Michael Done is a multi-talented instrumentalist, singer and musical arranger, an award winning songwriter and an engaging and entertaining performer.
Michael’s musical love-life kicked off in earnest on his 11th birthday when for the first time he took joyful possession of a real wooden guitar, having spent the previous five years as a long-range air guitarist accompanying (via radio) Elvis Presley and numerous other early rock’n’roll legends.
Much too shy to sing, Michael was recruited at age 14 by his older sister as guitarist in her Peter Paul & Mary lookalike folk group.
The folk group’s struggling official guitarist discovered that Michael could listen to any PP&M record, figure out exactly what Peter and Paul were playing, then play it – instantly! Naturally, Michael was instantly signed!!! Later on, still in his teens, Michael was playing classical guitar on ABC local and national TV, and on one occasion performed on-stage with the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra. “Once was enough!” he adds ruefully.
Michael’s move from nylon to steel strings and to more contemporary genres came in his early twenties, inspired by the rich, bright guitar sounds of his acoustic music heroes, James Taylor and the late Dan Fogelberg. His friendship and collaboration with Noel Giblett kicked off shortly afterwards. With so many shared musical interests and passions between them, it was a natural partnership – Noel out front on stage, Michael out back on sound. There were live gigs, occasional recording sessions and countless back-room hours polishing up chords and riffs in Noel’s songs. It was around this time that Michael also began exploring and refining his own skills as a songwriter and lyricist, and started emerging from the back room to reveal his flair for on-stage performance and his playful, often mischievous way of connecting with his audiences.
Many colourful years of musical adventures, achievements and collaborations were follow, including some bizarre and theatrical incarnations like Mick Murray & His Lackey Band, the angelic Gabriel Lovejoy and consulting consultative consultant Rupert (Khaimar) Cropper. Michael released a solo album First Light in 2000 to coincide with his guest appearance at the International Conference of the Centre for Attitudinal Healing in Oakland, CA.
In more recent years, Michael has developed a deep love for the meditative songs and mantras of the highly acclaimed Deva Premal and Miten. One of Michael’s mantra compositions, Lokaha Samasta, was recorded by Deva and Miten in 2007 and has become a much-loved favourite in their repertoire all around the world.
Coming full circle, Michael teamed up with Noel again around 2009 to start exploring musical arrangements for their first ever duo recording project. This was to become the Surrender album. Michael describes it as “the longest, most deliciously unhurried and heartfelt project I’ve ever worked on”. The results speak for themselves.
Michael lives in Perth, Western Australia. He has one daughter, Nat, and is grandfather to her two dogs, Chloe and Indy. He is the adopted guardian of a small family of doves who live in the tree just outside his kitchen window. Outside these core responsibilities, Michael also works as a radio and media trainer at Murdoch University.
“Surrender” – Michael’s Story:
“The recording of this album began in bleak and unexpected darkness. A total power blackout at the studio on Day 1 saw Noel and me scurrying back to my lounge room with just a hand-held recorder, a cheap mixer and a couple of (admittedly not-so-cheap) microphones.
There on that Sunday morning, with no multi-tracking, no fold-back and no digital effects, we put down our first live vocal and guitar tracks.
I think by far the best decision we made in this project was to keep every one of those blackout recordings. We were sometimes tempted to re-record them, to do them ‘better’. Thankfully we resisted. I did add in later some instrumental and vocal parts, but at the core of every track remained that original rawness – a beautifully imperfect earnestness which, in my view, harmonised more closely with the life and spirit of the album than any perfect rendering could ever do.
These songs have become dear friends. They’ve moved, inspired and comforted me as I’ve come to know them intimately over these past few years. I’m honoured that Noel invited me not just to arrange and produce them, but also to play and sing on most of them with him. I’ve loved doing it, I love the results, and I’m really proud of both of us.”
“Thanks mate!”
