Music

Michael released his début album with fellow musician Ben Michalak in 2010. Recorded in his Portland, Oregon apartment, as well as Ben's basement bedroom, this album combines a series of songs Michael has written from 2008-2010. Ben has also helped pen songs with Michael and contributes vocals and other instruments on the recordings.

Other artists contribute to the album. For example, Martha McLaughlin plays ukelele and sings on "Wine Soaked Letter". Ville Kotiaho plays electric guitar and harmonica, and Janne Lahti adds drums and bass to "Maggie". Both are from Finland and contributed their parts over the Internet.

"Broke Down in Santa Rosa" is the title track on the album. It was written about a 2007 trip in which, literally his car broke down in Santa Rosa, New Mexico during Thanksgiving weekend. Spending a week in this small, Route 66 town inspired him to write this song about the breakdown, and the relationship he was in at the time.

Other songs on the album have similar stories, as every song is either written about a particular person, event, or thought that he's had in life.

The album was released the summer of 2010 on Tulsey Town records and is available by Mail Order, Plew's Brews in Portland, Oregon, and now a downloadable digital version is also available.