Biography
A singer/songwriter and producer drawing from an eclectic mix of influences that span '80s college rock, '90s alt-rock, adult contemporary pop, folk, and classical traditions, Canada's Danny Michel first appeared on record with 1997's Before the World Was Round. His fifth release, the MapleMusic debut Tales from the Invisible Man, earned him a 2004 Juno Awards nomination for New Artist of the Year. After returning to independent releases, he relocated to Belize in 2011 to collaborate with Afro-Amerindian ensemble the Garifuna Collective; the resulting Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me received Juno and Polaris Music Prize nominations in 2013. For his eleventh full-length, 2017's Khlebnikov, Michel was honored as Producer of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards. Committed to education and environmental advocacy, he appeared at conservationist Jane Goodall's 85th birthday celebration.
A multi-instrumentalist who previously played in Rhinos and Starling, Michel issued his debut solo album, Before the World Was Round, in 1997; the CBC's Radio Sonic placed it among that year's top ten releases. His follow-up, 1998's Clear, also garnered strong notices and led to North American and European tours alongside Skydiggers' Paul MacLeod and folk-rock performer Gwen Swick, after which Fibsville arrived in 1999.
Michel began the new decade by self-releasing 2001's In the Belly of a Whale. Signing with MapleMusic Recordings for distribution through Universal Music Canada, he delivered his fifth album, Tales from the Invisible Man, in 2003, securing a Juno nomination for best new artist. The label followed with 2004's Loving the Alien: Danny Michel Sings the Songs of David Bowie. Co-produced by Michel and João Carvalho, Valhalla appeared on MapleMusic in 2006, after which he issued the self-released Feather, Fur & Fin in 2008, featuring MacLeod among its contributors. Environmental concerns shaped his eighth album, 2010's Sunset Sea, the same year that also saw the solo live set Live in Winnipeg.
Michel settled in Belize in 2011 and recorded with the Garifuna Collective; Six Shooter Records released the resulting Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me in 2012, which earned a Juno nomination for World Music Album of the Year and a 2013 Polaris Music Prize longlist. Returning to Canada, he tracked his tenth album of original material, Matadora, issued by Six Shooter in 2016. Created with composer Rob Carli during a Northwest Passage voyage, 2017's Khlebnikov brought Michel two Canadian Folk Music Awards—for Pushing the Boundaries and Producer of the Year. He followed the collaborative project with the wholly self-recorded mini-album White & Gold in 2018. The next year, he performed at Jane Goodall's 85th birthday gathering in Toronto.
A multi-instrumentalist who previously played in Rhinos and Starling, Michel issued his debut solo album, Before the World Was Round, in 1997; the CBC's Radio Sonic placed it among that year's top ten releases. His follow-up, 1998's Clear, also garnered strong notices and led to North American and European tours alongside Skydiggers' Paul MacLeod and folk-rock performer Gwen Swick, after which Fibsville arrived in 1999.
Michel began the new decade by self-releasing 2001's In the Belly of a Whale. Signing with MapleMusic Recordings for distribution through Universal Music Canada, he delivered his fifth album, Tales from the Invisible Man, in 2003, securing a Juno nomination for best new artist. The label followed with 2004's Loving the Alien: Danny Michel Sings the Songs of David Bowie. Co-produced by Michel and João Carvalho, Valhalla appeared on MapleMusic in 2006, after which he issued the self-released Feather, Fur & Fin in 2008, featuring MacLeod among its contributors. Environmental concerns shaped his eighth album, 2010's Sunset Sea, the same year that also saw the solo live set Live in Winnipeg.
Michel settled in Belize in 2011 and recorded with the Garifuna Collective; Six Shooter Records released the resulting Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me in 2012, which earned a Juno nomination for World Music Album of the Year and a 2013 Polaris Music Prize longlist. Returning to Canada, he tracked his tenth album of original material, Matadora, issued by Six Shooter in 2016. Created with composer Rob Carli during a Northwest Passage voyage, 2017's Khlebnikov brought Michel two Canadian Folk Music Awards—for Pushing the Boundaries and Producer of the Year. He followed the collaborative project with the wholly self-recorded mini-album White & Gold in 2018. The next year, he performed at Jane Goodall's 85th birthday gathering in Toronto.
Albums
