Having been a frontman, singer and songwriter in bands since he was 18, the former lead singer with jet-setting, acid-folk-rock five-piece 'The Wicked Whispers' decided to go solo. After the band ended, he took some time out and then launched a solo career, dropping a lo-fi EP called 'Metamorph' in late 2020, which featured some real raw emotional tracks including 'Out Of Sight' and 'Dry Those Tears'. He says, " For a time, after 'The Wicked Whispers', I wasn’t doing music and I wasn’t happy, so I needed to get right back into it. Michael has always found a home as a songwriter living inside his own head, and it has become apparent, that his musical path has been ultimately leading to a solo project. His new material (which was the framework for a solo project) was written before Covid-19 changed the world we know, but feels now hauntingly relevant. The process was about following the songs, captured in their rawest form, from the early demo's to the studio, capturing the organic and emotional connection. Taking his 4-track Low-Fi home recording ideas to 'The Cabin' (a small recording studio located in the former Cains Brewery Village in the Baltic Triangle), local producer Alec Brit helped Michael's new sound grow organically and develop but still maintain its same emotional delivery as achieved by the home recordings. The plan was following a feeling rather than a click track and the music was to be released through his own label currently called Rabbit Hole Records.
Michael and James Skelly having known each other for years, started chatting on working together on his next singles following his debut EP. For the first time he approached it differently and quickly wrote five songs and sent them to James who picked two of his favourites and Michael went in and recorded them, returning to Parr Street Studios. Drafting in another mate Phil Murphy to play drums, James and engineer/studio manager, Chris Taylor played all the other instruments. On the first single 'Puzzles' James not only brought his music back to his psych roots but took it somewhere new. Michael says, "The first EP was honest, the most honest thing I've ever done. but 'Puzzles' is one further step forward, bringing James Skelly in, who really gave the track an edge with some amazing hooks."
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| At the Angus Tap & Grind |
'Puzzles' is out now and coincides with the announcement of rescheduled live dates for 2021. Michael will also be performing at Liverpool Sound City 2021 in October. In July 2021, following his appearance at the Angus Tap & Grind, Michael posted on his Facebook page, "We're back. Well that felt magical. First show in 18 + months and first show as @michael_robert_murphy playing songs I've been releasing over the past 12 months. Lovely to see old friends, family and appreciators of my music. Also was fun to play some old songs I haven't played in years. Loved it. Huge love to @ollygorman and Macca for joining me and doing a blinder. Respect to @amiekmusic for opening the night and smashing it."
see also:- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2022/01/pool-of-sound-kelly-cresswell.html
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