MICHAEL CHAMPION

Michael Champion is a British songwriter, producer, and musician originally from the Isle of Wight and now living in London. Over the last ten years, he has led the band CHAMPS, written songs for Wet Leg’s acclaimed debut album, and co-written with new artists throughout the UK indie scene.

He comes from a musical family—his great-grandfather played violin with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and missed sailing on the Titanic after a late night in Southampton. Michael started playing guitar at 16 while recovering from a serious injury. What began as a way to heal turned into his career.

Michael’s most well-known songwriting success is his work with the Isle of Wight duo Wet Leg on their acclaimed 2022 debut album. He contributed in three key ways:

Songwriting credits on two tracks:
- "Too Late Now"
- "Loving You"

He played bass guitar throughout the album, helping to shape the sound of one of 2022’s standout British indie rock records.

He also played a key role in A&R. While working at Hall or Nothing Management, Michael sent manager Martin Hall the "Chaise Longue" video and demos, which directly connected the band with the management team that helped launch their rapid rise.

He didn’t just play on someone else’s record—these were real creative contributions to an album that captured a key moment in British indie music.

Current Songwriting Work

Michael's now focused primarily on songwriting and production, co-writing with emerging and established artists across the UK indie scene:

Better Joy - Co-wrote "What a Day" (also played bass, produced by Mike Hedges)

Sløtface & The Buoys - Co-wrote "Fight Back Time" with producer Paul Whalley

Morgana - Co-wrote "Party Killer" for new EP release

Ruby Roberts - Co-wrote "Trampoline" (debut single) with Simon Byrt

Swim School - Co-wrote two tracks on their debut album with Paul Whalley

His consistent partnership with producer Paul Whalley across multiple projects suggests a sustained creative relationship and complementary working approach.

CHAMPS: The Decade-Long Band Project

Michael and his brother David Champion have released four albums as CHAMPS since 2012:

Down Like Gold (2014) - Debut introducing their harmonic approach and Simon & Garfunkel influences

Vamala (2015) - Featured "3000 Miles," which was selected for a Campari campaign alongside actress Ana de Armas, creating international visibility

The Hard Interchange (2019) - Third album created over three years

Ride The Morning Glass (2023) - Incorporated vintage analogue synths, their most intentional work

The brothers' vocal harmonies are distinctive enough that listeners often mistake them for a couple rather than siblings. Their sound draws from mid-century American songwriting (Neil Young, The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel) filtered through contemporary indie aesthetics (The War on Drugs, Kurt Vile, Arcade Fire).

The Isle of Wight's winter bleakness has, in their words, "seeped into the music," creating longing and melancholy beneath melodic surfaces. The island's isolation from the London music industry scenes meant they developed their sound without external pressure or trendiness.

Industry collaborators describe Michael as an "excellent lyricist and melodicist" with a "strong hand on nuance." His songwriting emphasises emotional honesty and specificity rather than commercial formula. His lyrics tend toward the cathartic and introspective, expressing thoughts and feelings that wouldn't emerge in everyday conversation.

His influences span classic North American songwriting (Dylan, Neil Young), British rock foundations (The Beatles, early REM), contemporary indie aesthetics (Glass Animals, The War on Drugs, Amen Dunes), and even visual art traditions (Bauhaus, photographers Saul Leiter and Martin Parr). This creates a musical vocabulary that's contemporary but historically conscious.

Michael's career exists within the Isle of Wight's unexpected emergence as a significant source of British music. The island (population 100,000) has produced approximately 20 major-label acts, creating a professional ecosystem where musicians share studios, players, and creative ideas.

As Michael has noted "There is something in the water on the Isle of Wight. We have this pool of musicians who are so good, like The Wrecking Crew, elite-level session players." This environment enabled Michael's simultaneous work across CHAMPS, Wet Leg, and ongoing songwriting projects.

Michael started playing guitar at 16 following an injury. He's been making music professionally for over a decade across multiple successful projects. He writes songs that connect emotionally while maintaining melodic sophistication, which is harder than it sounds.