G'day, thanks for dropping in!
If you would like to get to know me a little better you can check out what I have written here below. But please have a look around, I hope you find what you are looking for but if not you can get in touch, I'm open to hearing from you via email...
With melodic love,
Michael.
My Childhood
I have a fond early memory from when I was about three years old in pre-school singing to a song and dancing in front of the class and feeling naturally comfortable and confident about it. While i grew up being on stage took a back seat while I dreamed of being a soccer player for Australia or a writer of fictional horror stories. As it turns out I was nowhere near good enough to play sport professionally and novels were a bit long and time-consuming. I enjoyed playing soccer on the weekends and occasionally i would write a poem that was good enough to blu tac on to the back of the toilet door.
The Family Business
My uncle and my dad are the type of old school rock n rollers that spent the 70's & 80's dominating the pub scene with high quality concept bands. Many a night I fell asleep to band rehearsals going on downstairs in the lounge room. 60's & 70's rock n roll was infused into my subconscious whilst I slept. My interest in being on stage took hold when my dad started getting me up for guest spots to sing my favourite song at the time; 'Johnny B. Goode' by Chuck Berry. I watched him win over drunk pub crowds with his voice, funny banter and showmanship that sometimes include dancing on tables.
High School Band
I was 13 when I started a band we called Sicks Phresh Egz in high school. At first, it was just for a laugh - it was meant to be a comedy act, but once I got the taste for writing songs, my life long love affair with lyrics began and there was no turning back.
At the age of 16, I finally purchased a guitar and taught myself to play some chords. EVERYTHING else from that moment forward was second priority to writing songs or playing the songs I had recently created. Surfing, soccer, rollerblading and other teenage hobbies all slipped away and
I became addicted to playing guitar and singing. My band got pretty good too, we changed our name to Korus and idealised bands like Korn, Primus, Regurgitator and Sepultura. We got out there and played gigs, rehearsed every week and wrote new songs. By the time i finished school i knew i wanted to be a musician for life.
Working It
I could wait on tables or work a factory job but I knew i could learn some cover songs and get out there and work as a live musician so i got stuck in to building a reputation with different cover bands working weekends to make some money that freed up my week to write, create and focus on my original music that had caught the attention of Override records and MGM. In 2003 my band called Owenell released an EP and to launch it, the film clip for the single "Complicated" featured on Rage and channel V. The band toured and built a following especially in Sydney headlining venues like The Marquee, The Gaelic Theatre and The Annandale Hotel.
These days music is not only my relaxation, passion and my business, it's also part of my purpose in life ~ I feel a deep soul connection to it. I explore the musical world daily with a balance of practice, live shows and creativity. I have adopted the way of the musician life just like my Uncle and my Father did and this has been a fantastic way to learn the craft of performance, getting into the grit and grind of what it really takes to be a professional musician, earning a living by playing gigs every weekend since 2005.
Songwriting
I have had some amazing experiences as a songwriter, with record and publishing deals, with bands and tours, co-writing, releasing albums, getting songs in film, TV and on the radio. I have a back catalogue of 3 EPs and two albums that I am very proud of. Every song I write means something special to me and I feel so grateful to be able to express myself in this way through the dark times and in the happiest of times as well. I really have so much to be thankful for and I know the best is yet to come!
Recently, I launched a new branch of my business, 'Custom Made Songs' (CMS). Through CMS I offer personalised songs for every special occasion.
It's a dream come true to be sharing all of my acquired musical skills to help people extend their love to one another through an original song they can call their own and treasure forever.
