Mike Viola | |
|---|---|
 Viola at a thrift store | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Michael Anthony Viola (1966-09-26) September 26, 1966 |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1985–present |
| Member of | Candy Butchers |
| Formerly of | The Shining |
| Website | mikeviola |
Michael Anthony Viola (born September 26, 1966) is an American producer, musician, songwriter, and singer, best known for his work with Dawes, Panic! at the Disco, Andrew Bird, Ryan Adams, J.S. Ondara, Mandy Moore, and Jenny Lewis. 2345 His original music has been featured on soundtracks for movies such as That Thing You Do!, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, and Get Him to the Greek.
As a teenager in the early 1980s, Viola played Boston-area clubs with his band, the Bottom Line, and was billed as "Boston's youngest musical talent." His parents, Charlene and Larry Viola, bought his equipment and allowed their basement to be turned into a rehearsal room.6
Viola got his major professional 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.7
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 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".8
As songwriter, musician or producer
| Year | Artist | Label | Song | Album | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Noam Weinstein | All songs | Male Model | Co-Producer, musician9 | |
| 2025 | Trapper Schoepp | Blue Élan | All songs | Osborne | Producer, musician10 |
| 2025 | Drumming Bird | All songs | Roadkill Poetry | Producer, musician, singer11 | |
| 2024 | Dawes | Dead Ringer | All songs | Oh Brother | Producer, engineer2 |
| 2024 | Madison Cunningham and Andrew Bird | Verve and Wegawam | All songs | Cunningham Bird | Producer, musician12 |
| 2022 | Panic! at the Disco | Fueled by Ramen | All songs | Viva Las Vengeance | Producer, musician, singer, writer13 |
| Vulfmon | Vulf Records | Let's Go! Let's Go! | Here We Go Jack | Singer, writer14 | |
| J.S. Ondara | Verve Forecast | All songs | Tax Code 1: Telepathy Of a Mammoth | Producer13 | |
| Andrew Bird | Loma Vista | All songs | Inside Problems | Producer, musician, singer13 | |
| Mandy Moore | Verve Forecast | All songs | In Real Life | Producer, musician, singer, writer13 | |
| Noam Weinstein | All songs | Undivorceable | Producer, musician, singer15 | ||
| 2021 | Andrew Bird, Jimbo Mathus | All songs | These 13 | Producer, musician, singer13 | |
| Andrew Bird | "Greenwine" | Hark! | Producer13 | ||
| Semisonic | "Basement Tapes" | You're Not Alone | Songwriter13 | ||
| Allie Crow Buckley | All songs | Moonlit and Devious | Songwriter, musician, producer13 | ||
| 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, producer13 | |
| 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, producer13 | ||
| 2019 | Mandy Moore | "When I Wasn't Watching" | When I Wasn't Watching (single) | Songwriter, musician, producer, engineer13 | |
| Andrew Bird | "Archipelago" | My Finest Work Yet | Musician13 | ||
| 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, producer13 | ||
| Allie Crow Buckley | All songs | So Romantic | Songwriter, musician, producer13 | ||
| Allie Crow Buckley | "As I Walk Into the Sea", "Cusco", "Cherry Stems", "Captive", "Fool Around", "Changes" | So Romantic (EP) | Songwriter, musician, producer13 | ||
| 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, engineer13 | |
| Van William | "Before I Found You", "The Country", "You'll Be On My Mind" | Countries | Songwriter13 | ||
| Vulfpeck | "For Survival" | Hill Climber | Musician; Songwriter16 | ||
| 2017 | Dan Wilson | All songs | Re-Covered | Producer, musician, singer13 | |
| Shania Twain | "Life's About To Get Good" | Now (Deluxe) | Musician13 | ||
| Ryan Adams | "Prisoner", "Do You Still Love Me" | Prisoner | Songwriter; musician17 | ||
| WATERS | "Molly is a Babe," "Something More," "Modern Dilemma" | Something More! | Songwriter, musician, producer | ||
| 2016 | Panic! at the Disco | "Victorious" | Death of a Bachelor | Songwriter13 | |
| LOLO | "No Time For Lonely" | In Loving Memory of When I Gave a Shit" | Songwriter13 | ||
| MAX | "Hell's Kitchen Angel," "Mug Shot" ft. Sirah | Hell's Kitchen Angel | Songwriter | ||
| The Monkees | Good Times! | Musician13 | |||
| Teddy Thompson and Kelly Jones | All songs | Little Windows | Producer, musician13 | ||
| 2015 | Matt Nathanson | "Gold in the Summertime", "Show Me Your Fangs" | Show Me Your Fangs | Songwriter | |
| Butch Walker | All songs | Afraid of Ghosts | Musician13 | ||
| New Politics | "Pretend We're in a Movie" | Vikings | Songwriter13 | ||
| 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, engineer18 | ||
| Ryan Adams | "Magic Flag" | Vampires 7" | Songwriter, musician18 | ||
| 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, musician18 | |
| 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, engineer13 | ||
| Jenny Lewis | The Voyager | Producer, musician13 | |||
| Brett Dennen | "Out of My Head" | Smoke and Mirrors | Songwriter18 | ||
| Jill Sobule | All songs | Dottie's Charms | Songwriter, producer, musician13 | ||
| 2013 | New Politics | "Harlem" | A Bad Girl in Harlem | Songwriter13 | |
| Fall Out Boy | Pax Am Days | Producer18 | |||
| Lori McKenna | "Love Can Put It Back Together" | Songwriter13 | |||
| 2012 | Karise Eden | "You Won't Let Me" | My Journey | Songwriter | |
| Rachael Yamagata | "Heavyweight" | Heavyweight (EP) | Songwriter, musician13 | ||
| Noam Weinstein | Clocked | Producer, musician19 | |||
| 2011 | Will Dailey and the Rivals | "Best Friend" | Will Dailey and the Rivals | Songwriter13 | |
| Rachael Yamagata | "You Won't Let Me," "Dealbreaker," "I Don't Want to Be Your Mother" | Chesapeake | Songwriter, musician13 | ||
| "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday" | Muppets: The Green Album | Producer, musician18 | |||
| Gin Wigmore | "Dirty Love" | Gravel and Wine | Songwriter18 | ||
| 2010 | Jeremy Fisher | "All We Want is Love" | Flood | Songwriter, musician, producer13 | |
| 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 soundtrack | Songwriter, musician18 | ||
| 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, musician18 | |
| John Wesley Harding | "Love Or Nothing," "Sick Organism," "Congratulations (On Your Hallucinations)" | Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead | Songwriter, musician18 | ||
| 2008 | Tim Christensen | "Superior" | Superior | Songwriter18 | |
| 2007 | Dewey 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" | Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story soundtrack | Songwriter18 | |
| 2006 | L.E.O. | "Distracted", "Make Me" | Alpacas Orgling | Songwriter, musician20 | |
| 2004 | The Figgs | Palais | Musician13 | ||
| 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, producer18 | |
| 2002 | The Figgs | Slow Charm | Musician13 | ||
| 1998 | Rasputina | "The Olde HeadBoard" | How We Quit The Forest | Musician13 | |
| 1996 | Mono Puff | Unsupervised | Musician13 | ||
| The Wonders | "That Thing You Do" | That Thing You Do! soundtrack | Producer, musician13 |
Discography
| Year | Artist | Album | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Candy Butchers | Live at La Bonboniere (EP) | Songwriter, producer, musician18 |
| 1999 | Mike Viola and the Candy Butchers | Let's Get Serious (EP) | Songwriter, musician, producer18 |
| 1999 | Mike Viola and the Candy Butchers | Let's Get Christmas (EP) | Songwriter, musician, producer18 |
| 1999 | Candy Butchers | Falling into Place | Songwriter, musician, producer18 |
| 2001 | Mike Viola | Temple of Static | Songwriter, musician, producer18 |
| 2002 | Candy Butchers | Play with Your Head | Songwriter, musician, producer18 |
| 2004 | Candy Butchers | Hang On Mike | Songwriter, musician producer18 |
| 2005 | Mike Viola | Just Before Dark | Songwriter, musician, producer13 |
| 2006 | Candy Butchers | Making up time (Candy Butchers 1994 – 1996) | Songwriter, musician, producer13 |
| 2007 | Mike Viola | Lurch | Songwriter, musician, producer13 |
| 2010 | Mike Viola & Kelly Jones | Melon | Songwriter, musician, producer13 |
| 2011 | Mike Viola | Electro De Perfecto" | Songwriter, musician, producer13 |
| 2011 | Mike Viola | 2011 Primer (Collection) | Songwriter, musician, producer21 |
| 2012 | Mike Viola | Acousto De Perfecto | Songwriter, musician, producer21 |
| 2013 | Mike Viola | Ghoul | Songwriter, musician, producer21 |
| 2015 | Mike Viola | Stairway to Paradise (EP) | Songwriter, musician |
| 2018 | Mike Viola | The American Egypt | Songwriter, musician, producer, engineer |
| 2018 | Mike Viola | Here We Go, It's Christmas Time (EP) | Songwriter, musician, producer, engineer |
| 2018 | Mike Viola | Bitten and Cursed (EP) | Songwriter, musician, producer, engineer |
| 2020 | Mike Viola | Godmuffin | Songwriter, musician, producer, engineer |
| 2023 | Mike Viola | Paul McCarthy22 | Songwriter, musician, producer, engineer |
| 2024 | Mike Viola | Rock Of Boston23 | Songwriter, musician, producer, engineer |
References
References
- Donelson, Marcy. "Mike Viola". Apple Music. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
- Duguay, Robert (November 18, 2014). "Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes on the Making of "Oh Brother"". Tape Op. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- Armstrong, Chuck (May 4, 2015). "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 (May 19, 2014). "Jenny Lewis Works With Beck, Ryan Adams on New Album The Voyager, Reveals Release Details". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
- Helman, Peter (April 27, 2015). "Mike Viola – "Stairway To Paradise" (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
- Millman, Joyce (August 3, 1982). "Teen dream". The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
- Bacino, Mark. "Songcraft: Mike Viola Talks Songwriting Triage, Movie Music and Arcade Backlines". GuitarWorld.com. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
- Lewis, Michelle [@mlewey] (September 6, 2017). "I think my favorite one we've written is Anchors Aweigh. My friend Mike Viola's voice sounds amazing on it" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- eNoam https://eNoam.com. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - Maitland, Kurt (August 7, 2025). "Trapper Schoepp Talks Songwriting and Side Hustles". Twangville. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
- Edwards, Clayton (September 13, 2024). "Where Are They Now? Song Contest Winner Austin Sawyer Talks New Single "Roadkill Poetry," Touring, and What's Next". American Songwriter. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- Strauss, Matthew (September 17, 2024). "Andrew Bird and Madison Cunningham Cover Buckingham Nicks in Full on New Album". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
- "Mike Viola credits". AllMusic. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
- "Let's Go! Let's Go! - Vulfmon (feat. Mike Viola)". July 13, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2023 – via YouTube.
- "Noam Weinstein Official Site". eNoam. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
- "Hill Climber – Vulfpeck". Bandcamp.com. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- "Prisoner – Ryan Adams". AllMusic. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
- "Mike Viola discography". discogs. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
- "Noam Weinstein Listing". The New Yorker. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- "L.E.O. (4) – Alpacas Orgling". Discogs. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- "Mike Viola - Acousto De Perfecto (Lojinx)". Lojinx.com. July 16, 2012. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
- "Mike Viola - Paul McCarthy (Lojinx)". April 14, 2023.
- "Mike Viola - Rock Of Boston (Lojinx)". September 20, 2024.