A Wirral Tik Tok star who went viral during lockdown is now looking forward to performing to massive crowds.
Michael Aldag, from West Kirby, has a huge following on the social media app with more than 530,000 users enjoying his comedic takes on everyday situations.
But as many have said on his YouTube channel, they "came for the comedy and stayed for the music".
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Michael, 19, is also a singer and songwriter and has just dropped out of university to pursue a music career after being signed to Universal label 3Beat.
The former Caldy Grange Grammar School student said it wasn't a decision he made lightly and his parents, Catherine and Colin have fully supported him, something they have done since his love for music started at the age of seven.
He told the ECHO : "My whole family has been so supportive, I've got two younger sisters, Catie, 17, and Roisin, 15, and everyone has been really supportive of me since I was seven and I started singing in choirs.
"It wasn't like a complete shock, it wasn't like, 'oh, I'm dropping out', they have known that I have been doing music, but I think dropping out wasn't something that I took lightly at all.
"We spoke with the label and thought it through. They are very understanding, they are not cursing me.
"But I have a good opportunity now and I really want to make a career out of it."
Michael's music has been described as a combination of the lyrics of Lily Allen, Lorde and The Streets, with the beats of 80s synthpop.
But he said he takes inspiration from "all corners". He added: "I listen to a lot of rap music, which you can't directly see, that kind of manifests itself in my production because I write and produce all the songs.
"I think my biggest inspiration are The Killers. I just love the kind of melodrama of their music and how good the songwriting is.
"I kind of try to marry that with more contemporary production and sounds.
"And I love listening to Pheobe Bridgers, I think her lyrics are fantastic, I get a lot of inspiration from her, so it is kind of from all corners.
"People say I sound like Bastille because when I was 12 that's all I used to listen to so I think I kind of stole his voice a little bit - but don't tell him that."
Michael's songs such as Arrogance and Divorce have been well received by his fanbase and he spoke a little about the songwriting process and how it is almost his own personal therapy.
He said: "Writing can come from anywhere. Sometimes I get a feeling like I am not doing enough and then I write a song.
"Or sometimes when I am really emotional, a song is the best way to layout your feelings and understand how you are feeling and you can kind of move forward from there.
"Last year I was in a very low place and I wrote a couple of songs, one that is coming out soon actually that is called Tonsillitis and it just helps you clear your head, for me personally and I am very grateful for that.
"You can feel clouded in your head and not know what is going on, sit down and try to write a song and make sense of it.
"I am not very good at doing story-telling songs, I wish I was a bit more creative in that way, I think I just talk about myself a lot, I don't know what that says about me."
And some of those songs have really resonated with listeners, which Michael said is "amazing" and "rewarding".
He said: "I definitely don't sit down and write like 'oh what will people relate to', I do it primarily for me, which might sound a bit selfish but it's cathartic and I want to write stuff that is real.
"But when people relate to it, that is such a good feeling. I've had messages off people saying listening to certain songs has helped them - but just anyone listening to the song and enjoying them makes me so happy, it is one of the best feelings in the world for me.
He is now counting down to three sold out gigs, two at the Kazimier Stockroom and one in Colours, London.
Michael said: "I cannot wait. Words can not describe how excited I am for them. I feel like some animal that has been caged up for ages and then finally going to be able to perform. Perform to people who want to come and see and listen to my songs which I haven't had before.
"So that's going to be so cool so hopefully, people might know the words - I am so excited for that and I am working really hard to make sure shows are really good for everybody who is coming to see them."
But it is his Tik Tok fame that has helped him build a loyal fanbase over the last year and that has helped to propel him to having sell out gigs - and it all happened by accident.
Michael said: "It was kind of a freak accident Tik Tok because I started it last summer when I had a summer job checking temperatures at a Spar and on my break I remember sitting down and eating a sandwich and just recording a little video for Tik Tok.
"I posted it and checked back when I was on my break the day after and was like 'oh my god, people actually like this'.
"And then from there I just started doing more and more of those videos and then through that I was able to intertwine it with my music and build a following that way.
"The two have gone hand in hand, which I am really happy with because I think in my music there is a little bit of humour as well so they're not world's apart."
Michael said he hasn't made any money from Tik Tok's creator's fund having decided not to sign up to it.
He said: "It is all a bit strange, but I was told by somebody that it damaged your views or something along those lines.
"But I just prefer to use the platform to promote my music.
"I saw it as an opportunity to promote that [music] rather than monetise content on there because I am not really interested in that I am just happy that people enjoy it."
Michael said his family all have a good sense of humour - maybe even more so than him, he said: "I posted one [a Tik Tok video] and it got quite a good reception, but my mum came in the next morning and said 'that's not even that funny, I don't know why people like that'.
"But generally if they like it then they will tell me. I think they're funnier than me, my sisters, but maybe they just don't shout about it as much as I do."
Find more information on Michael Aldag via his website here and of course on his Tik Tok here.
