Michael Peter Olsen
“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 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 and New Sounds with John Shaefer. His first single “Mayday” has hit over 1 million streams and the first full length album “Yearning Flow” arrived Jan 2021. Michael’s second full length, “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 Canada, 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.
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 recordings and stages of of a diverse mix of artists including: Electric Youth, Haim, Tiesto, Sharon Van Etten, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Holy Fuck, Born Ruffians, Wolf Alice, Jim Guthrie and Great Lake Swimmers
Links:
MPO Live Video SPOTIFY Video Playlist Instagram
Paste Magazine 15 Questions Interview Dominiated
