Michiel was born in 1978 and this makes him the youngest member of the band. Born in Groningen he has always lived in the north of Holland. In 2001 he got his bachelors degree in communication at the "hanze university" (hanze hogeschool). Starting work as a programmer/internet communication manager he was asked to come back to the "hanze" to assist lesson there. He now works as a fulltime teacher ICT at the "Institute for Communication and Media. So he combined his hobby (IT) with communication (Why did I do that anyway :)) and it makes a living.
In his 4th year in high school (1995) he attended the very famous "maartens song festival" and made a promise to a friend: he would compete next year if he didn't pass this year..........
So next year he was on stage for the first time with an audience of 1100. (His knees barely held out) He didn't win but he was asked to sing in a band and this was the start of singing (and playing guitar) in various bands with various music styles.
Michiel's first love was rock and grunge but because he had a lot of friends who attended the conservatory he came in contact with a lot of music and started to appreciate them as well. Ranging from rock to jazz, blues to (of course) 80's, metal to classical etc..etc..
He plays a little guitar as well and that's where the distortion is key. Although he (just) played guitar on some occasions, singing has and will be his biggest (musical) passion.
Catching up! The history of band like awake's is not something that you catch-up with in a week. Most jokes made (and there a quite a few) make him frown instead of laugh, and not because they were not funny :).
Besides the jokes there's also the music but that's on track (almost literally)....