Michael Morris is a New Zealand songwriter, recording artist and performing musician. His work is based primarily in the alternative rock genre, exploring elements of folk, blues and psychedelia.
Michael was born in London in 1989. He moved to New Zealand in 1990 and displayed a keen interest in music, art and film from a young age. Childhood revolved around drawing, papier-mâché, violin lessons, costume making and performance. Michael first discovered the guitar at age 15, finding inspiration in David Bowie, Queen, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin records. After graduating a bachelor of music degree, Michael relocated to Dunedin in 2012. Immersed in the creative culture of the city, he formed blues rock quartet The River Jesters and soul funk group Live Like Lions. Both bands released albums/EPs and toured extensively throughout New Zealand and Australia between 2012 - 2018. On the sideline, Michael created a production company named Smokey Room Records; producing recordings for artists like Monty Bevins (Auckland), Abigail Knudson (Dunedin) and Tom Maxwell (Queenstown). Meanwhile, Michael’s community charity project, Operation Underground, helped provide a support platform for emerging local artists to be discovered through the Sunday Porch Session videos. In 2018 Michael moved to France and released his debut solo album Slow Loris. Featuring the video single Landslide, the six track collection was an entirely self produced effort, receiving critical praise from a range of different music publications internationally. Following 2019 performances in Paris and Berlin, Michael began recording his forthcoming sophomore album, currently readying for release at the end of 2020.
"Searching for a new dimension, New Zealand polymath creates niche world of his own and pushes its boundaries beyond event horizon. Partly unplugged yet entirely electrifying." Dmme.net (Toronto, Canada)
"Artists of the 60's / 70's alternative and psychedelic rock era are considered untouchable by many, but Morris is here and he's tapping the glass." Out From The Pine Box (Nashville, USA)
“You can hear a wide range of influences, but his style is 100% his own. Slow Loris has got to be one of the strongest debut releases in recent years." NZmuzic.net (Auckland, New Zealand)
"Slow Loris is impressive, both the writing and the dynamic, spacious production (some of the best I've heard from a local release). But it's not an easy listen.... And he knows it." Otago Daily Times (Dunedin, New Zealand)
Michael was born in London in 1989. He moved to New Zealand in 1990 and displayed a keen interest in music, art and film from a young age. Childhood revolved around drawing, papier-mâché, violin lessons, costume making and performance. Michael first discovered the guitar at age 15, finding inspiration in David Bowie, Queen, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin records. After graduating a bachelor of music degree, Michael relocated to Dunedin in 2012. Immersed in the creative culture of the city, he formed blues rock quartet The River Jesters and soul funk group Live Like Lions. Both bands released albums/EPs and toured extensively throughout New Zealand and Australia between 2012 - 2018. On the sideline, Michael created a production company named Smokey Room Records; producing recordings for artists like Monty Bevins (Auckland), Abigail Knudson (Dunedin) and Tom Maxwell (Queenstown). Meanwhile, Michael’s community charity project, Operation Underground, helped provide a support platform for emerging local artists to be discovered through the Sunday Porch Session videos. In 2018 Michael moved to France and released his debut solo album Slow Loris. Featuring the video single Landslide, the six track collection was an entirely self produced effort, receiving critical praise from a range of different music publications internationally. Following 2019 performances in Paris and Berlin, Michael began recording his forthcoming sophomore album, currently readying for release at the end of 2020.
"Searching for a new dimension, New Zealand polymath creates niche world of his own and pushes its boundaries beyond event horizon. Partly unplugged yet entirely electrifying." Dmme.net (Toronto, Canada)
"Artists of the 60's / 70's alternative and psychedelic rock era are considered untouchable by many, but Morris is here and he's tapping the glass." Out From The Pine Box (Nashville, USA)
“You can hear a wide range of influences, but his style is 100% his own. Slow Loris has got to be one of the strongest debut releases in recent years." NZmuzic.net (Auckland, New Zealand)
"Slow Loris is impressive, both the writing and the dynamic, spacious production (some of the best I've heard from a local release). But it's not an easy listen.... And he knows it." Otago Daily Times (Dunedin, New Zealand)