Steve Schultz

Artist Information

Biography

Singer-songwriter Steve Schultz’s uplifting introspection as a lyricist and anthemic musicality has garnered him favorable comparisons to Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, and Ben Folds. After a well-received debut, the Hudson Valley, New York based artist returns with Over The Edge, a watershed album of creativity with fresh pop-rock instrumentation and timeless songcraft.

Steve has received airplay on multiple radio stations, and been a featured guest on many radio and television shows. In 2010, he was awarded admission to the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame writers workshop, and had previously participated in the esteemed ASCAP "I Create Music" Expo in Los Angeles and the Columbia Arts Team's annual Songwriting Festival, featuring Paul Leka ("Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye”) and Jeff Silbar ("Wind Beneath My Wings"). He has shared the stage with such notables as Jeff Silbar, John Powhida (of The Rudds), and Chris Cubeta & the Liars Club. He is also the lead singer and keyboardist for the in-demand rock and soul cover band In the Pocket (a.k.a. ITP). Recently, he built Bottoms Up Recording Studio with bassist Seth Rivers and drummer Chris Snykus.

His richly emotive vocals, refined piano playing, and refreshing sincerity are captivatingly distinct. The essential elegance of “Shadow” with just piano and vocal is a stirringly stately “what could have been” love song. With soulful boldness he sings: Well, it's amazing how the time has passed/Between us nothing seems to change/You live your life and I live mine/That's what we became. The uptempo “A Kind Of Faith” is unflinchingly positive, buoyant with rollicking piano, shimmering organ, and a goose-bump inducing sax solo. With sweeping strings, the stunning “Eldridge Avenue” is bittersweetly emotional. It’s a song about chasing your dreams in the face of the painful realities of growing up. “That’s sort of a metaphor for the life of a musician,” Steve says. “You see friends around you getting real jobs, buying houses, and having kids. They’re waiting for you on this mythical avenue, but you’re just trying to find your way with your career goals.”

Steve began his musical journey in fourth grade playing trumpet, but found his creative path in the life-affirming rock n’ roll of Bruce Springsteen and the thoughtful piano rock of Billy Joel and Elton John, and later, Ben Folds. In 2007, he issued his debut A Thin Line. He has spent 3 years working on Over The Edge. The album was consumed by building the studio, and achieving the rich sonic tapestry of instrumentation he envisioned to bring his music to life. “Most people would have given up and said ‘screw it.’ I guess I’m stubborn or crazy or a little bit of both,” he says, recalling studio floods, crunching numbers for budgets, and accommodating busy schedules. The record was engineered and produced by Steve and his friend/bassist Seth Rivers. He launched a successful crowdfunding campaign to offset payments.

“Hard to believe it took this long and that I was able to get the quality I did,” he says with pride. “Three years is a long time. This record took so long I have enough material written for the next one!”

Instrumentation

Steve Schultz - Vocals, Guitar, Piano
Ben Basile - Bass
Joe Heider - Electric Guitar
Christian Joao - Saxophones, background vocals
Seth Rivers - Acoustic Guitar, background vocals
Eric Wagner - Drums

Discography

Over The Edge (June 11, 2013)
A Thin Line (2007)

Radio airplay on:
WKZE - Red Hook, NY
WMAR - Poughkeepsie, NY
WRPI - Troy, NY
WVCR - Loudonville, NY
WVKR - Poughkeepsie, NY

Official Website

http://www.StevePlaysMusic.com

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter

Audio

• Shadow
  Listen  
• A Kind Of Faith
  Listen  
• Eldridge Ave.
  Listen  
• My Original Sin
  Listen  
• The Hands Of Angels
  Listen  
• Over The Edge
  Listen  
• All Is Fair
  Listen  
• Lay It All Out
  Listen  
• Believe
  Listen  
• Slow Down
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Shadow
• A Kind Of Faith
• Eldridge Ave.
• My Original Sin
• All Is Fair
• Over The Edge
• The Hands Of Angels
• Slow Down
• Lay It All Out
• Believe

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Steve Schultz's "A Thin Line" a fine first effort [+ Show ]
  

  July 11, 2008 Singer-songwriter Steve Schultz hails from Poughkeepsie, but he sounds like he's fr...July 11, 2008
  
  Singer-songwriter Steve Schultz hails from Poughkeepsie, but he sounds like he's from Jersey or maybe even Indiana.
  
  Produced by Schultz and guitarist Jeff Berner, "A Thin Line" often has a John Mellencamp-esque anthemic Americana vibe, with chiming guitars and a big beat, as in the title track "A Thin Line." That theme continues with "Sign" stocked with majestic piano fills by Matt Wiltrout that recall Woodstock's David Sancious (who made the early Springsteen records sound so important).
  
  "Hold On" has a rolling beat and an anxious heart. The Saturday night ode "Standing at the Edge Of the World" has an earnest approach, while "Step Right Up" has a relentless rhythm.
  
  Schultz' capable pipes aren't going to dazzle the judges on "American Idol," but they get the job done. A fine first effort.

• Jimmy Buff - Radio Personality & Program Director, WDST
  

  "[Steve Schultz's debut album, 'A Thin Line,'] shows a lot of promise."

• Sharon Panaro - Host, 'Regional Frequency' [+ Show ]
  

  "There's some really beautiful music [on] here" - referring to Steve Schultz's debut CD, 'A Thin Lin..."There's some really beautiful music [on] here" - referring to Steve Schultz's debut CD, 'A Thin Line'
  
  "My favorite [track is] 'Trains.'"

• Scott Cheney - Former Recreation Director [+ Show ]
  

  Steve Schultz has "a fresh sound…a sound that is both old and new at the same time. [His] music is ...Steve Schultz has "a fresh sound…a sound that is both old and new at the same time. [His] music is like meeting someone for the first time and knowing immediately that you will be fast friends."

• Shirley Bloethe - Owner
  

  "Engaging original tunes and performance!"

Setlist

Sets include songs from Steve's two studio albums as well as a handful of select cover songs.

Sample 1-hour set:
Shadow
Over The Edge
The World Outside
All Is Fair
Smoke (Ben Folds Five)
My Original Sin
A Kind of Faith
New York State of Mind (Billy Joel)
The Last Stop
Eldridge Ave.

Sample 2-hour set:
Shadow
My Original Sin
The World Outside
Smoke (Ben Folds Five)
Fedora
All Is Fair
New York State of Mind (Billy Joel)
Over the Edge
Eldridge Ave.
Sweeter (Gavin DeGraw)
Standing at the Edge of the World
Lay It All Out
Slow Down
Step Right Up
Tiny Dancer (Elton John)
The Last Stop
A Kind of Faith
The Hands of Angels

Basic Requirements

Calendar