Michael Oakley Explained

Background:person
Michael Oakley
Birth Name:Michael James Oakley
Landscape:yes
Birth Date:3 January 1982
Birth Place:Glasgow, Scotland
Years Active:2016–present

Michael James Oakley (born 3 January 1982) is a Scottish synthwave producer and musician.[1]

Early life

Oakley was born in Glasgow but moved to Los Angeles in 2016, before settling in Canada in 2018.[2] He attended Williamwood High School in Clarkston, East Renfrewshire. He is a self-taught musician, having taken piano lessons for a short period in his youth.[3]

Career

Having worked in Glasgow's cover band scene for some years,[4] Oakley penned what would become his debut album, California, in 2016. Lesley Daunt of The Huffington Post wrote in 2017 of the lead single "Turn Back Time", "Oakley's captivating beats and celestial synthesizers have given a fresh approach and revival to classic pop".[5]

In 2017, Oakley released California to critical acclaim from The Huffington Post and popular YouTube channel and record label NewRetroWave.[6]

In 2019, the artist released his sophomore album, Introspect, which was listed in NewRetroWave's Top 10 albums list of 2019.[7]

In 2020, Oakley issued the track "Wake Up!", featuring Ollie Wride, as part of the soundtrack to the game Wave Break: High Tide, through Funktronic Labs.[8] In the same year, he contributed an instrumental remix of his 2016 single "Rabbit in the Headlights" to the soundtrack of the mobile game Retro Drive.[9]

On 16 April 2021, Oakley announced the release of a new single, "Is There Anybody Out There", co-written by fellow labelmate Ollie Wride and produced by Jon Campbell of The Time Frequency.[10]

Oakley released his third studio album, Odyssey, on 14 May 2021, through NewRetroWave Records.[11] [12] Callum Crumlish of Daily Express wrote, "The glowing eight-track record oozes style and electronica while managing to steer clear of the cliched building blocks of the genre".[13]

Life-saving incident

In 2012, while returning from a performance at a wedding function near Glasgow, Oakley rescued two men from a burning car.

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Artist Feature: Michael Oakley . 22 May 2020 . Reasonstudios.com .
  2. Web site: Glasgow musician Michael Oakley is back in his hometown and back to the future for retro 80s party gig . Gillian Loney . 4 May 2018 . Glasgowlive.co.uk .
  3. Web site: Michael Oakley Interview . 30 November 2017 . Electricityclub.co.uk .
  4. Web site: Wedding singer saves pair after crash . 7 February 2012 . .
  5. Web site: Acclaimed Scottish new wave artist Michael Oakley premieres new video . Lesley Daunt . 9 January 2017 . Huffpost.com .
  6. Web site: Top Ten Retrowave EP's of 2017 . 28 December 2017 . NewRetroWave.com .
  7. Web site: Top 10 Retrowave Albums of 2019 . 3 January 2020 . NewRetroWave.com .
  8. Web site: Wave Break soundtrack EP out now . 24 June 2020 . NewRetroWave.com .
  9. Web site: Retro Drive is a neon-soaked arcade racer with a killer synthwave soundtrack . Cameron Bald . 1 May 2020 . Pocketgamer.com .
  10. Web site: Michael Oakley – Is There Anybody Out There . 22 April 2021 . NewRetroWave.com .
  11. Web site: Vintage Synth Trumps With MICHAEL OAKLEY . 7 May 2021 . Electricityclub.co.uk .
  12. Web site: SCOTTISH SYNTHPOP STAR MICHAEL OAKLEY DROPS ALBUM ‘ODYSSEY’, VIDEO FOR PATRIOTIC ANTHEM ‘GLASGOW SONG’ . 14 May 2021 . Culturefix.co.uk .
  13. Web site: Michael Oakley on Odyssey and how leaving his country inspired a more 'reflective' album . Callum Crumlish . 19 June 2021 . Express.co.uk .

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