Michael Paynter
Michael Paynter | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 29, 1986 Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Known for | Participating in The Voice Australia (season 2), albums "This Welcome Diversion" and "Weary Stars" |
Michael Paynter (born 29 January 1986) is a singer-songwriter from Australia. His discography includes five singles: "Closer", "A Victim Song", "Love the Fall", "How Sweet It Is", and "Weary Stars". After parting ways with his record label, Paynter participated in the second season of The Voice Australia, where he advanced to the Top 16.
Early life
Beginning piano lessons at age seven, Paynter expanded his instrumental repertoire to guitar and drums by the time he was 15. By 16, he was touring with various bands throughout Australia. Although he initially pursued law studies for one year, he ultimately returned to music, describing it as a passion that "ignites my soul like nothing else." He attributes his proficiency with multiple instruments as a key factor in strengthening his overall musical abilities.
2007–2012: Career beginnings
| "They have big hooks. They are inspiring and powerful yet moving. If there's a thread through my songs, it's my positive spin on life. It's a wonderful experience and you need to have fun even while you're facing up to its challenges to get the best out of it. But if I can get people to pause after each track to think about what I'm singing, then I've done my job." |
| — Paynter on his album This Welcome Diversion. |
Paynter's vocal style is frequently likened to that of John Farnham. His first album, This Welcome Diversion, was inspired by an advertisement in an inflight magazine and marked a transition from his earlier law studies. He co-wrote every song on the record and collaborated with producer Matt Wallace and mixer Brian Paturalski during sessions in Los Angeles. The album also features contributions from Josh Freese, Dorian Crozer, David Ryan Harris, and John Fields.
The lead single, "Closer", is characterized by its catchy hooks and was co-written with Gary Clark. Its lyrics explore aspirations within personal relationships and career ambitions. Subsequent writing collaborations involved Wally Gagel, Phil Buckle, and Julian Hamilton of the Presets. The follow-up single, "A Victim Song", was released in November 2008.
Although initially planned for a 2008 release, the album's launch was postponed until 2011 due to lukewarm radio reception of the early singles. During this interval, Paynter toured as a supporting act for artists such as Vanessa Amorosi, Newton Faulkner, Seal, and the Veronicas. Sony sponsored songwriting excursions to London and Los Angeles, which culminated in the free acoustic album Money on Your Tongue, distributed as weekly tracks in late 2009.
In June 2010, Paynter unveiled "Love the Fall", which became the most added track on Australian radio that July and achieved placement within the ARIA top 20 charts. The single features backing vocals from The Veronicas, who also appeared in its music video. Its physical release included a five-track EP featuring "Are You Alive?", a song used to promote Lost. Later that year, he returned to Los Angeles to finalize the album, aiming for a 2011 release. That same year, he supported The Script during their Australian tour.
Paynter also served as a special guest on Miley Cyrus's Australian Gypsy Heart Tour, where he introduced the single "How Sweet It Is".
In 2011, he expanded his industry experience by joining Icehouse as part of their touring ensemble.
2013–present: Weary Stars and The Voice Australia
In April 2013, Paynter participated in the second season of The Voice Australia, earning unanimous approval from all four judges and choosing Joel Madden to mentor him. During the Battle Rounds, he triumphed over Louise Roussety with a rendition of "As Long as You Love Me". Advancing to The Showdowns, he was saved by public vote after performing "The Horses" by Daryl Braithwaite. However, his journey ended following the first Live Finals episode, where he sang "Locked Out of Heaven" by Bruno Mars.
| Stage | Song performed | Original artist | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blind Audition | "Somewhere Only We Know" | Keane | Joined Team Joel |
| Battle Rounds | "As Long As You Love Me" (vs. Louise Roussety) | Justin Bieber | Winner |
| Showdowns | "The Horses" | Daryl Braithwaite | Saved by public vote |
| Live Show Final, Episode 1 | "Locked Out of Heaven" | Bruno Mars | Eliminated |
On 13 January 2014, Paynter launched "Weary Stars," the lead single from his debut album bearing the same name, which became available on iTunes on 31 January 2014.
Since 2011, Paynter has contributed keyboards, guitar, and vocals during Icehouse tours, notably providing lead vocals for "Man of Colours" in live performances. In 2015, he toured supporting The Veronicas and assisted Delta Goodrem in promoting her single "Wings." Additionally, he collaborated on Reece Mastin's album Change Colours and contributed to the single "Even Angels Cry."
Together with Michael Delorenzis, Paynter established MSquared Productions, a venture centered on songwriting and music production.
Currently, he portrays the role of Jesus in the productions of Jesus Christ Superstar staged in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
Studio albums
| Album title | Release information | Highest chart position |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| Weary Stars |
|
78 |
Acoustic albums
| Album title | Release details |
|---|---|
| Money on Your Tongue |
|
Singles
| Single title | Release year | Peak chart position | Certifications | Associated album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||||
| "Closer" | 2008 | 61 | rowspan="2" Non-album singles | |
| "A Victim Song" | — | |||
| "Love the Fall" | 2010 | 19 |
|
Weary Stars |
| "How Sweet It Is" | 2011 | — | ||
| "Weary Stars" | 2014 | — | ||
| "—" denotes no chart entry or release in that region. | ||||
Featured Collaborations
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Bring You Home" (Marcus Santoro featuring Michael Paynter) |
2016 | Template:N/A |
Promotional Releases
| Title | Year | Highest Chart Position |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| "Somewhere Only We Know" | 2013 | — |
| "As Long as You Love Me" | — | |
| "The Horses" | 34 | |
| "Locked Out of Heaven" | 80 | |
| "—" indicates the track either did not chart or was not released in that region. | ||
Additional Contributions
| Title | Year | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Invisible" (featuring Michael Paynter) |
2014 | Rachel Costanzo | Rachel Costanzo |
APRA Music Awards
Since its inception in 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), the APRA Music Awards honor excellence in songwriting, including achievements in sales and radio airplay.
| Year | Work | Category | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | "A Little More" by Casey Barnes (Casey Barnes, Michael Delorenzis, Michael Paynter) | Most Performed Country Work | Nominated |
| 2025 | "Good Things" by Kaylee Bell (Kaylee Bell, Michael De Lorenzis, Melanie Dyer, Michael Paynter) | Most Performed Country Work | Nominated |
External Resources
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1986 births
- Living people
- 21st-century Australian singers
- APRA Award winners
- Musicians from Melbourne
- Icehouse (band) members
- Australian male singer-songwriters
- The Voice (Australian TV series) contestants
- 21st-century Australian singer-songwriters