Mike Rosenberg still calls himself a busker. Even now, with a career that has taken him from street corners where a few coins were tossed into his guitar case, to stadiums where thousands sung along to the same melody, the English indie folk singer and songwriter, speaks of those early days with the same tenderness most artists reserve for their biggest hits.
“It’s a funny thing,” he says. “I look back on those years with rose-tinted glasses because they were really hard. I was on my own, staying in really rough accommodation. I didn’t have any money, fans, or success. But there was a real simplicity to it and a real freedom. I learned so much and I wrote so much… If you’d told me back then that I’d one day be playing in India to thousands of people, I wouldn’t have believed it.”
Better known as Passenger, the Brighton-born troubadour will indeed step onto an Indian stage for the very first time this November, with three shows in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, produced and promoted by BookMyShow Live. “I’m so excited,” he says. “I’ve been to Kerala as a tourist, but never further north. I’ve always wanted to play in India. People have been messaging me for years asking me to come, so it feels amazing to finally say yes.”
The country, he admits, is largely new to him. His itinerary will leave little room for exploration beyond the stage, but there’s one certainty: “Indian food,” he laughs. “I just want to get amongst it. Touring can be chaotic, but if there’s a free day, I’d love to hang out. Really though, it’s all about the gigs.”
For many listeners, Passenger is defined by Let Her Go, the 2012 ballad that topped charts in 19 countries and now has over three billion views on YouTube. Mike speaks of it with gratitude but also perspective. “I’ll never complain about having a hit song,” he says. “It opened so many doors. Of course, sometimes people only know that one track, and I feel my job is to show them there’s more than just that song. Thirteen, fourteen albums — there’s a lot of depth to Passenger.”
That depth has been built through constant writing. He describes his process as slower now but sharper. “I used to write loads, now it’s fewer songs but better ones. If I finish a track, it’s usually worth keeping. Inspiration really is everywhere.” His latest album, Birds That Flew and Ships That Sailed, recorded partly at Abbey Road, reflects that balance of intimacy and scale. “My studio in Brighton is small, so we tracked the drums and a few other things at Abbey Road. That space gave it a different size and feel.”
The range of his songwriting stretches from a cinematic storytelling to more poignant reflections on loneliness and loss. “It’s your responsibility as a writer to cover everything. Funny times, hard times, good times, weird times. Of course, people connect most to the heavy emotional songs, but I try to push myself to write beyond that.”
The busking years still loom large in his memory and those days also shaped his views on fame, which often arrived in strange flashes. Once, in Bangkok, he climbed into a taxi to hear Let Her Go blasting on the radio. “It was surreal. I thought, how on earth is this song popular here?” That said, he doesn’t mind the occasional confusion with Idina Menzel’s Let It Go from Disney’s Frozen. “I really should lean into it,” he chuckles. “Maybe I’ll get it ready for the Indian shows.”
Asked who he’d most like to busk with, past or present, he names legendary American singer-songwriter Paul Simon (of Simon & Garfunkel fame) without hesitation. “He’s my hero. I grew up listening to him, and he’s just brilliant.” Ed Sheeran, a close friend and touring partner, comes next. “We’ve played so many concerts together, but never actually busked. That would be fun.”
Following his multi-city gig in the country as a part of his Mathematics Tour earlier this year, Ed’s affection for India seems to have left an impression on Mike. “He absolutely loves it. I asked him about it recently and he spoke with such joy. He’s a big fan.”
A decade ago, Mike’s voice would probably be swallowed by traffic before it reached the end of the street. Soon in India, it will rise over thousands. The songs may be the same, but the stage, at last, has caught up to the scale of their journey across the world.
Passenger will perform in Delhi-NCR on November 19, Mumbai on November 21, and Bengaluru on November 22 as part of his Asia Tour. Tickets are available on BookMyShow
Published – August 21, 2025 04:29 pm IST
