Mike Nilles is a songwriter/lyricist and producer/engineer from St. Paul, MN, specializing in rock and pop. A key figure in the Twin Cities New Wave scene of the late ’70s and early ’80s, he performed at the Longhorn with Smart Alex, St. Paul’s first punk-pop band; their single “Chitter Chat” b/w “Tonight” later became a collector’s item. He went on to form Swing Set, whose song “Don’t Look Now” earned local and national airplay and “Best Pop/Rock Band” honors in Mpls/St Paul magazine’s 1990 “Best Of.” His song “Blackout” appeared in Netflix’s Stranger Things.

Mike won first place in the Minnesota Association of Songwriters’ 1996 “Best Of” CD and spent several years performing in Italy. Later projects include The Badinovs and commissioned works for 3M and Out On a Limb Dance Theater. He’s currently developing a rock musical, It’s Just the Rest of My Life!, and performs with The Nowhere Men Beatles tribute band.