ABOUT

About Michael Simpsonelli:

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I am an award-winning music educator, session musician, composer, producer, and videographer with over 25 years of experience. I’m equally comfortable on guitar, bass, and drums, and also play keys, percussion, and sing. In the studio, I work extensively with MIDI instruments and virtual sound design, blending live performance with electronic and hybrid elements to create rich, dynamic productions.

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As a musician, I’ve worked with some of Canada’s top artists, including Juno Award winners George Leach and Shad K (host of Hip Hop Evolution on Netflix), Grammy Award winner Terry Townson (Ray Charles, The Temptations), Juno nominees Jason Burnstick and Corin Raymond, Juno winner Raven Kanatakta from Digging Roots, Ryan Guldemond of Mother Mother, and legendary beatbox poet CR Avery. I’ve also worked with Jon Mikl Thor, the legendary “Rock Warrior” whose career bridges music, film, and performance art. I play drums in Beau Wheeler’s band, and we recorded Beau’s latest album at Canadian music icon Bryan Adams’ Warehouse Studio. Other collaborations include Simon Kendall (Colin James, Doug and the Slugs), Steven Nikleva (Sarah McLachlan, Petunia and the Vipers), Johnny Wah (Brasstronaut, Dan Mangan), Guenter Schulz (KMFDM), and Ken Fleming (SNFU, Econoline Crush).

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As a composer, I have written and produced original music for several film and media projects, including Network Entertainment’s “I Am Chris Farley”, Shenpenn Khymsar’s Tibetan gangster film “Lhasa Blues”, and Perspective Films’ virtual reality 360° experience of the Aurora Borealis. I also composed a 20-minute tango suite for Limb for Love by Fallen Hero Productions and created solo drum compositions for Taste of Identity, a documentary by Derek Kwan, among others. Film scoring remains one of my greatest creative passions, and I look forward to returning to it in the near future.

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I’ve toured internationally, performing across a wide range of genres at festivals and concerts, continually expanding my musical journey. I also play guitar in my own band, Crooked Rider, alongside my friend Zach Graham, president of International Motorsports.

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On the production side, I specialize in professional video and studio recording. My videography work captures the energy and authenticity of musicians, whether documenting live performances, in-studio sessions, or creating polished music videos. As a studio producer, I bring out the best in artists by fostering creativity and excellence, ensuring every project meets top-tier production standards from recording to post-production.

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I am deeply interested in the relationship between technology, music, and visual storytelling, especially within 3D and immersive environments. I’ve completed several courses with Circuit Stream, focusing on Unity, C#, and XR development and design, and have produced two 3D and XR music experiences of my own that merge interactive technology with composition in new and expressive ways. My educational background includes the Contemporary Music Diploma at Vancouver Community College, Recording Arts at Columbia Academy, and Music Composition for Multimedia at Vancouver Film School.

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My creative work, whether in sound, video, or education, is all about pushing boundaries and creating meaningful, high-quality experiences. My music education programs at East Van Music Lab are designed to inspire, build confidence, and connect people through music.

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