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Last Dance 3:350:00/3:35
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1000 Clocks 3:430:00/3:43
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Oriental Art 4:520:00/4:52
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California Sunshine 4:010:00/4:01
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Little Asher 3:240:00/3:24
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My Obsession (Suno) 3:370:00/3:37
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0:00/3:17
Michael Cunningham is a singer-songwriter from Belfast who has released two albums, Hidden Treasure and Patiently Impatient. Growing up in Belfast, he developed a deep connection to music that has shaped his journey as an artist.
"My passion for entertaining began early," Michael recalls. "Some of my first performances were as a busker in Belfast city centre during the IRA bombing campaign. Busking was tremendous fun, but as my worried mother often pointed out, it was also risky. It required quick thinking and even quicker changes of pitch—both musically and physically! Still, it was an incredible way to build confidence and develop my first playlist."
Like many aspiring musicians, Michael spent his teenage years and early adulthood performing in various bands, dreaming of that elusive breakthrough. Despite investing significant time, talent, and money, the dream of stardom gradually gave way to reality—a slow fade into obscurity.
Eventually, music took a backseat in his life, becoming more of a cherished hobby than a serious pursuit. "I vividly remember tossing a pile of demo cassette tapes and recordings, the best of these where written with Jim Anderson in a 2 piece called “Thelma And Louise” (see video below) into a cardboard box in my garage," he says. "It felt like I was literally pulling the shutters down on my youthful dreams of fame as a rock star."
A New Beginning
Fast forward to 2018.
While clearing out his garage, Michael stumbled upon that old box of dusty tapes. Playing them back was a revelation. "The sound quality was awful," he admits, "but the raw emotion and timeless themes of love, loss, and loneliness shone through. The melodies were haunting, and the lyrics tugged at my heart. I knew these songs still had real potential."
That moment rekindled Michael's passion for music, sparking a life-changing journey to revive and reimagine his work. He dedicated himself to producing and recording the best of those songs, collaborating with some amazing musicians. These included John McCullagh on keyboards—fresh off a tour with Sinéad O'Connor—and Colum McClean, a key contributor to all of Foy Vance's albums and a touring musician with Gretchen Peters.
Releasing Hidden Treasure
In 2018, Michael released his debut album, Hidden Treasure, an aptly named collection that brought new life to his rediscovered music. Since then, he has followed up with a second album, Patiently Impatient, as well as a live EP recorded in Belfast, Live at the Duncairn. The EP captures the raw energy and passion Michael pours into his performances, offering listeners a glimpse of his heartfelt connection to the music.
From busking on Belfast's streets to rediscovering his early recordings, Michael Cunningham's story is one of resilience, rediscovery, and the enduring power of music.
