Michael Carpenter—
2025 CMAA Achiever Awards Producer of the Year, Sydney-based singer/songwriter/producer and multi-instrumentalist, Michael Carpenter, has released his first solo album in many years, The Start of Being.
Michael says, “It’s a very personal record. It’s hard to listen to at times. But there’s also so much joy in it, as in making it I learned to be me, now. And celebrated that in every song.”
He explains that this new album brings together the last ten years of personal songs, reflecting a time of dramatic change in his life. He adds that he didn’t really intend to make a solo album again. “I felt like I’d said enough as a solo artist. I was in danger of writing the same thing over and over again, and though I felt rejuvenated by working in a more focused way in country music, it just felt like more fun to be collaborating with people than doing things by myself.”
However, Michael found himself with songs reflecting the changes in his life and no outlet for them. “I released a solo single about six years ago, The Start of Being Alone, and I had a few things lying around from my old life that came out earlier in the year, If Tomorrow Was Today and Turning Point. These songs all felt different to my other projects, so I just started finishing writing these song ideas, and very tentatively started to record them.”
The Start of Being features jangly guitars, distinct rhythm section and soaring harmony washes, but his years as a country music producer and artist combines his unique vocal twang, with pedal steel, banjo, acoustic guitars, mandoguitars and Hammond organs defining this project as his own version of country music.
Michael is renowned as an elusive “everyman,” dabbling in multiple skills as a creative, and multiple roles and genres as a musician, performer and writer. And while this album is indeed a return as a solo artist, he has been far from absent. In the time since his last solo original music release, he has released countless records as a member of The April Family; a collaboration album with the legendary, Allan Caswell; an album with his country rock project, The Cuban Heels; an album of covers; multiple albums with his tribute ensemble, The Album Show; multiple singles as Michael Carpenter and the Country Rock Collective; and, of course, four albums and two live albums with 14 times Golden Guitar nominated artists, Michael Carpenter & The Banks Brothers.