ON OUR RADAR: MICHAEL WEBSTER

Following on from the release of his EP, *a northern perspective*, Michael Webster is On Our Radar today!

INTRODUCE YOURSELVES!

My name is Michael Webster, I’m a singer-songwriter based in Manchester, UK!

WHAT’S YOUR ORIGIN STORY?

I started doing music properly back in 2014, after enjoying performing and writing songs - to this day, I’ve been at it 100% and it’s lovely to do. I now put on gigs and events across the city, and produce artists’ music and write and release my own stuff.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC TO A POTENTIAL LISTENER?

I usually describe it as “folk-grunge”, a blend of my inspirations, songwriters such as Bob Dylan and Neil Young and more modern alternative rock and grunge from the 90s. I take influence from loads of music, but these are the main ones!

WHAT’S THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR LATEST SINGLE?

My latest release was out 17th December! It’s a full EP, a bunch of songs that I’ve been working on for a good while now, and I’m proper proud of them. Some are newer songs, some real old - it’s a great indication of my songwriting style and musical influences.

What issues are important to you? Do you use your music and platform to communicate these?

Many of my songs have political themes, if not at the forefront there’s lyrical references that may not always be that obvious, haha. My previous single ‘left to speak’ was a song about climate change - and I’ve got a bunch of others, such as ‘linger, still’, ‘firewall’ and ‘waves’.

What are your top 3 albums at the moment?

I think that right now, they’d have to be Rosalia’s MOTOMAMI, Beabadoobee’s Beatopia and Kendrick Lamar’s Mr Morales and the Big Steppers. They’re a fantastic range of albums, with so much meaning and flow between them - well worth listening to, and also a real indication of my music taste!

What’s one song you wish you could have written?

I think one would definitely be While My Guitar Gently Weeps by The Beetles. A raw, honest tune with lovely lyricism, and the change to the major key in the chorus is heavenly. Beautiful stuff!

If you could tour with anyone, who would it be?

I’d have to say Kurt Vile. He seems like a real good laugh, down to earth and someone you could have a good jam with musically. It’d be a great one!