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The latest release from Liverpool’s rising star Michael Aldag, reached almost 70,000 streams on Spotify in its first week.
From his lyrical honesty to monster views on his hilarious viral videos, it has been a year of skyrocketing success for the 19-year-old.
We caught up with Michael to talk Teenage Drama, Tik Tok and his recent knockout performance with Bastille.
Purple Revolver: So, it’s officially been out for a week – how are you feeling and what kind of response have you gotten?
Michael: “I’ve had really good response. It’s been my best received song in terms of streams by a long way, so I am super happy.”
“We took around eight months to release the song and it feels good to get it out of my system.”
The singer-songwriters inspiration for Teenage Drama came from listening to ‘male-manipulator’ music, which are songs considered to validate destructive control over others.
Band Chase Atlantic are one of the artists he named that have used this theme, saying: “obviously its behaviour I don’t condone BUT it does sound really good in songs for some reason.”
“It’s very tongue in cheek and I wouldn’t take it too seriously. I don’t think in real life I am a male manipulator; I’d say I’m probably nicer than that.”
The music video idea for Teenage Drama came after watching one of his favourite films James Bond – Casino Royale.
Michael: “The poker scene is really cool, and the aesthetic looks great.”
“Knowing we had to shoot a music video for teenage drama – I didn’t want to do another one of just me singing to the camera because I have done a couple of them in a row recently.”
“So, we took the drama of the poker which is quite an adult thing and offset it by using a young cast. I’m really pleased with how the video came out.”
In just over a year, Michaels’ music videos have gone from home shot sequences to fully produced scenes.
He commented on the process: “It’s majorly different and possibly more stressful in some ways because there’s more people and more money involved.”
“But the outcome is a lot cooler, but that’s not to say you need money to make a good video.”
“I remember shooting one of my earliest songs called Vodka, and I still love that video because it’s so raw. There’s something about it that I couldn’t have captured with a whole film crew there.”
One of the singers’ biggest achievements to date is supporting famed band Bastille at their show at the end of January.
Michael remembered: “It was surreal because I’ve listened to them for so long and they’ve influenced me and the music I make so much.”
“To be able to meet them and support them – I still can’t register it even though it was a couple weeks ago.”
“They are genuinely super nice people which is nuts because they’re huge. They still made time to chat to me, my family, and friends. It was brilliant.”
When asked how it all happened, he said with a smile:
“I am not completely sure to be honest, but it had a lot to do with their manager who’s wonderful also Emily and Tom at my label. I am so grateful to everyone who made it happen because it’s something I will never forget.”
Unfortunately, he didn’t have the chance to perform Teenage Drama while he was there but is sure he will soon.
Michael: “It was really frustrating because it was such short notice, so we didn’t have the rehearsal time for new tracks. We still had a great set that we have been doing since September.”
The West-Kirkby born singer admires bands such as The Killers and The 1975. When asked who he’s got his sights set on supporting next, he said:
“I’d love to support a lot of different people, but really just want to get out there and play. Both of those would be a dream but I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Purple Revolver: “You never know.”
Michael: “I would have never said I’d support bastille until it happened so who knows, but I’ll play with anyone who will have me.”
The 19-year-olds relatable lyrics speak heavily to his Gen-Z audience and is evident within Teenage Drama.
The songs early tease on Tik Tok was a promising start to its release, with a snippet from the chorus receiving 11,000 likes.
With over 670,000 followers on the platform, the musician is well known for his short form comedy content.
He added that Tik Tok is majorly helping to promote his music:
“I don’t think I’d be where I am without it. Most of my music audience has probably come from Tik Tok since last year and Teenage Drama has been my biggest use of the platform in a music sense.”
“Its popularity translated across to streaming numbers, so I hope to replicate that again.”
Something we’re all dying to know is if there’s a secret to his Tik Tok success. He said with his usual charm: “You know what no, I think if I knew that I’d be a millionaire.”
2022 is set to be a triumphant year for Michael, with an EP in the works and even hopes of an album.
“I don’t know what song is coming out next, but I do sing a lot about relationships. I think they are more interesting than previous ones, like less generic. More of the songs I’ve written recently have been about stress.”
The singer is also lined up to take the stage at Neighbourhood Weekender festival in May and says: “I just want to release a lot more music, play more festivals and shows of my own.”
We can’t wait to see what he does next.