Mike Viola

Mike Viola, a renowned singer-songwriter and producer known for his melodic power-pop, joins Simon and Brian for a vibrant discussion. He opens up about his creative resurgence since 2018 and the importance of personal experiences in songwriting. Mike shares stories behind tracks like 'Brian Myers' and 'The Bench,' revealing how life events shape his music. He delves into his distinct acoustic style, the intimate atmosphere of his Bare Bones studio, and reflects on cultural influences, all while showcasing his impressive guitar work.

Panic! At the Disco is the Grammy-nominated project of Brendon Urie, who originally started it as a band with his high school friends from Las Vegas in 2004. In the eighteen years since, Panic! At the Disco has won American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, iHeartRadio Music awards, and more. In August 2022, Brendon released the seventh Panic! at the Disco album, Viva Las Vengeance. The title track hit #1 on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart. In this episode, Brendon tells the story of how he, Grammy-nominated producer Jake Sinclair and Oscar-nominated songwriter Mike Viola all got together to make the song "Viva Las Vengeance." For more, visit songexploder.net/panic-at-the-disco.