Stella Schindler, vocals and guitar.
Upcoming album—engineered and produced by TJ Lipple at Silver Sonya, Arlington, VA—features:
Adrian Carroll – electric guitar * Tom Hnatow – pedal steel, electric guitar * Michael Pahn – acoustic bass * Sean McArdle – electric bass * Jesse Elliot – vocals * David Durst – piano * TJ Lipple – vibes, percussion * Devin Ocampo - drums
Influences
Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Neko Case, Rickie Lee Jones, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, Leonard Cohen, M. Ward, Townes van Zandt, Ray LaMontagne, Elliott Smith, Janis Joplin, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Flannery O’Connor, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, The Carter Family, Bright Eyes, Dostoevsky, Wendell Berry, Howlin’ Wolf, Huckleberry Finn, Vandaveer, Magnolia, Mississippi John Hurt, John Lee Hooker, Stigmata Bill, John Prine, Bonnie Raitt, Kathleen Ferrier, Josh Ritter . . . .
Sounds Like
With lyrics tinged with the earthy, dramatic, and sometimes spooky hue of an Appalachian folksong and an emotive, haunting voice—anchored in the roots of country blues, Stella's songs are woven from threads of Americana and folk rock.
"With an emotive delivery that at various points brings to mind Marianne Faithfull and Iris Dement under the spell of eerie gothic gloom, Stella Schindler makes a striking impression on Distant Hum. Her seductive style has a hazy feel that’s elusive yet inviting. She effectively integrates various strands of quiet despair, resulting in an album deliriously imbued with imagery and allusion.
The set begins provocatively with the dirge-like ballad “Ancient Trail” and maintains its sensual sway. However, Schindler hits her stride with “Get Along Joseph,” an upbeat shuffle that suggests vintage Dylan helmed by Gram and Emmylou." (Lee Zimmerman, Performing Songwriter Magazine)
Taking cues from the likes of Gillian Welch, Neko Case, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn & Jack White, Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris, Stella wrangles the best that precedent can offer while weaving her own tapestry of pure Americana. Using a variety of instrumental and thematic arrangements, she demonstrates both a range and restraint indicative of a well honed ear. She is able to carefully build sound and texture without ever muddling the track, maintaining a focus that is deliberate but never forced. At times dark and haunting, and at others hopeful and inspiring, Stella offers us a journey through landscapes of life, love and loss, highlighting their inherent beauty while acknowledging and lamenting the flaws in each. To hear her music is to appreciate true regret, and in doing so experience a kind of redemption.
On her latest effort – Distant Hum - her tools are nothing new, but they certainly stand the test of time. Ever-present is her acoustic guitar, but this time around she is accompanied by some of Washington DC’s finest musicians in the indie/alt country scene. Produced and Engineered by TJ Lipple at Silver Sonya Studio and featuring Adrian Carroll and Mike Pahn (Shortstack, Gypsy Eyes Records), Tom Hnatow and Jesse Elliot (These United States), TJ Lipple (Aloha, Polyvinyl Records), Devin Ocampo (Beauty Pill, Mary Timony Band, Dischord Records), Sean McArdle, and David Durst, this record has the perfect supporting cast. These guys can infuse her affinity for the waltz and the two-step—which must be the way her blood flows—with plenty of variation in nuance and tone to maintain a momentum that carries the listener through each story.
As much as one can appreciate her skill at song-smithery, her undeniable and glaring talent is her voice. She has the vocal prowess to warrant undivided attention, but also displays a warmth of sincerity and vulnerability that can be utterly disarming. The result is a presence that is emotive without feeling melodramatic. She can haunt you with portents of impending doom on tracks like 'Death Valley' and 'Poor Margaret in the Dark', make the boys swoon with 'Walk a While', and shatter your heart with songs like 'Faded Memory' and 'Willow'. It's obvious her work is very personal, and in a way the album is like a high-wire act. We watch her dance the fine line between individual experiences and universal themes, and as we anticipate what her fate will be we invariably wonder about our own.
"Here’s a sensual, trilling voice that hits you straight away and sticks in your memory, and the songs are equally compelling. Schindler’s Americana vision has an eerie aura exemplified by the haunted, voice-from-the-grave “Faded Memory”; the panoramic “Ancient Trail” on which her reverbed vocal achieves a hypnotic, Mazzy Starr vibe; and her catchiest song, “Broken Glass.” On each of Schindler’s tunes, the mix of voice and instruments is expertly rendered." (Music Connection Magazine)
"She works in...bittersweet-yet-still-uplifting territory..., singing sad songs that will make you smile." (Washington Post)
Wow Sis. Fantasic music. I love the new album. You have an awesome original sound. Congrats on a great sophmore follow up. Oh and by the way, I appreciate the iTunes availability. It makes it easier for us cousins to get a hold of your latest. I hope to see you perform soon. I live near Williamsburg, Va now.
if you don't mind here's a poem I found out about from an old boyfriend. It's by David Bottoms from his book Armored Hearts:
Writing On Napkins At The Sunshine Club; Macon, Georgia 1970
The Rock-O-La plays Country and Western three for a quarter and nothing recorded since 1950. A man with a heart tattoo had a five dollar thing for Hank and Roy, over and over the same tunes till someone at the bar asked to hear a woman's voice.
All night long I've been sitting in this booth watching beehives and tight skirts, gold earrings glowing and fading in the turning light of a Pabst Blue Ribbon sign, beer guts going purple and yellow and orange around the Big Red Man pinball machine.
All night a platinum blonde has brought beer to the table, asked if I'm writing love letters on the folded napkins, and I've been unable to answer her or find any true words to set down on the wrinkled paper. What needs to be written is caught already in Hank's lonesome wail, the tattooed arm of the man who's all quarters, the hollow ring and click of the tilted Red Man, even the low belch of the brunette behind the flippers.
"Someone at the bar asked to hear a woman's voice."
Hi there,Im a 34 a quite taste of Italian singer from Treviso,ITALY.I'm going to live in London or in other side of U.K.and looking 4 a mate to live in together.I'm a open-minded guy.I've won many music competitions in Italy. Do you wanna hear my songs?Let's go in www. myspace. com/kemjo74 and let me know If you know some talented musicians in U.K.for to create a new and good project.I work at the moment as a trained nurse.I want to be a frontman and lead singer inside the band that I want to belong!!!...Influences:ENYA,CLANNAD,DEPECHE MODE,DURAN DURAN,TRAVIS,NEW ORDER,ELECTRONIC,DUBSTAR,MADONNA,ROXETTE,COLDPLAY,KEANE,RUNRIG,MAGGIE REILLY,EURYTHMICS,SIMPLE MINDS,ROYKSOPP,A-HA...etc My mobile phone is + 393394494446 sms,mms,videocall +393475386803 sms,mms,videocall. My messenger account is:northernhill@hotmail.it and kemjo.kemjo@yahoo.it e-mail:lothlorien@vodafone.it Please let me know if you are interested for the project...Please,NO TIME WASTED,Max availability and sacrifice for the project.I'm a resolute,stubborn and determined male singer!Please,enter in my site and listen to my new hit-track "I SWEAR" that it will comes out at the early of May in Italy and all Europe..let me know about it...Thank You!!! Kemjö....p.s. I WAIT 4 YOUR ANSWER!!!
The songs you have here sound great---very strong! I hope all is going well for you. Please let us know if and when you make it out to the Midwest. We're all alive and well here!
The new songs sound phenomenal... Are ya gonna put "Save Me" on the new album just for me????? Miss being able to see you live...book some shows down my way would ya?? =}
I love you, Ms. Schindler!
Reviewer: Jessica Lastre
Stella Schindler has such a beautiful voice. Her vocals capture your soul and fill you with such strong emotions. "It's Sunday Again" has become my all time favorite song, and it doesn't have to do with the fact that she is my English teacher at Sherwood High School. Lots of love goes out to Ms. Schindler!
