Michael J Tinker is a multi-faceted musician, known around the world as one of the UK's premier children's songwriters. Since going pro in 2011, he has released ten albums. After touring his folk music, primarily with folk-trio Bright Season, Michael turned to focus on his music for children, releasing seven albums, audio dramas, a ‘TV’ series, books and more. In 2023 Michael returned to writing music for a more grown-up audience and released his tenth studio album entitled When There Are No Words—an honest and raw reflection on grief and hope in light of his own Dad’s death in 2021. In December 2025 he released a follow up album Standing at the Corner of the Universe. Michael has toured around the world in both hemispheres.

As well as playing music Michael is on the organising team of the Rabbit Room’s Hutchmoot UK and also contributes through seminars, performances and running the sound.

Michael is a committed Christian and his faith plays a central role in all his music making, even if the songs are not always explicitly about God.

Support Michael's work at Patreon.

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Michael J. Tinker’s latest single is a deeply personal journey through doubt. We so often talk and sing about God’s love but many struggle to believe that he really loves them.

This has been Michael’s experience. Brought up in a Christian home, going to church all his life, knowing the truth of God’s love and yet struggling to believe deep down in God’s true affection for him.

But through the waves of doubt comes Jesus’ gentle voice; “calling me to hold out my trust”, sings Michael. “It’s your voice that brings me back when I am lost.”

“It’s Your Voice” features Australian singer/songwriter Eliza King—a stunning voice and fantastic songwriter. She brings a beautiful counterweight to Michael’s lead vocals, adding a soothing tone to this song.

ISRC: GBFL62500006

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Sometimes I am lost for words I know it's hard to believe Maybe belief's in short supply I'm trying to pass on through this sea But judgement towers over me Walls close in on every side I was told the victory had been won By the death of God's own Son So why do I feel like I don't belong? Could it be that he died, it's true But I've done too much and now I'm through I'm finding it hard to believe But then I hear my name Spoken through the waves Calling me to hold out my trust, It's your voice that brings me back When I am lost. I've often wondered what it is That you sing over us. But maybe it's too much to take To hear the song that's bursting out Of the Father's heart What heavenly tune would you make? I know that you delight in me But I find it hard to believe That God almighty sings of me But as a Dad I know the love That can't be held and just breaks forth And maybe I begin to see I can hear the song Softly through the waves Calling me to hold out my trust It's your voice that brings me back When I am lost It's the voice of the shepherd Calling his sheep It's the voice of the Father Waiting patiently It's the voice of the King As he stoops to his knees It's the voice of the friend Who has stayed with me In the night I hear your voice

Copyright Michael J Tinker 2025

Production Credits:

Michael J Tinker: Lead Vocals Eliza King: Backing Vocals Jonny Race: Electric Guitars, Slide Guitar John Ellis: Piano, Keyboard Chris Mulligan: Bass Joe Montague: Drums, Percussion Thomas Dulin: Mix Engineer Gavin McGrath: Mastering Engineer

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Michael J. Tinker has been honoured to be entrusted with stewarding a few stories through song for others. This is one of them.

Hunter was a beautiful boy who battled for many years with a brain tumour. But this never stopped his smile (until he physically couldn’t), nor his love for Jesus. A child described him as “the boy with light coming out of his body”. John tells us that when Jesus heard about his friend’s illness he waited “because he loved them”. This is so hard to understand when we’re in the story, but we can trust the Author. “What stuck in my mind”, writes Michael, “is the story of Jesus and Lazarus and how he waited before going to his sick friend ‘because he loved them’. It was somehow better for Lazarus to die and be raised than for him to be healed of his sickness. Mary and Martha can’t understand what Jesus is doing, and often neither can we. But as we trust an author of a novel to get us to the end, so we can trust THE Author.”

This song was written with Australian singer Tenielle Neda when Michael was on tour down under last August. Tenielle was the winner of the Gospel Coalition USA’s ‘What is the Gospel?’ Song Contest alongside her co-writer Jon Guerra.

Watch the lyric video here.

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I miss the fullness of your face

The spark of light in your eyes

Still your joy it fills this place

I miss the fullness of your face

I miss the sweetness of your song

As the weakness eats away

One day my child you'll be made strong

I miss the sweetness of your song

As we weep and while we wait

Wondering why he must delay

When it's hard to understand

We can trust the author's hand

I miss the lightness of your laugh

Though I glimpse it through the pain

So, to your hand and hope I'll grasp

I miss the lightness of your laugh

I miss the feel of your embrace

But I know that you are home

What I'd give for one more day

To see the fullness of your face

I know there will be a day

when I'll see the fullness of your face.

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ISRC: GBFL62500011