Michele Stodart
Michele Stodart is a multi-award-winning singer-songwriter, producer, musical director and multi-instrumentalist. Michele is best known as bassist, vocalist and co-songwriter of Mercury-nominated, double-platinum selling band, The Magic Numbers, who have released five critically acclaimed studio albums with top ten singles, and supported the likes of Neil Young, Radiohead, Brian Wilson, U2, The Who, Flaming Lips and Bright Eyes. She continues to play with the band and tour world-wide with them, and they are set to release a new album next year.
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In 2022, she received public recognition for her musical talent, when she was awarded the AMA-UK 'Instrumentalist Of The Year' Award. In January 2023 she was invited back as musical director at the UK Americana Awards, where she put together the house band and played with the likes of Mike Scott (of The Waterboys), Allison Russell, and Lifetime Achievement award-winner Judy Collins, who took a moment on stage to compliment Michele on her "incredible" talent. Since then, she has continued in the role of Musical Director at the annual Awards show, where she has collaborated with many different musicians and worked with a range of award-winning artists including Candi Staton, Billy Bragg, Lyle Lovett and many more.
Born in Trinidad, where she spent her early childhood until she and her family fled a military coup attempt, leading them to Queens, New York, and eventually to London (UK), where she is now based, Michele has always pursued her own writing, nurturing a love for Folk, Country and Americana music, and has released three solo albums of her own songs. Hailed as "remarkable" (Rolling Stone), "breath-taking" (For Folk's Sake) and "a thing of perfection" (Folk Radio UK), Michele's solo music has been described by Uncut Magazine as sitting "...in a rich tradition that encompasses such touchstone female performers as Karen Dalton, Judee Sill... Emmylou Harris or Gillian Welch". Her most recent release, ‘Invitation’ - a confessional, melodic album with an orchestral, cinematic feel - received outstanding critical acclaim and went on to win ‘UK Album of the Year’ at the UK Americana Awards 2024, where Michele also scooped the coveted award for ‘UK Artist of the Year’.
Michele also graced our screens in the Danny Boyle / Richard Curtis blockbuster film 'Yesterday' and, working alongside Boyle, Curtis and musical composer Daniel Pemberton, Michele’s bass and vocals are featured on the Abbey Road Studios movie soundtrack, reinterpreting The Beatles' most beloved hits.
In recent years, Michele divides her time between her work with The Magic Numbers and her solo projects. In between recording and touring, she has also been building a name for herself as musical director, collaborator and producer.
She has also worked as a tutor and held songwriting masterclasses at a range of different creative workshops and songwriting retreats, for both adults and children.
Michele’s diverse skills have led to many collaborative projects on stage and in the studio with artists such as Kathryn Williams, Billy Bragg, Judy Collins, Allison Russell, David Ford, Bernard Butler, Natalie Imbruglia, Julian Taylor, Charlie Dore, David Kitt, Hannah White, Rachel Sermanni, Ren Harvieu, Emily Barker, Diana Jones, O'Hooley & Tidow amongst many others.
"Steeped in languid melancholy... [she] sits in a rich tradition that encompasses such touchstone female performers as Karen Dalton, Judee Sill... Emmylou Harris or Gillian Welch..." - Uncut
"Remarkable" - Rolling Stone
"intricately arranged... genuinely moving" - MOJO