After releasing two acclaimed singles, Michael explains, "I set about touring, travelling and assessing what kind of artist I wanted to be. I spent a lot of time recording, writing, learning and listening to a range of musicians from Muddy Waters, Son House, Eva Cassidy, Sam Cooke and Robert Johnson. In the last two years I set about developing every set of skills I could. I played guitar for hours and hours a day, and I performed hundreds of gigs -- it's just been the best time of growth for me."

Apart from winning coveted support slots for Newton Faulkner, Vanessa Amorosi, and soul legend Seal, Michael's personal highlights over the last couple of years have seen him performing at the emotional Bushfire Memorial Service with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and a 500 member choir.