Mike Viola Explained

Mike Viola
Birth Name:Michael A. Viola
Birth Date:26 September 1966
Birth Place:Stoughton, Massachusetts, U.S.[1]
Years Active:1985–present
Current Member Of:Candy Butchers
Past Member Of:The Shining
Background:person

Michael A. Viola (born September 26, 1966) is an American producer, musician, songwriter, and singer, best known for his work with Panic! at the Disco, Andrew Bird, Ryan Adams, J.S. Ondara, Mandy Moore, and Jenny Lewis.[2] [3] [4] His original music has been featured on soundtracks for movies such as That Thing You Do!, , and Get Him to the Greek.

Viola got his start in the mid-1990s as the musical architect for New York–based band Candy Butchers, releasing three critically acclaimed albums with RPM/Sony Records before focusing on music production.[5]

Soundtrack work

Viola, along with friend Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne, co-produced the title track for Tom Hanks's 1996 movie That Thing You Do! The selection received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. Viola sang lead on the track, and as the accepted singing voice of Johnathon Schaech's character, Jimmy, also sang on other tracks in the film, such as "Little Wild One" and "All My Only Dreams."

For the 2007 Jake Kasdan/Judd Apatow film, , Viola wrote or co-wrote "A Life Without You (Is No Life at All)", "Darling", "(I Hate You) Big Daddy", "Dear Mr. President", "Beautiful Ride", "Sir Ringe The Marshmallow Elephant", and "Let Me Hold You Little Man". Viola served as musical director on a promotional tour for the film in December 2007, with John C. Reilly acting out his fictional character of Dewey Cox.

Viola also contributed songwriting for Russell Brand's character Aldous Snow in the 2010 film Get Him to the Greek, including "African Child", "The Clap", "I Am Jesus", "Searching For a Father in America", "Little Bird", "Furry Walls". In 2012, he played the character of Franky in two promotional songs for the video game Club Penguin, "Anchors Aweigh" and "Ghosts Just Wanna Dance".[6]

As songwriter, musician or producer

YearArtistLabelSongAlbumRole
2022Panic! at the DiscoFueled by RamenAll songsViva Las VengeanceProducer, musician, singer, writer
VulfmonVulf RecordsLet's Go! Let's GoHere We Go JackSinger, writer[7]
J.S. OndaraVerve ForecastAll songsTax Code 1: Telepathy Of a MammothProducer
Andrew BirdLoma Vista All songsInside ProblemsProducer, musician, singer
Mandy MooreVerve Forecast All songsIn Real LifeProducer, musician, singer, writer
Noam WeinsteinAll songsUndivorceableProducer, musician, singer[8]
2021Andrew Bird, Jimbo MathusAll songsThese 13Producer, musician, singer
Andrew Bird"Greenwine"Hark!Producer
Semisonic"Basement Tapes"You're Not AloneSongwriter
Allie Crow BuckleyAll songsMoonlit and DeviousSongwriter, musician, producer
2020Mandy Moore"I'd Rather Lose", "Save A Little For Yourself", "Fifteen", "Tryin' My Best, Los Angeles", "Easy Target", "When I Wasn't Watching", "Forgiveness", "Stories Reminding Myself of Me", "If That's What It Takes", "Silver Landings"Silver LandingsSongwriter, musician, producer
Watkins Family Hour"The Cure", "Neighborhood Name", "Just Another Reason", "Snow Tunnel", "Lafayette", "Fake Badge, Real Gun", "Miles of Desert Sand", "Bella and Ivan", "Accidentally Like a Martyr", "Keep It Clean"Brother SisterSongwriter, musician, producer
2019Mandy Moore"When I Wasn't Watching"When I Wasn't Watching (single)Songwriter, musician, producer, engineer
Andrew Bird"Archipelago"My Finest Work YetMusician
Jonathan Rice"The Long Game", "Silver Song", "Hollow Jubilee", "Meet the Mother", "Naked in the Lake", "Below the Deck", "Another Cold One", "Change", "Millions of Miles", "Friends"So Romantic (EP)Musician, producer
Allie Crow BuckleyAll songsSo RomanticSongwriter, musician, producer
Allie Crow Buckley"As I Walk Into the Sea", "Cusco", "Cherry Stems", "Captive", "Fool Around", "Changes"So Romantic (EP)Songwriter, musician, producer
2018J.S. Ondara"American Dream", "Torch Song", "Saying Goodbye", "Days of Insanity", "Television Girl", "Turkish Bandana", "Lebanon", "Good Question", "Master O'Connor", "Give Me A Moment", "God Bless America", "Saying Goodbye – Boulevard Demo", "Torch Song – Echo Park", "Milk and Honey", "Hearts Of Gold", "I'm Afraid Of Americans"Tales Of AmericaMusician, producer, engineer
Van William"Before I Found You", "The Country", "You'll Be On My Mind"CountriesSongwriter
Vulfpeck"For Survival"Hill ClimberMusician; Songwriter[9]
2017Dan WilsonAll songsRe-CoveredProducer, musician, singer
Shania Twain"Life's About To Get Good"Now (Deluxe)Musician
Ryan Adams"Prisoner", "Do You Still Love Me"PrisonerSongwriter; musician[10]
WATERS"Molly is a Babe," "Something More," "Modern Dilemma"Something More!Songwriter, musician, producer
2016Panic! at the Disco"Victorious"Death of a BachelorSongwriter
LOLO"No Time For Lonely"In Loving Memory of When I Gave a Shit"Songwriter
MAX"Hell's Kitchen Angel," "Mug Shot" ft. SirahHell's Kitchen AngelSongwriter
The MonkeesGood Times!Musician
Teddy Thompson and Kelly JonesAll songsLittle WindowsProducer, musician
2015Matt Nathanson"Gold in the Summertime", "Show Me Your Fangs"Show Me Your FangsSongwriter
Butch WalkerAll songsAfraid of GhostsMusician
New Politics"Pretend We're in a Movie"VikingsSongwriter
Andrew McMahon"High Dive," "Black & White Movies," "Driving Through A Dream," "Halls" "Rainy Girl," "Maps for the Getaway," "Lottery Ticket," "Art School Girlfriend," "Cecilia and the Satellite"Andrew McMahon in the WildernessSongwriter, producer, engineer
Ryan Adams"Magic Flag"Vampires 7"Songwriter, musician
2014Ryan Adams"Gimme Something Good", "Kim," "Trouble," "Am I Safe," "My Wrecking Ball," "Stay with Me," "Shadows," "Feels Like Fire," "I Just Might," "Tired of Giving Up," "Let Go"Ryan AdamsProducer, musician
Matt Nathanson"Earthquake Weather," "Mission Bells," "Kinks Shirt," "Sky High Honey," "Kill The Lights," "Heart Starts"The Last of the Great PretendersSongwriter, producer, musician, engineer
Jenny LewisThe VoyagerProducer, musician
Brett Dennen"Out of My Head"Smoke and MirrorsSongwriter
Jill SobuleAll songsDottie's CharmsSongwriter, producer, musician
2013New Politics"Harlem"A Bad Girl in HarlemSongwriter
Fall Out BoyPax Am DaysProducer
Lori McKenna"Love Can Put It Back Together"Songwriter
2012Karise Eden"You Won't Let Me"My JourneySongwriter
Rachael Yamagata"Heavyweight"Heavyweight (EP)Songwriter, musician
Noam WeinsteinClockedProducer, musician[11]
2011Will Dailey and the Rivals"Best Friend"Will Dailey and the RivalsSongwriter
Rachael Yamagata"You Won't Let Me," "Dealbreaker," "I Don't Want to Be Your Mother"ChesapeakeSongwriter, musician
"I'm Going to Go Back There Someday"Producer, musician
Gin Wigmore"Dirty Love"Gravel and WineSongwriter
2010Jeremy Fisher"All We Want is Love"FloodSongwriter, musician, producer
Infant Sorrow"Furry Walls", "The Clap", "I Am Jesus", "African Child (Trapped in Me)", "Little Bird", "Searching For a Father"Get Him to the Greek soundtrackSongwriter, musician
2009Mandy Moore"Merrimack River," "Fern Dell," "I Could Break Your Heart Any Day of the Week," "Pocket Philosopher," "Song About Home," "Love To Love Me Back," "Indian Summer," "Nothing Everything," "Bug"Amanda LeighSongwriter, producer, musician
John Wesley Harding"Love Or Nothing," "Sick Organism," "Congratulations (On Your Hallucinations)"Who Was Changed and Who Was DeadSongwriter, musician
2008Tim Christensen"Superior"SuperiorSongwriter
2007Dewey Cox"A Life Without You (Is No Life at All)", "Beautiful Ride", "Dear Mr. President", "Mulatto Song", "Let Me Hold You Little Man", "I Hate You (Big Daddy)", "Darling", "Hole in My Pants", "Who Wants To Party", "Weeping on the Inside" soundtrackSongwriter
2006L.E.O."Distracted", "Make Me"Alpacas Orgling Songwriter, musician[12]
2004The FiggsPalaisMusician
2003Rasputina"Bad Moon Rising", "Wish You Were Here", "Tourniquette", "Fire and Ice", "This Little Piggy", "All Tomorrow's Parties", "Rock N Roll"The Lost and FoundMusician, producer
2002The FiggsSlow CharmMusician
1998Rasputina"The Olde HeadBoard"How We Quit The ForestMusician
1996Mono PuffUnsupervisedMusician
The Wonders"That Thing You Do"That Thing You Do! soundtrackProducer, musician

Discography

YearArtistAlbumRole
1996Candy ButchersLive at La Bonboniere (EP)Songwriter, producer, musician
1999Mike Viola and the Candy ButchersLet's Get Serious (EP)Songwriter, musician, producer
1999Mike Viola and the Candy ButchersLet's Get Christmas (EP)Songwriter, musician, producer
1999Candy ButchersFalling into PlaceSongwriter, musician, producer
2001Mike ViolaTemple of StaticSongwriter, musician, producer
2002Candy ButchersPlay with Your HeadSongwriter, musician, producer
2004Candy ButchersHang On MikeSongwriter, musician producer[13]
2005Mike ViolaJust Before DarkSongwriter, musician, producer
2006Candy ButchersMaking up time (Candy Butchers 1994 – 1996)Songwriter, musician, producer
2007Mike ViolaLurchSongwriter, musician, producer
2010Mike Viola & Kelly JonesMelonSongwriter, musician, producer
2011Mike ViolaElectro De Perfecto"Songwriter, musician, producer[14]
2011Mike Viola2011 Primer (Collection)Songwriter, musician, producer
2012Mike ViolaAcousto De PerfectoSongwriter, musician, producer[15]
2013Mike ViolaGhoulSongwriter, musician, producer
2015Mike ViolaStairway to Paradise (EP)Songwriter, musician
2018Mike ViolaThe American EgyptSongwriter, musician, producer, engineer
2018Mike ViolaHere We Go, It's Christmas Time (EP)Songwriter, musician, producer, engineer
2018Mike ViolaBitten and Cursed (EP)Songwriter, musician, producer, engineer
2020Mike ViolaGodmuffinSongwriter, musician, producer, engineer
2023Mike ViolaPaul McCarthy [16] Songwriter, musician, producer, engineer

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Donelson . Marcy . Mike Viola . September 22, 2023 . Apple Music.
  2. Web site: Mike Viola on Working With Ryan Adams: 'It's Paid Off for Both of Us in Artistic Ways'. Diffuser.fm. Armstrong, Chuck. May 4, 2015 . July 11, 2016.
  3. Web site: Jenny Lewis Works With Beck, Ryan Adams on New Album The Voyager, Reveals Release Details. Pitchfork. July 6, 2016. Gordon, Jeremy . Pelly, Jenn. May 19, 2014 .
  4. Web site: Mike Viola – "Stairway To Paradise" (Stereogum Premiere). Stereogum. Helman, Peter. April 27, 2015 . July 6, 2016.
  5. Web site: Songcraft: Mike Viola Talks Songwriting Triage, Movie Music and Arcade Backlines. GuitarWorld.com. Bacino, Mark. July 6, 2016.
  6. Lewis . Michelle . mlewey . 905300547208654849 . 6 September 2017 . I think my favorite one we've written is Anchors Aweigh. My friend Mike Viola's voice sounds amazing on it..
  7. Web site: Let's Go! Let's Go! - Vulfmon (feat. Mike Viola). YouTube. November 15, 2023.
  8. Web site: Noam Weinstein Official Site. eNoam. April 19, 2022.
  9. Web site: Hill Climber – Vulfpeck. Bandcamp.com. December 6, 2018.
  10. Web site: Prisoner – Ryan Adams. AllMusic. April 17, 2017.
  11. Noam Weinstein Listing. The New Yorker. August 7, 2017.
  12. Web site: L.E.O. (4) – Alpacas Orgling . Discogs . 25 August 2021.
  13. Web site: Mike Viola discography. discogs. June 30, 2016.
  14. Web site: Mike Viola credits. AllMusic. June 30, 2016.
  15. Web site: Mike Viola - Acousto De Perfecto (Lojinx). Lojinx.com. July 16, 2012 . April 18, 2020.
  16. Web site: Mike Viola - Paul McCarthy (Lojinx) . April 14, 2023 .