about stephanie schneiderman

Trying to pin down Stephanie Schneiderman to any one genre, talent or discipline is next to impossible. One thing is clear – whether pursuing her prolific work as a solo artist, playing drums for all star roots pop act Swan Sovereign (formerly Dirty Martini), producing, acting, or giving back, Schneiderman is hands down one of the most diverse and hardest working female singer-songwriters the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

Blending elements of folk, indie pop music, Americana and electronic music, her songwriting is often compared to artists like Imogen Heap, Brandi Carlisle and Jem. As a singer-songwriter, her solo career began with a coveted spot in the Lilith Fair. From there, she went on to receive extensive NW radio play, tour internationally, and earn music placements in numerous films and primetime TV shows, including Felicity, the Vampire Diaries Soundtrack and many more. She has played with some of the nation’s top touring acts- from Aimee Mann to Hall & Oates, Heart, and Train- and enjoyed ongoing success with popular NW all-female groups Dirty Martini and Swan Sovereign. She has stepped on stage in the musical The Full Monty, appeared in major television commercials and films, and even produced the soundtrack for 3 popular children’s DVD’s (Oy Baby and That Baby) selling more than 75,000 combined units. Above all her accolades as an artist, Schneiderman has a keen passion for activism. She organized Portland’s first humanitarian concert series, Voices for Silent Disasters, which raised $70,000 for Mercy Corps in northern Uganda, and is currently penning a musical that raises awareness about human trafficking. Showcasing her talent as one of the best singer-songwriters in the PNW, Schneiderman has nine solo recordings under her belt – Stephanie Schneiderman (1999), Unbelievably Unbroken(2001), “Fall Sessions EP” (2001), Touch Down (2004), Live at Kung Fu Bakery (2005), Dangerous Fruit (2008), Rubber Teardrop (2011) and Live at The Old Church (2013), plus four releases with her collaborative bands Dirty Martini- Dirty Martini (2004), Tea and Revenge(2007) and Swan Sovereign – Arctic (2014) and Valentine (2017). In May of 2022, Schneiderman released her ninth solo album, Crossfire. The new recording combines her past sonic explorations—folk music, ambient pop, trip hop, and Americana music—into a beautifully dark and deeply introspective recording that is as fresh as it is compelling. Funded by pre-purchases and house concerts, Crossfire is a self-released labor of love that celebrates her community and newfound artistic freedom as producer, and will be enjoyed by anyone looking to sit down with a timeless and great record. Crossfire is available on Bandcamp, Apple Music and Spotify.

swan sovereign

Formed by members of Dirty Martini, Swan Sovereign is a Portland, Oregon trio with punchy, defiant pop songs and harmonies so buttery that you’ll forget to be offended by the bossy lyrics. Stephanie Schneiderman (drums) Lara Michell (guitar) and Christine McKinley (bass) are a tight, spare unit with compact songs that burst from dead quiet into tantrums and back down. Before taking over the rhythm section and forming the power trio that became Swan Sovereign, the three were in Dirty Martini. The music of Dirty Martini was gloomy, introspective and rain-soaked, like April in Portland. Swan Sovereign is more like a dance party on a sunny day in Antarctica – bright and blinding, with snowballs flying and a bit of blood on the ice from playing too rough. Swan Sovereign’s songs about interrogation, family secrets, and organized rebellion cut clean and deep. Then they rub salt in with mean 60s girl group harmonies. It leaves a pretty pink scar.

you are the song

YOU ARE THE SONG is a 7-week “songwriting experience” – created by award-winning songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and activist, Stephanie Schneiderman – that leads participants step-by-step through the process of lyric and melody composition to create, record, perform and finally, release an original song. Accessible to musicians and non-musicians alike, the purpose of this workshop is to expand courage, creativity and self-expression through the revered medium of songwriting, and to reveal yourself to yourself – in a song.