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Danny Michel is a Canadian artist, songwriter and producer.
Danny Michel | |
|---|---|
 Michel in his studio in 2011 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | January 31, 1970 Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, producer |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, drums, bass, keys |
| Labels | TimeBomb Recordings US/MapleMusic Recordings/Universal Music Canada, Six Shooter, Cumbancha, Stonetree Records BZ |
| Website | www |
Michel (Mish-elle) is a multi-Juno and Polaris Music Prize nominated songwriter from Ontario, Canada. Michel began making solo records in the 1990s after being a member of many bands, including the power-pop trio Starling. Soon after he signed a deal with MapleMusic Recordings/Universal Music Canada in 2003 and released "Tales From The Invisible Man". In 2004, he was nominated as "New Artist of the Year” at the Canadian Juno Awards and later released “Valhalla”. In 2008 Michel purchased the publishing of his entire catalogue back and independently released the album "Feather, Fur & Fin". The title track quickly landed on the "Playlist for the Planet" released by the David Suzuki Foundation. In the years to come Michel released albums independently and with Six Shooter Records (Canada) & Cumbancha Records (US)
Between 2006 & 2015 Michel performed over 75 times as the musical guest on Stuart McLean's The Vinyl Cafe and in 2019 performed for Dr. Jane Goodall at her 85th birthday party.
Michel’s most current album “Ghost Town” was released independently in 2022. The 1st single “Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself” was CBC’s TOP 20 #1 voted song of the year.
Belize & The Garifuna Collective
editIn 2011 Michel relocated to Belize to record with The Garifuna Collective, an Afro-Amerindian cultural group, on the album Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me. The album landed a Juno Award nomination in the world music category and a sold-out summer tour of North America with The Garifuna Collective as his band. In June 2013, the album was long-listed for the 2013 Polaris Music Prize and released in Canada on Six Shooter Records and worldwide on Cumbancha Records.
The Ocean Academy School Fund
editWhile in Belize, Michel created "The Danny Michel Ocean Academy Fund", helping raise scholarships for the Caye Caulker Community School, a small non-profit community high school. To date his fund has raised over $125,000.00 USD for the school.
The Arctic / Khlebnikov Project
editIn 2017 Michel released Khlebnikov, a classical-based album written and recorded with film composer & childhood friend Robert Carli aboard the Russian ice-breaker Kapitan Khlebnikov, during an 18-day Arctic expedition through the Northwest Passage with Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield and a collection of artists from around the world. He won two Canadian Folk Music Awards for Khlebnikov at the 13th Canadian Folk Music Awards, for Producer of the Year (with Carli) and the Pushing the Boundaries award.[1]
Dan's Space Van
editDan’s Space Van is a mobile web series created and hosted by Michel. The show takes place in an original customized 1978 GMC Vandura (airbrushed in 1980 in a Star Trek theme). The show features interesting people and musical guests who perform in the van. Past guests include Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak, Astronaut Chris Hadfield, Sarah Harmer, Alan Doyle, Blue Rodeo, Barenaked Ladies, 54-40, Fred Penner, The Milk Carton Kids, Bahamas, Joel Plaskett, Hawksley Workman, Steve Poltz, Kevin Breit, Irish Mythen, Alysha Brilla, Del Barber, Leeroy Stagger, Emm Gryner, Lindy Vopnfjord, Matt Mays, Dustin Bentall, Kendel Carson, Shane Koyczan, Barney Bentall, Mark Lalama, Rose Cousins, and more.
Awards
edit1996 Won - Kitchener Waterloo Arts Awards
2003 Nominated - "New Artist of the Year" The Juno Awards
2007 Nominated - "Music dvd of The Year" The Juno Awards
2013 Nominated - "World Music Album Of The Year" The Juno Awards
2013 Nominated - Polaris Music Prize
2017 Won - "Producer of the Year" - Canadian Folk Music Awards
2017 Won - Oliver Schroer "Pushing The Boundaries" Award - Canadian Folk Music Awards
Discography
editOfficial Albums
- 1999 Fibsville - Independent
- 2001 In the Belly of a Whale - Independent
- 2003 Tales from the Invisible Man - Maple Music/Universal
- 2004 Loving the Alien, The Songs Of David Bowie - Maple Music/Universal
- 2006 Valhalla - Maple Music/Universal
- 2008 Feather, Fur & Fin - Independent
- 2010 Sunset Sea - Independent
- 2010 Live in Winnipeg- Independent
- 2012 Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me - Six Shooter Records/Stone Tree Records
- 2016 Matadora - Six Shooter Records
- 2017 Khlebnikov - Independent
- 2018 White & Gold - Independent
- 2023 Ghost Town - Independent
References
edit- ^ "Canadian Folk Music Awards: Danny Michel leads winners on first night". Ottawa Citizen, November 18, 2017.