Fredo Viola
Born in London, England Fredo spent his first five years living in England and Rome.
After that his family moved to New York, then Los Angeles, where he spent most of his adolescent years, singing professionally as a boy soprano and studying art once his voice changed. Finallyhe moved back to NYC to attend NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
Fredo studied to be a film director, and during this period discovered the music of Bartok, Shostakovich and Stravinsky, which had an immense effect on his music today. It has since developed into a passion for the operas of Benjamin Britten, Don Giovanni and most of the work of Alfred Schnittke. He also loves the music of Belle and Sebastian, Boards of Canada, Amon Tobin's Permutations, Joni Mitchell, Harry Nilsson, Harry Nilsson and Odetta. Gospel music rocks his sock off (!)
Fredo tried editing and animation design, which he dd pretty well, and gave him the opportunity to save enough money to set himself up with a pretty a home recording studio.It is then Fredo got down to making his own music.
In 2004, one of his songs was licensed for use in Jonathon Deme's Manchurian Candidate. Then he made my first music video, The Sad Song, which was a pretty huge hit on the net. He received emails from Roger Ebert, Massive Attack, Neil Gaiman, ABC News Now, and director Mike Binder, all offering opportunities.
In 2005 he completed recording and licensed five songs for Mike Binder's upcoming film "Man About Town" starring Ben Affleck, Rebecca Romijn and John Cleese.
Fredo's debut album 'The Turn' first materialised at the end of 2008 as a dedicated website, where users were invited to play with shapes, each one representing a song and its accompanying video. Now released in summer 2009 as a CD/DVD set, the CD featuring twelve songs, and the DVD eight videos, including Viola’s rather beautiful version of Silent Night, recorded with Christian Fossdal, which appeared around the time of The Sad Song on the web, the album acts as a strong showcase to Viola’s many talents. Developing further his vocal concept and applying it, at times in full, at others in much more discreet fashion, Viola has created a totally unique record here. Infused with elements of pop, folk and, occasionally almost medieval forms, supported by gentle electronic brushes propped up with more traditional guitars, drums, brass, stings or acoustic bass, Viola’s songs are often very progressive, developing from one vocal line into many, or starting as a simple pop song before bursting into something more complex.
Highlight's on the album include; 'The Sad Song', 'Umbrella's', 'Red States'.
Blue Mountain sub-publish 'The Turn' for the World exlcuding France and SACEM territories on behalf of Because Editions.
For more information on up and coming events with Fredo and a chance to experience the interactive site for 'The Turn' please visit; http://www.fredoviola.com/
