Michael J. Keplinger is born on November 10, 1999, in
Linz,
Upper Austria. Inspired by the music of
the Beatles from an early age, Keplinger learns to play the
guitar at the age of eight, followed by other
string and
keyboard instruments. At the age of 10, Keplinger begins to produce first full
music albums in the basement of the family home. He is also enthusiastic about
films and
filmmaking early on. one of the largest
film festivals in Austria. Also in 2020, Keplinger
independently releases the
single Pick Up Your Cross (and follow me) with an accompanying
hand-animated music video. where it receives high praise by the four-member jury, and is awarded several times by VÖFA – Austrian member of the
Union Internationale du Cinéma. His first
narrative short film Allerseelen premieres at the
Crossing Europe Film Festival in 2022 and subsequently wins
Best Super Short Experimental at the
Flatness Film Awards 2022,
Best Horror/Thriller Film at the Austrian Filmfestival 2022 as well as several awards from VÖFA in 2023. For
Allerseelen, Keplinger serves as
director,
composer and
screenwriter in addition to his involvement in
editing and
sound design. For his second
narrative short film Iris, Keplinger again serves as
director,
composer,
screenwriter and
sound designer, among other roles. The film once more premieres at the
Crossing Europe Film Festival 2024 and again earns Keplinger several
awards from the VÖFA as well as the prestigious
Creative Video Award by the
Zawinul Foundation For Achievement. In 2024, Keplinger signs with
Upper Austrian record label Diegital Records. His debut
single Passing Through, mastered by Alex Wharton at
Abbey Road Studios in
London, is released on May 31, 2024. The single is distributed by
Sony Music Entertainment. In June, a
music video for
Passing Through, shot on
16mm film and directed by Keplinger, is released. == Discography ==