Michael Angelakos

Michael John Angelakos was born on May 19, 1987, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. His musical journey began early, forming his first band, Dead Grass, at the age of seven. While attending Nichols School, he explored various musical forms, including ska, and honed his ability to translate musical ideas into sound quickly. He composed and recorded music for a high school play in under an hour and performed it at the Fringe Festival in Scotland. During his time at Emerson College in the 2000s, Angelakos’ musical interests expanded to include opera, soprano voice, show tunes, and slowcore indie rock, while he continued to compose scores for student films.

Angelakos gained significant recognition as the lead vocalist and primary songwriter for the band Passion Pit, which he founded while a student at Emerson College in 2007. The band’s debut EP, “Chunk of Change,” was released on September 16, 2008, featuring songs initially created as a Valentine’s Day gift for his then-girlfriend. The track “Sleepyhead” from this EP garnered considerable attention, being featured in numerous media campaigns and advertisements, with its video making Pitchfork’s Top 40 Music Videos of 2008 list. The band’s first full-length album, “Manners,” followed on May 18, 2009. This album included collaborations with the PS22 chorus on tracks like “The Reeling” and “Little Secrets,” both of which charted on Billboard’s Alternative Songs. “Manners” continued to build upon the commercial success of “Chunk of Change,” with songs like “Moth’s Wings” being featured in television shows and video games, further establishing Passion Pit’s presence in the music industry.

Passion Pit’s career progression included touring as an opening act for established bands like Muse in 2010 and headlining the eco-friendly Campus Consciousness Tour. Their second album, “Gossamer,” released on July 24, 2012, featured popular singles “Take a Walk” and “I’ll Be Alright,” and saw the band perform on “Saturday Night Live.” Subsequent albums include “Kindred” (2015) and “Tremendous Sea of Love” (2017). Beyond his musical endeavors, Angelakos has been open about his personal struggles, including a diagnosis of bipolar disorder at age 17, and has become an advocate for mental health in the music industry through his company, The Wishart Group. This initiative aims to provide legal, educational, and healthcare services to artists, highlighting his commitment to supporting fellow musicians.