Sounding Out the City Misty 7""Creation" / "Behind the Blue Curtains" 2005 Truth & Soul 7" "C.R.E.A.M" / "Glaciers of Ice" (Wu-Tang Clan cover) 2006 Enter the 37th Chamber 7" "Duel of the Iron Mic" / "Bring da Ruckus" (Wu-Tang cover) 7" "Musings to Myself" / "Spread Your Soul" 2008 7" "4th Chamber" / "Snakes" (Wu-Tang cover) 2016 Return to the 37th Chamber Big Crown 7""Tearz" / "Verbal Intercourse" 7" "Strange Boy" / "No Surprise" (feat. The Shacks) 7", digital "Shadow Boxin" / "Iron Maiden" (Wu-Tang cover) 2017 Return to the 37th Chamber 7" "Never Be Another You" 2018 7" "Unathi" / "Zaharilia" (feat. Piya Malik) Yeti Season 7", digital "12345678910" 2019 rowspan="2" digital "Reasons" (feat. Bobby Oroza) / "Hipps"2020 7", digital "Dhuaa" (feat. Piya Malik) Yeti Season digital "Sha Na Na" (feat. The Shacks) digital "Murkit Gem" (feat. Piya Malik) 2021 7", digital "Ala Vida" digital "Fazed Out" digital "Awkward (Take 2)" (with Liam Bailey)Ekundayo Inversions (with Liam Bailey) digital "Anticipate" (feat. Clairo)202524 Hr Sportsdigital
See also Menahan Street Band
References
External links