Bio
Synopsis Bio 2011
Mike Vial is a Michigan singer-songwriter with the lyrical direction of James Taylor and the musical style of John Mayer. In the spring of 2011, he left his teaching position of eight years to pursue music full-time, playing over 80 gigs regionally in the Midwest. The Lansing State Journal named his EP a “must-have” for 2011 in their top ten releases and his new EP made the top download list in December at Noisetrade.com. Mike’s gift of literary stories blended with accessible melodies and traditional instruments gives his fresh music a classic sound.
Mike has sold between 1200-1300 CDs independently of his first two releases. His third release, Where the Sand Meets the Tide, has been downloaded over 1500 times since the first month of it’s free release in Nov 2011 (via his website and Noisetrade.com). He has been a guest blogger for CD Baby and Sounds That Matter.
Mike Vial and the Great Lake Effect features:
- Mike Vial – vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, keys
- Stuart Tucker – drums
- Kevin Vines – bass, backing vocals
- David Mosher - mandolin, fiddle, guitar, backing vocals
- Leah Taylor - backing vocals, keys
Bio 2011 – Where the Sand Meets the Tide
In June 2011, I did something many only dream of doing: I burned the boats.
Specifically, I left my teaching position of eight years at a high school in Michigan to pursue music full time. It was a tough decision. I liked working with young adults, and I loved teaching the writing process, but there was something still unfulfilled. By 2010, I decided to recognize this “something,” and I made the decision that it would be my last year teaching for a while.
Like many of the characters in the fiction I’ve taught in the classroom, my decision immediately threw me into an interesting journey, one part “chasing paper” as the Beatles say, and the other “chasing muse.” I’m only hoping to be an example of what Bob Lefsetz calls a “journey man.” I’m not chasing the lottery of top-40 radio; I just love to write songs and play guitar; I love where music takes me; I love who I meet along the way.
It’s a blessing to be able to pursue music with vigor and focus, and still keep groceries in the fridge, still keep the landlord happy, still chip away at the student loan payment. I played 60-70 gigs in my beloved Mitten state during the summer, and right at the time when I would have returned to the classroom, I went back to Catherine North Studios to work on a new release with producer moon:and:6. After three hectic days in the studio, we emerged with a new record that captures a person no longer suspended in a transition, but moving forward with two feet on a new path.
Where the Sand Meets the Tide is, at first listen, a collection of unique love songs, songs that capture departures and arrivals; however, hidden within the EP lies secondary themes that have riddled me: pride, guilt, loss, hope–emotions I was facing during the tough decisions of 2010 and 2011.
Just when one large decision was made, another question approached: What does a new artist do to succeed in an ever-changing music industry? I finally decided the best thing to do was to give away the EP for free and try to play music anywhere people will listen. Through November, my fiance Natalie and I worked hard to promote the EP through social networking and Michigan based publications. We took some risks booking full band shows at local clubs. Stuart Tucker (drums), Kevin Vines (bass), David Mosher (fiddle, mandolin) and Leah Taylor (keys, vocals) have helped share their own musical talents with me in a band deemed, “The Great Lake Effect.”
Now with autumn at a close and winter here, the EP has been downloaded 700 times in the first month of its release. In December, we promoted the new EP through Noisetrade and had 725 downloads in the first week of December, putting the EP in the top downloads list. Next month, I’ll leave for a short tour through the Midwest. Natalie just finished her first book, a memoir called Swedish Lessons, and a new set of decisions will surround us as we plan our wedding in August.
Right now we’re just happy to be two people in love with each other, and in love with the journey of being creatively self-employed.
Mike Vial
Bio 2010 – Burning the Boats
Michigan critics and fans have deemed “One Way Road” the songwriter’s best song so far, and one can hear why. With a unique opening arpeggio played on a down-tuned acoustic and personal lyrics sang in a reflective tone, the song captures Mike Vial’s overall mood of his twenty-something years: “Maybe there’s only one way to go/if life is just a one way road,/It’s better to take it too fast than too slow…”
The summer of 2009 brought Mike to the road, just like the anonymous speaker of the song intended: Mike moved to historic Downtown Howell, Michigan; he toured playing 50+ regional gigs across the Mitten, including Craig Carrick’s Noreastr Festival, Farm Fest, Manisee’s Homegrown Festival, the Crofoot Ballroom, and Trinity House; he even met his now fiancee while performing at a festival in Owosso, MI; and lastly, he crossed the Blue Water Bridge to start a new record with Dan Achen, producer and owner of Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Canada.
Indeed, 2009-2010 was where the tunes changed for Mike. ”It’s been an exciting year of my life,” Mike Vial said. “I decided to dedicate more time to songwriting and performing, and I walked out with a new focus on my music career!”
Mike V. & Michael Chambers laying down tracks for "Kalamazoo" at Catherine North Studios.
That focus led Mike to Dan Achen’s recording studio, Catherine North. Set in a picturesque, old church, complete with a stain glassed facade. Dan and his team built an impressive resume, including Feist, City and Colour, the Coppertone, and Spirits. Mike immediately felt at home working there too.
By February 2010, Mike Vial’s sessions began to take shape with Nick Skalkos of Spirits playing drums and Michael Chambers (moon:and:6), engineer at Catherine North, playing piano and bass. Dan Achen even played a subtle percussion track on “Change Your Tune.” Songs written solo acoustic were finding new life under a full band.
Dan Achen offering advice for Mike Chambers's bass line in "Only the Rain Knows Why."
Sadly, in March 2010 Dan Achen died of a heart attack while playing hockey, a loss stunning the family, friends, and musicians who loved him. “Dan made a lasting impression on me in the year we worked together,” Mike said. “Dan was irreplaceable because he not only had a great ear in the studio, but a great heart. He mentored young musicians. To paraphrase one of Dan’s friends, his power was giving us power.”
Later in 2010, Mike Vial and Michael Chambers finished up the record they started with Dan at Catherine North Studios, and now the roads move forward with another set of songs as a snapshot of Mike’s life. If life is a one way road, Mike is heading in the right direction, inspired by the musical mentors who took that road less travelled.
Natalie and Mike, two creatives who have fallen in love!
Most importantly, 2011 will bring more time for Mike to write. There appears to be more for him, as a teacher and musician, to reflect upon after his eighth year blending two jobs, teaching and music. And one of those things will be planning a wedding!
Bio written by Benny Birthalot, April 2011.
Other notes:
Mike Vial has worked with Marshall Block of Real ii Reel. He has studied under music professionals Trish Mroz, Chris Blackmer, Ken Andreoni and Kate Hart. He has been teaching English at Holly High School since 2003.
Mike is currently piloting a nonprofit idea called the Great Lake Effect. His goal through the project is to promote Michigan’s local music scenes, stimulate local Michigan economy, and raise money for Michigan philanthropies–one song at a time.
