Michael Vanags

Michael Vanags began writing and performing music in 1975, when his mom and her boyfriend broke up. In the wake of the hasty and loud departure the boyfriend’s small banged up guitar was left in the living room. Michael did not know how to play any songs on the guitar so he made up his own. They weren’t very good songs but it was okay because nobody listened anyway. He kept on writing and singing and playing like it mattered.

In the 80’s and 90’s Michael Vanags spent time as a professional songwriter under Dude McLean at Legendsongs and Goldentouch Music. With a few successes Michael moved forward. He kept writing and playing, but not in public for a while.

Michael Vanags wrote and recorded a new album titled W.A.I.S.T.D? with Producer Samantha Materile and Engineer Vulcho Bonev. In the studio between September 2013 and April 2014 they recorded 8 songs with the full band. The songs range from happy melancholy to dark, with a bit of a country twang. The lyrical style has been compared to Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp.

Michael is back in the studio now, hoping to get a 7 song EP released before summer. There will be some great new songs and a bit more uptempo stuff. It will be on iTunes, CD Baby, and all other online music services.

Michael Vanags plays Acoustic Guitars and sings the songs. Sometimes there’s a band, sometimes it is just Michael solo. Sometimes it is the Rager Band creating the sound. That is when things really get interesting. Sometimes the band is joined by Michael’s son Jeff Vanags (courtesy of The Shakes) on Ukulele and electric guitar.

Michael has done a bit of acting and can be seen as Detective William Jenkins on the series Dark Secrets on Netflix. He has also recently been selected to score and write songs for a feature film Family Blood. Family Blood is in pre-production and will also be released as an audio play.

Michael plays music live throughout California and beyond. Last summer he played solo in Freedom Square in Riga, Latvia.