Swiss producer Michel Cleis is the man behind the mysterious and distinctive 'La Mezcla', a track built on a vocal and flute sample adapted from the Colombian traditional and Afro-Latin performer Totó La Momposina. 'La Mezcla' is now a truly inimitable summer record that has touched the collective consciousness of Ibiza this year, so much so that it has won 'Track of the Season' at the Ibiza DJ Awards.

You have recently been signed to Strictly Rhythm. How do you feel about the label, what do you remember most about it?

Yes the rumor is right!!  I feel really happy and really proud of this collaboration with one of house music's biggest monuments. Strictly is one of the only house labels (maybe the only one?) which was there at the beginning and that survived the big changes in the music business landscape, it s like something mythic and legendary, it always has been one of the main labels that anyone references.  In the Nineties I always danced a lot to strictly rhythm stuff!


What are your favorite records out of the Strictly catalogue over the last 20 years?

I really love Underground Solution" Luv dancing ", I always have it in my flight case and I often drop it in my charts. I danced a lot to it over the years. There really are a lot but I will tell you three more of my favorite choices:
Kenny Dope -"Watch This" & "Tribal Seagulls” are big lessons in drum programming.
Total Capacity – ‘Celebrate’ this is a totally groove deconstructed disco tool.


You were recently asked to remix River Oceans ‘Love and Happiness’, for the 20th Anniversary Remix Compilation. What did you do with the record?

This track is a real classic!! I was so excited to have the chance to remix it. I actually received India’s vocal part (I don t know why that was the only part that was sent to me....) but I did not ask for the rest so I could feel as free as possible. I just wanted to do something different compared to the original and my first idea was an Ibiza vibe remix. I found a theme with a synth and I asked my friend Julien Feltin to play a solo guitar around it. I just told him to play thinking of Ibiza, the beach, girls, tapas and whatever around a summer vibe. He actually did the guitar solo in a one ten minute shot. I loved it!!

Following the release of La Mezcla your profile has exploded across the globe. Summarize how your life has changed in this time?

I travel and play more, really more..., I actually could live totally from the music and this is without doubt a big privilege. This track gave me a lot of visibility, right now people pay attention to what I produce and ask me for tracks and remixes, this is a big chance for me. We will see what happens next!

La Mezcla has without doubt been the record of 2009. It recently won Best Ibiza Track at the Ibiza DJ Awards '09. Are you surprised by its success?

For sure the first reactions when Luciano started to play the track were fantastic and unexpected. More than that I was really surprised that even though we had heavily delayed the release of the track, it exploded for the Miami Winter Music conference.  Miami's sun was the last chance to give a longer life to the track and that’s what happened finally. I was really proud to receive the award, although I could not be there Luciano picked up the award for me.

When did Djing and producing become a full time career and what other types of employment have you previously held?

I had what my mom called a normal job until July 2009. I worked as psychologist and as social worker for many years. I actually continue to work as psychologist in a structure which helps people with problems of violence; it takes me 1 day per week.

How does a guy from Switzerland produce South American inspired tracks like a native?

My girl friend is my muse..., my inspiration!! Not only symbolically, actually she concretely gave me the Toto La Momposina 's cd, the artist who was the basis of La Mezcla.  During a holiday in Colombia, where part of her family still live, I discovered a lot of music .When we came back, in June2008, I was gardening in my first vegetables garden, she came to me and just told me to listen to the Toto la Momposina album ... she knew that I was into this kind of music... and you know what happen next. La Mezcla is definitely a love - family - holidays thing...

What other projects have you got lined up over the short and long term future?

A track for a compilation on Room With A View recordings, a remix for a Gilles Peterson new project and a remix of a Courtney Tidwell's song on Will Saul Simple recordings label. There is also a new remix for Strictly Rhythm of course. After this I will re-start working on my album and on a few maxis.

Are there any particular artists you would like to remix or work with in the future?

There is more than one, as I recently said to Pete (Tong), I would like to remix Madonna...some of my friends will become crazy about that...

'La Mezcla' is out now on Strictly Rhythm with new mixes coming on the 2nd of November