Michelle performs with her husband Luke Johnson in duo Studio8. They have been writing songs together for many years and co-wrote all of the songs on Luke’s albums, Goodbye Frankie (2021) and Little Worlds (2022).  Studio8’s first single, Red Dirt Rodeo, was released in November 2023, and their first album Into the New is out in 2024.

Michelle is also the author of two novels for young adults, Racing the Moon and Flying through Clouds, and an emerging playwright. 

Where it all began

Michelle grew up in Sydney, and her husband Luke in Sydney and the Blue Mountains. In 1988 they made a tree change to the Southern Highlands with their young daughter, Rebecca, and son, Ben, born six months later. They lived on a small acreage and, inspired by the laid-back rural lifestyle, they began writing songs together.

They moved to Norfolk Island in 2001, where Michelle wrote the first draft of Racing the Moon. After returning to the Southern Highlands in 2005, she continued writing and studied playwriting. Four of Michelle’s plays were performed at short play festivals in Sydney, Newcastle and Armidale between 2009 and 2012.

In 2014 Michelle’s first novel Racing the Moon was published by Allen & Unwin. In 2017 her second novel Flying through Clouds was independently published. In 2018 Flying through Clouds was awarded the SCBWI Spark Award (Older Readers).

Excerpts from Michelle’s play Karma were performed as part of the Storytellers Festival at Kings Cross Theatre in August / September 2019.

Michelle began performing with Luke in duo Studio8 in 2022. At gigs, Studio8 perform their original songs as well their favourite country songs, ballads and Elvis hits.

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