“Best New Ambient” - [Olsen] reinforces just how far he’s stretched the cello from its familiar environment.” – Bandcamp Daily

“evocative, experimental, and emotional” - American Songwriter

“flows along with the same gush of honeyed ecstasy as a great mid-period Cocteau Twins track…. one glorious rush of beauty and sadness. In the right setting, this one is tough to listen to without tears.” – Paste Magazine

Michael Peter Olsen is a composer for film and television, cellist, Grammy- nominated songwriter, international touring artist, arranger and music producer. He has performed on over 150 album releases including Drake VIEWS, Arcade Fire Funeral, Ed Sheeran = , K-OS Joyful Rebellion, Jim Guthrie Now More than Ever and The Hidden Cameras The Smell of Our Own.

After decades of playing and experimenting Michael has created his own sound, “Post-Cello”, a rethinking of cello and the various roles it plays in popular music. Michael’s new eponymous electric cello based solo project is CMU approved and has been heard on BBC3, NPR, KEXP, CBC Radio 2, New Sounds with John Shaefer and by 10K monthly online listeners. His first solo full length album “Yearning Flow” arrived Jan 2021 and his second “Narrative of a Nervous System” was released Oct 2023 on Hand Drawn Dracula/Red Eye International. This latest album features collaborations with Zoon, Owen Pallett, Mairi Chaimbeul and alaska B (Yamataka Sonic Titan). 2023 saw several solo tours of Japan, Europe, Scandinavia and and the debut of the new live band featuring Owen Pallett, alaska B, and VR artist Shawn Chiki at a special locational surround sound multimedia performance in Toronto.

In 2014 he was selected as one of three songwriters-in- residence for the Canadian Film Centre's Slaight Music Residency, chaired by Oscar-winning composer Mychael Danna and director Norman Jewison. Michael has written music for TV productions by Elevation Pictures, CBC TV, Global, Children’s Television Network and continues to contribute score for a variety of films and TV productions. In 2022 Michael joined the team of composer/artists Electric Youth to contribute score for feature films. “North of Normal” debuting at TIFF 2023 is the first film to be released from this new partnership.

Michael has appeared live and on record with more artists than easily counted. He toured extensively with Hidden Cameras in the early 2000's and is currently a regular touring member of Zoon. He has graced the stages and/or recordings of a diverse mix of artists such as Electric Youth, Haim, Tiesto, Sharon Van Etten, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Jacky Cheung, Holy Fuck, Born Ruffians, Zaki Ibrahim, Tallies, Julian Taylor, Slakadeliqs, Mocky, Wolf Alice, Great Lake Swimmers, The Organ, The Constantines, Kevin Hearn, Rheostatics and Sarah Slean.

Michael hails from Vancouver, British Columbia and lives in Toronto, Ontario. He holds an ARCT and a BA in music performance from the University of Toronto.