Mike Viola
Mike Viola is an American producer, musician, songwriter, and singer, best known for his work with J.S. Ondara, Mandy Moore, Panic! at The Disco, Andrew McMahon, New Politics, Fall Out Boy, Ryan Adams, and Jenny Lewis.[1][2][3] His original music has been featured on soundtracks for movies such as Get Him to the Greek, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and That Thing You Do!.
Mike Viola | |
---|---|
Birth name | Michael A. Viola |
Origin | Stoughton, Massachusetts, United States |
Genres | Rock, alternative rock, singer-songwriter, pop, folk |
Occupation(s) | Songwriter, producer, musician, singer |
Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano, bass |
Years active | 1985–present |
Associated acts | Candy Butchers, The Shining, Ryan Adams |
Website | http://www.mikeviola.com/ |
Viola got his start in the mid-90s 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.[4]
Viola is currently vice-president of A&R for Verve Records, part of Universal Music Group[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, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, 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 movie Get Him to the Greek, including "African Child," "The Clap," "I Am Jesus," "Searching For a Father in America," "Little Bird," "Furry Walls."
Discography
Year | Artist | Album | Role |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | Mike Viola | Bitten and Cursed (EP) | Songwriter, musician, producer, engineer |
2018 | Mike Viola | Here We Go, It's Christmas Time (EP) | Songwriter, musician, producer, engineer |
2018 | Mike Viola | The American Egypt | Songwriter, musician, producer, engineer |
2015 | Mike Viola | Stairway to Paradise (EP) | Songwriter, musician |
2013 | Mike Viola | Ghoul | Songwriter, musician, producer[6] |
2012 | Mike Viola | Acousto De Perfecto | Songwriter, musician, producer[6] |
2011 | Mike Viola | 2011 Primer (Collection) | Songwriter, musician, producer[6] |
2011 | Mike Viola | Electro De Perfecto" | Songwriter, musician, producer[7] |
2010 | Mike Viola & Kelly Jones | Melon | Songwriter, musician, producer[7] |
2007 | Mike Viola | Lurch | Songwriter, musician, producer[7] |
2006 | Candy Butchers | Making up time (Candy Butchers 1994 – 1996) | Songwriter, musician, producer[7] |
2005 | Mike Viola | Just Before Dark | Songwriter, musician, producer[7] |
2004 | Candy Butchers | Hang On Mike | Songwriter, musician producer[8] |
2002 | Candy Butchers | Play With Your Head | Songwriter, musician, producer[8] |
2001 | Mike Viola | Temple of Static | Songwriter, musician, producer[8] |
1999 | Candy Butchers | Falling into Place | Songwriter, musician, producer[8] |
1999 | Mike Viola and the Candy Butchers | Let's Get Christmas (EP) | Songwriter, musician, producer[8] |
1999 | Mike Viola and the Candy Butchers | Let's Get Serious (EP) | Songwriter, musician, producer[8] |
1996 | Candy Butchers | Live at La Bonboniere (EP) | Songwriter, producer, musician[8] |
1990 | Mike Viola | Kenmore Square | Songwriter, producer, musician[8] |
1989 | Mike Viola & Snap | Bang-A-Lang (EP) | Songwriter, producer, musician[8] |
1987 | Mike Viola & Snap | Don't Break My Fall (EP) | Songwriter, producer, musician[8] |
1985 | Mike Viola | Not the Only One (EP) | Songwriter, producer, musician[8] |
As songwriter, musician or producer
Year | Artist | Song | Album | Role |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | Mandy 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 Landings | Songwriter, musician, producer[7] |
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 Sister | Songwriter, musician, producer[7] | |
2019 | Allie Crow Buckley | "As I Walk Into the Sea", "Cusco", "Cherry Stems", "Captive", "Fool Around", "Changes" | So Romantic (EP) | Songwriter, musician, producer[7] |
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[7] | |
Mandy Moore | "When I Wasn't Watching" | When I Wasn't Watching (single) | Songwriter, musician, producer, engineer[7] | |
Andrew Bird | "Archipelago" | My Finest Work Yet | Musician[7] | |
2018 | J.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 America | Musician, producer, engineer[7] |
Van William | "Before I Found You", "The Country", "You'll Be On My Mind" | Countries | Songwriter[7] | |
Vulfpeck | "For Survival" | Hill Climber | Musician; Songwriter[9] | |
2017 | Shania Twain | "Life's About To Get Good" | Now (Deluxe) | Musician[7] |
Ryan Adams | "Prisoner", "Do You Still Love Me" | Prisoner | Songwriter; musician[10] | |
WATERS | "Molly is a Babe," "Something More," "Modern Dilemma" | Something More! | Songwriter, musician, producer | |
2016 | Panic! at the Disco | "Victorious" | Death of a Bachelor | Songwriter[7] |
LOLO | "No Time For Lonely" | In Loving Memory of When I Gave a Shit" | Songwriter[7] | |
MAX | "Hell's Kitchen Angel," "Mug Shot" ft. Sirah | Hell's Kitchen Angel | Songwriter | |
The Monkees | Good Times! | Musician[7] | ||
Teddy Thompson and Kelly Jones | All songs | Little Windows | Producer, musician[7] | |
2015 | Matt Nathanson | "Gold in the Summertime", "Show Your Fangs" | Show Your Fangs | Songwriter |
Butch Walker | All songs | Afraid of Ghosts | Musician[7] | |
New Politics | "Pretend We're in a Movie" | Vikings | Songwriter[7] | |
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 Wilderness | Songwriter, producer, engineer[8] | |
Ryan Adams | "Magic Flag" | Vampires 7" | Songwriter, musician[8] | |
2014 | Ryan 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 Adams | Producer, musician[8] |
Matt Nathanson | "Earthquake Weather," "Mission Bells," "Kinks Shirt," "Sky High Honey," "Kill The Lights," "Heart Starts" | The Last of the Great Pretenders | Songwriter, producer, musician, engineer[7] | |
Jenny Lewis | The Voyager | Producer, musician[7] | ||
Brett Dennen | "Out of My Head" | Smoke and Mirrors | Songwriter[8] | |
2013 | New Politics | "Harlem" | A Bad Girl in Harlem | Songwriter[7] |
Fall Out Boy | Pax Am Days | Producer[8] | ||
Lori McKenna | "Love Can Put it Back Together" | Songwriter[7] | ||
2012 | Karise Eden | "You Won't Let Me" | My Journey | Songwriter[11] |
Rachael Yamagata | "Heavyweight" | Heavyweight (EP) | Songwriter, musician[7] | |
Noam Weinstein | Clocked | Producer, musician[12] | ||
2011 | Will Dailey and the Rivals | "Best Friend" | Will Dailey and the Rivals | Songwriter[7] |
Rachael Yamagata | "You Won't Let Me," "Dealbreaker," "I Don't Want to Be Your Mother" | Chesapeake | Songwriter, musician[7] | |
"I'm Going to Go Back There Someday" | Muppets: The Green Album | Producer, musician[8] | ||
Gin Wigmore | "Dirty Love" | Gravel and Wine | Songwriter[8] | |
2010 | Jeremy Fisher | "All We Want is Love" | Flood | Songwriter, musician, producer[7] |
Infant Sorrow (From Get Him to the Greek) | "Furry Walls", "The Clap", "I Am Jesus", "African Child (Trapped in Me)", "Little Bird", "Searching For a Father" | Get Him to the Greek: Soundtrack | Songwriter, musician[8] | |
2009 | Mandy 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 Leigh | Songwriter, producer, musician[8] |
John Wesley Harding | "Love Or Nothing," "Sick Organism," "Congratulations (On Your Hallucinations)" | Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead | Songwriter, musician[8] | |
2008 | Tim Christensen | "Superior" | Superior | Songwriter[8] |
2007 | Dewey Cox (Soundtrack to Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story) | "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" | Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story | Songwriter[8] |
2004 | The Figgs | Palais | Musician[7] | |
2003 | Rasputina | "Bad Moon Rising", "Wish You Were Here", "Tourniquette", "Fire and Ice", "This Little Piggy", "All Tomorrow's Parties", "Rock N Roll" | The Lost and Found | Musician, producer[8] |
2002 | The Figgs | Slow Charm | Musician[7] | |
1998 | Rasputina | "The Olde HeadBoard" | How We Quit The Forest | Musician[7] |
1996 | Mono Puff | Unsupervised | Musician[7] | |
The Wonders | "That Thing You Do" | That Thing You Do soundtrack | Producer, musician[7] | |
References
- Armstrong, Chuck. "Mike Viola on Working With Ryan Adams: 'It's Paid Off for Both of Us in Artistic Ways'". Diffuser.fm. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- Gordon, Jeremy; Pelly, Jenn. "Jenny Lewis Works With Beck, Ryan Adams on New Album The Voyager, Reveals Release Details". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
- Helman, Peter. "Mike Viola – "Stairway To Paradise" (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
- Bacino, Mark. "Songcraft: Mike Viola Talks Songwriting Triage, Movie Music and Arcade Backlines". GuitarWorld.com. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
- "Sunflower Bean working on new album, Verve Records new A&R chief, Incubus covers Wicked Game". Billboard.com. July 22, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
- "Mike Viola - Acousto De Perfecto (Lojinx)". Lojinx.com. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
- "Mike Viola credits". AllMusic. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
- "Mike Viola discography". discogs. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
- "Hill Climber – Vulfpeck". Bandcamp.com. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- "Prisoner – Ryan Adams". AllMusic. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
- "You Won't Let Me Lyrics". Metro Lyrics. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
- "Noam Weinstein Listing". The New Yorker. Retrieved August 7, 2017.