“I believe you are the product of the people you surround yourself with. So the more incredible people you are around, the more incredible musician you can hope to be yourself,” says Michael Paynter.

With that in mind, the class that has faith in this guy and his own talent simply craves attention. The heavyweight record company: Sony BMG. The A-list co-writers and producers: the likes of Guy Chambers, Phil Thornalley and Matt Wallace. The dynamic band: his credible and diverse mates stealing some of the live spotlight.

But above all, his own uniqueness: the ability to play all instruments on his upcoming debut album, and a voice that captures a room and personality to fill it. This is a name you won’t easily forget…and this is just a taste as to why.

Paynter is undoubtedly exhausted after filming the video clip for his first single Closer and attempts to recover for a half-time performance at the rugby. He apologises for “feeling quite disgusting.” He is humble and honest and possesses an outgoing nature that suits an entertainer perfectly. “I’ve got more energy then any other human I have ever met. It’s quite scary the depth of my energy bank from which I pull from.”

Isn’t that the way to be in this industry? “Yep, otherwise you’re just the lead guitarist, right?” he jokes.

However, being so thirsty for life, combined with an inability to obtain quality rest, finds the musician under the weather on a regular basis. “I’m also an insomniac, so I don’t always get the best amount of sleep. And if there is a cold around, I’ll pick it up.”

No matter how bad he may feel at times, the show must go on. That’s just the business. “You get sick, like I am now, and you have to sing live in front of 20,000 people who don’t give two hoots how well you are – they just want you to be brilliant.”

There is no shortage of that from Michael Paynter, though. He studied Law for a year but music was always going to be the dream he had to pursue. “Everybody that I grew up with played music. I started playing the piano when I was about four, picked up a guitar in high school and played drums to get out of class really. I would just sit in the music room and smash it out on the drums.”

Giving all sides of himself motivated the writing and recording of the forthcoming album. And he was backed all the way. “Imagine this kid comes through and says, ‘Hey, you know how you’re spending 150 grand to send me to LA to make this album, I want to play every instrument on it!’ Some record companies would freak out. They just said, ‘Okay’, and let me do it.”

Each instrument gives something special back to him, but his ultimate love is the guitar. “I heard John Mayer say once if he had his choice he’d never sing again and just play guitar for the rest of his life. And I can definitely understand what he meant. I like the release of playing drums – it’s really free and powerful to play and you really become your instrument. You use so much of your body to play it. But if I had to pick one, I would probably say guitar, because I love my guitar.”

Letting go of musical control and sharing his songs with the live band would be difficult “if I had shit musicians playing, but the boys in The Thieves are just amazing players. They all have a desire in them to treat my songs with respect and in the end they have become their songs too. They are not my songs anymore, they are our songs. It’s the best way to be.”

It appears that the band name was just made to be theirs. “We were getting death threats from a crazy guitar player in Sydney who thought we stole something of his from a gig,” Paynter recalls. “He was really just a strange, strange little man. When we thought of The Thieves, we just nodded our heads.”

Now that he has his band in check and deserving songs from a life-changing writing tour, Paynter is set to release his first single on April 14 and the album to follow soon after. He is better for the journey and the time feels right. “At times it’s been frustrating on my mind and my wallet, but if we had of gone any quicker we probably would have been premature. It’s the only time I’ve been ready. And I’m ready.”

Look out for Michael Paynter’s debut album on Sony BMG soon. To catch him live, head along to the following shows:

30 Apr – Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne
17 May – Pelli Bar, Frankston
30 May – The Evelyn, Fitzroy