Passenger

Michael David Rosenberg, better known by his stage name Passenger, is an English indie folk singer, songwriter, and musician born on May 17, 1984, in Brighton. He initially fronted a band named Passenger from 2003 to 2009, before continuing to use the moniker for his solo career after the band dissolved. Rosenberg is most famous for his 2012 hit single “Let Her Go,” which topped the charts in 16 countries and has amassed over 3.6 billion views on YouTube, making it the most-viewed Australian YouTube video, a feat attributed to his time living in Australia.

Passenger’s career began in his teens when he left school at 16 to pursue music, spending years busking across England and Australia. He made his first public performance at 16, and in 2001, through his father’s connections, he secured a spot at the Free Burma Campaign benefit concert in London. This event marked the beginning of his collaboration with Andrew Phillips, who later co-founded the band Passenger. The band released its only album, Wicked Man’s Rest, in 2007, featuring a mix of Rosenberg’s introspective songwriting and Phillips’ production. However, the band disbanded in 2009, prompting Rosenberg to embark on a solo career, retaining the Passenger name.

As a solo artist, Rosenberg continued to busk and perform, building a dedicated following in Australia, where his debut solo album, Wide Eyes Blind Love, was released in 2009. His third album, Flight of the Crow, recorded in Australia, featured collaborations with several Australian artists and helped solidify his presence in the indie folk scene. However, it was his 2012 album, All the Little Lights, that brought him international acclaim, largely due to the success of “Let Her Go.” The album’s success was bolstered by his extensive touring, including opening for Ed Sheeran, which introduced him to a broader audience.

Rosenberg continued to release music prolifically, with albums like Whispers (2014), Whispers II (2015), Young as the Morning, Old as the Sea (2016), and The Boy Who Cried Wolf (2017), each exploring different facets of folk and acoustic music. His 2018 album Runaway featured a strong Americana influence, with videos shot across the United States during a road trip.

In 2019, he released Sometimes It’s Something, Sometimes It’s Nothing at All, an album arranged entirely for vocals, acoustic guitar, and a string quartet, with proceeds benefiting the UK homeless charity Shelter. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rosenberg released Patchwork (2020), recorded during lockdown and supporting The Trussell Trust, a UK food bank charity. His subsequent album, Songs for the Drunk and Broken Hearted (2021), supported environmental charities by planting a tree for each album sold.

In April 2022, Rosenberg released his 14th studio album, Birds That Flew and Ships That Sailed, continuing his tradition of using his music to support charitable causes. Throughout his career, Passenger has remained true to his roots as a storyteller and troubadour, using his platform to create music that resonates with audiences worldwide while contributing to meaningful social causes.