Welcome, welcome in, Beyond the New, to episode 20 of So The Jaker on songwriting. 20 episodes, Simon, can you believe it?

I know.

When I listen back to those first couple of podcasts I don't even recognize

I don't know who those guys are anymore but yes here we are at episode 20 and we have a

terrific guest to mark the occasion in the talent oozing form of US singer-song greater Mike Vaiola.

Just a couple of updates before we give you the full lowdown on Mike.

You know, rather than talk about all of the amazing things that we're currently doing, and boy are they amazing.

Are they ever? We'd like to just thank you for your support over these last 20 episodes,

for tweeting us, for sending us emails, and for downloading and listening to this

little show of us, you encourage us to keep going with this project.

We couldn't do it without you.

So cheers for subscribing.

If you're new to the show, Set's for So Diacron's songwriting in the iTunes music store and you can

subscribe for free and get all of the previous episodes in your ears.

So let's crack on with introducing our guest properly. Mike Viola is a native of Massachusetts and was something of a child prodigy.

By the age of 13 he'd already been signed to a record deal and released a self-titled solo album before he formed Snap in the late 80s.

I assume this is not the same Snap that claims have got the power.

Different I think. Okay. Mike's band released I think one album in 1990 entitled Kenmore Square before this banding.

Mike then went on to form the candy butchers with his long time friend Todd Foolsham and they began performing around New York in the mid 90s.

They signed to Blue Thumb Records and recorded an eponymous LP,

which, though slated for release in 96, was shelved. However, it's now available on Mike's

website under the title Making Up Time. He basically makes the most splendid power pop

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