Paynter began playing instruments from a young age, playing the piano at the age of seven, and learning guitar and drums by the time he was 15. At the age of 16, he began playing in touring bands across the Australia. Regarding music, Paynter says that it "was always something I was going to do, because it fires up my soul like nothing else". He studied law for a year, but returned to music. Although Paynter liked law school and intends to return, he says the choice was either "tour the country and play guitar or study books", and the decision "was a no-brainer". Paynter says that playing drums makes him a better guitarist, playing guitar makes him a better keyboardist, and playing all three makes him a better singer.
Michael has travelled the globe four times in as many years, and written with the finest in his field, from Guy Chambers [Robbie Williams] and Adam Argyle [Newton Faulkner] in the UK, to Toby Gad [Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas] and David Ryan Harris [John Mayer] in the US.
Michael knuckled down in the US with famed producer Matt Wallace (Faith No More Maroon 5, Bic Runga) at Sound City Studios, where Fleetwood Mac, Nirvana, Johnny Cash and Tom Petty cut their classic records.
Michael’s hard work paid off when his song Superheroes was chosen as the sounded for the hit television series Heroes.
After releasing two acclaimed singles, Michael explains, “I set about touring, travelling and assessing what kind of artist I wanted to be. I spent a lot of time recording, writing, learning and listening to a range of musicians from Muddy Waters, Son House, Eva Cassidy, Sam Cooke and Robert Johnson. In the last two years I set about developing every set of skills I could. I played guitar for hours and hours a day, and I performed hundreds of gigs – it’s just been the best time of growth for me.”
Apart from winning coveted support slots for Newton Faulkner, Vanessa Amorosi, and soul legend Seal, Michael’s personal highlight over the last couple of years have saw him performing at the emotional Bushfire Memorial Service with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and a 500 member choir.
Although much has been said about this multi instrumentalist and his 'big' voice, it seems to be the songs, his fine band and his honest and entertaining live shows that are ringing the 'loudest' bells this time around.
Michael has also embraced social media and the digital world with gusto, engaging with his army of followers on twitter regularly, and often uploading exclusive bonus content to his youtube and myspace accounts.
Michael is invigorated by living, breathing and immersing himself in music, and his new EP, released on July 9, features the songs Are You Alive, as heard on Channel Seven’s promo for the final series of Lost, and Love The Fall, which features back up vocals from Michael’s good mates Lisa and Jess Origliasso.
Michael explains, “I met Lisa and Jess when I performed at the ARIA #1’s in 2008. We caught up after the show and that day I made two of the most intensely loyal - albeit miniscule - friends for life. We ran into each other at various awards shows, and soon enough we were hanging out in LA when I was over there to write or record. They are the most genuine and musically gifted girls. We share such a musical affinity and definitely see the world the same way, so it is completely my honour to share my tune with them. They really bought it to life.”
Love The Fall, whose spectacular video was shot in the Northern Californian forest was unleashed on June 14th.
Love the Fall was the most added song to Australian radio in the first week of July, above all releases, including international.
With shows scheduled in both Melbourne and Sydney in September, an unprecedented demand for interviews, TV performances and in-store performances, and a film clip that last week emerged in the top 100 YouTube favourites in 15 countries – 46th most viewed music video on YouTube worldwide – it’s an exciting time for this Melbourne singer/songwriter and his incredible young band, all of whom feature on the track.
The Love the Fall 5-track EP will be released online July 9 and in stores July 16.
Novocaine
Michael Paynter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause nobody goes dark like me
Keep it all in, hold it together
'Cause nobody feels just quite this tired
So tired of these wires that bind me
Come find me alone
You know it's all gone if you're honest
'Cause I won't let go
I'm dreaming of the time when you found me
Just staring at the sun
As your smile was going through me like novocaine
Holding on tight, praying for sunlight
I know you won't be here for long
There's no one here now
It's empty and silent, we tried it all before
But we lost it, we lost it
It cost me my first glimpse of life lived in here
You know it's all gone if you're honest
We're taking all we can till it's over
'Cause I won't let go
I'm dreaming of the time when you found me
Just staring at the sun
As your smile was going through me like novocaine
You know it's all gone if you're honest
We're taking all we can till it's over
'Cause I won't let go
I'm dreaming of the time when you found me
Just staring at the sun
As your smile was going through me like fire
Through me like hope
You're going through me like novocaine
The lyrics of "Novocaine" by Michael Paynter feat. The Veronicas describe the struggle of keeping up appearances and keeping one's emotions in check despite feeling tired and bound by the constraints of life. The singer is trying to hold on tight and praying for sunlight, but the situation seems bleak and empty. Despite this, the singer clings onto hope and memories of a time when they felt alive, represented by a smile that felt like novocaine - an anesthetic that numbs pain.
The lyrics suggest that the singer is in a dark place and is struggling to cope with the pressures of life. The chorus speaks of taking all that is left until it's over, possibly referring to the idea of living life to the fullest despite the challenges. The idea of someone's smile feeling like novocaine suggests that the singer is seeking a release from their emotional pain and desires to find comfort in a significant other. The track's haunting melodies, along with the soulful voices of Michael Paynter and The Veronicas, complement the song's melancholic themes.
Line by Line Meaning
Locking this out, faking this smile
I'm shutting everything out and pretending to be happy
'Cause nobody goes dark like me
I feel like no one understands how dark my thoughts can be
Keep it all in, hold it together
I'm keeping my emotions to myself and trying to stay composed
'Cause nobody feels just quite this tired
I'm exhausted in a way that no one else can comprehend
So tired of these wires that bind me
I'm sick of feeling tied down and held back by my circumstances
Come find me alone
I want to be found, but I don't want anyone around me right now
You know it's all gone if you're honest
If we're honest with ourselves, we know that things are falling apart
We're taking all we can till it's over
We're doing everything we can to hold on until the end
'Cause I won't let go
I'm holding on tight and refusing to give up
I'm dreaming of the time when you found me
I'm longing for the moment when everything was good between us
Just staring at the sun
We were blissfully unaware of the trouble that would come our way
As your smile was going through me like novocaine
Your happiness made me feel numb, like I was under the effects of a drug
Holding on tight, praying for sunlight
I'm desperately hanging on, hoping for a glimpse of hope
I know you won't be here for long
I'm aware that this happiness won't last forever
There's no one here now
I'm alone again, without the person who brought me joy
It's empty and silent, we tried it all before
We've been through this before, and it always ends the same way: emptiness and silence
But we lost it, we lost it
We've lost what we used to have and it feels impossible to get back
It cost me my first glimpse of life lived in here
Losing you feels like I'm losing a piece of myself and my chance at happiness
As your smile was going through me like fire
Your happiness made me feel alive and passionate
Through me like hope
Your smile gave me hope for the future
You're going through me like novocaine
Your absence makes me feel numb and empty
Contributed by James W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.