About Michael

Michael Wilford is an innovative and exciting up-and-coming artist. Inspired by the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Florence and the Machine, and the musical legends of yesterday, Michael’s music fuses the peaceful yet powerful nature of folk music with the edge and energy of Rock and Roll. The versatile songwriter and drummer has spent the last few years on the road as a touring musician for several Canadian bands and these back-to-back tours and shows led to the story woven into his debut solo single ‘Scotch’. Since the release of his first song, Michael has begun to carve out a reputation as a promising artist in his own right.

Michael grew up in Smithers, British Columbia, a little mountain town filled with folk music and protest songs. Now based in Victoria BC, he credits his exposure to world-class artists in a small-town setting as one of his major inspirations to pick up an instrument at a young age. The community aspects of folk music: kitchen parties, dances, and rousing singalongs have permeated their way into his approach to music-making. Michael’s manner of songwriting is collaborative and community-oriented, he writes the songs and builds a unique team around each release. This allows him to assemble the musicians that best suit each song and to work with a wide array of artists, celebrating the talent and diversity that BC has to offer.

With the 2021 release of his debut single ‘Scotch’, featuring the explosive vocals of Chelsea D.E Johnson, Michael launched his solo songwriting project. The song was quick to take off and received some serious press from a slew of media such as CBC, Victoria Buzz, and Rock Era Magazine. ‘Scotch’ peaked at number 78 on the Canadian Radio Top 100 Alternative Songs Chart and has been heard on stations across Canada and in parts of the United States and Europe. Additionally, it beat out over 26,000 songs to receive an honourable mention in the international songwriting competition where it was judged by icons such as Dua Lipa, Tom Waits, and Coldplay. This all occurred within a month after the initial release.

“(Scotch is) a song that sets a higher bar in the emerging music scene and that’ll leave you speechless. This single is pure energy, a treasure for all the fans of modern blues-rock. ”

— weareymx.com

This is just the beginning of the story as Michael’s sophomore single, ‘Rattle My Bones’, which features west coast singer/songwriter Sail Cassady’s brooding baritone was released in October 2021. Described by risingartistsblog.com as “a song that perfectly paints the emotions that came with the solitude of the pandemic,” ‘Rattle My Bones’ is a darkly playful song with a chorus about being haunted by your demons, the ghosts in your closet, tailor-made to start a singalong.

Michael’s newest release, ‘Esraela’ which features Northern BC based singer/songwriter, Elijah Quinn, on lead vocals was released everywhere in April 2022. Inspired by the sounds of British Alternative Rock, Indie Pop, and Traditional Pop Music. Esraela takes classic crooner sensibility and gives it a contemporary shine - a timeless love story in a modern setting.

Michael has appeared on recordings by Old Soul Rebel, Hanna Elise, Sarah Osborne, Sail Cassady, Aaron Wylder, Grayson Lenner and Nick Mintenko. His music has been featured on compilations by Surkeus Records in Victoria (including his cover of David Chenery’s “Pallbearer’s Blues” with Chris Lloyd and as a drummer on Nick Mintenko’s cover of Josef Mieto’s “Listen Listen”), Erzetich Audio in Slovenia and more. As a touring drummer he has played all over the country and now, three releases into his solo project and a two time finalist in the International Songwriting Competition he is pursuing both sides of his musicality, drumming and songwriting, with more focus and direction than ever.

“There’s this intense signature style present in all of his songs already. He’s not searching for the proper style. He is the leader of his own style.”

— Kms Reviews

Michael has plans to roll out a series of releases featuring a rolodex of Canadian musicians and is currently writing with plans to record his debut EP. You can usually find him tucked away working on his music or on the upcoming music from one of the various projects he is involved in.

Michael’s music is groove heavy and stylistically playful, while usually centring around the indie/alternative side of the musical spectrum. Described by weareymx.com as a “completely next-level new artist able to blow your mind off,” Michael’s cinematic songwriting and his collaborative approach to music-making are quickly turning him into an artist to watch.