Steve Schiltz is a songwriter, composer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist in Brooklyn, New York.
Schiltz at Olé Recording, his studio in Brooklyn, New York. Photo: Mayumi Nashida
Schiltz was born in Rochester, NY. But the guitar—and the road—soon came calling. Drivers’ license in tow, Schiltz set out for every underground venue between Toronto and New York City where he became completely immersed in the emerging DIY indie rock scene at the dawn of Y2K.
As the songwriter, guitarist and vocalist of the NYC shoegaze band Longwave, Schiltz brought anthemic melodies and intricate, ethereal guitar work to the Lower East Side of Manhattan, emerging from the infamous “Meet Me In the Bathroom” era of New York’s music scene as a prolific songwriter, touring and session musician and composer for television and film.
He has collaborated on several documentary scores, including the surfing spotlight Stephanie In the Water (2013) and Another World (2014), a dramatic chronicle of the rapid rise and fall of Occupy Wall Street. Schiltz’s score for the sci-fi short Voskhod (2015) debuted at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2023, Schiltz contributed additional music and guitar to composer Will Bates’ score for the upcoming documentary Anita, currently touring the festival circuit.
On television, Schiltz’s credits include the Netflix sketch comedy series I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson and the theme music for In the Dark on the CW—another Will Bates collaboration.
Schiltz’s music favors vintage instruments recorded with analog equipment in live, single takes. At Olé Recording, his private studio, Schiltz conjures memorable melodies for original songs, TV ads and film scores. His catchy riffs and unique, organic, irreplaceable analog sounds are heard in spots for Google, Amazon, Spectrum, Subaru, Verizon, Coca Cola, UPS, Cracker Barrel, Kohler and more.
1999-2009: Longwave, RCA Records and Touring
In 1999, Schiltz moved to New York City where he formed the shoegaze band Longwave. The group quickly became a fixture at Luna Lounge, the storied Lower East Side rock and comedy club famous for its nightly no-cover shows. Longwave signed with RCA Records in 2002, teaming with producer Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, Tame Impala) to release their sophomore album and major label debut, The Strangest Things.
In support of The Strangest Things, Longwave embarked on US and international tours with The Strokes, The Vines, Bloc Party, OK Go and others.
Schiltz front and center with the reunited Longwave performing live at a sold-out Bowery Ballroom, NYC. Photo: Angelys Ocana
Longwave quickly followed up with the Life Of The Party EP co-produced by Fridmann and Peter Katis (The National). The band enlisted producer John Leckie (Radiohead, XTC, Stone Roses) for its third full length, There’s a Fire, released in 2005. More touring followed, including dates with The National, Blue October, Doves, Kasabian and more.
Longwave took an unofficial hiatus in 2009 following the release of their album Secrets Are Sinister.
Schiltz returned home to Brooklyn road-weary and nearly broke. He had $42 in the bank.
2009-2011: Hurricane Bells, The Twilight Saga: New Moon and More Touring
In 2009, Schiltz launched a solo project, Hurricane Bells, exercising his nuanced indie-folk-pop songwriting skills with immersive, tuneful production on the full-length album Tonight Is The Ghost.
But it was “Monsters,” a b-side from the Tonight Is The Ghost sessions which showcased the strength of Schiltz’s songwriting and production. Director Chris Weitz heard the unreleased “Monsters” and included it in the film The Twilight Saga: New Moon. The soundtrack album—also featuring Thom Yorke, Death Cab For Cutie, Bon Iver with St. Vincent and others—is certified Platinum®, with over one million units sold.
The Twilight Saga: New Moon Original Motion Picture Soundtrack also hit number one on the Billboard 200, Top Rock Albums and US Soundtrack Albums charts. On Spotify, “Monsters” has over ten million streams. The song was featured in a Twilight: New Moon Hallmark card.
“It was the Hallmark card that convinced my father-in-law that maybe this music thing was going to work, after all,” says Schiltz. “It was like I won the lottery.”
“Monsters” catapulted Hurricane Bells to massive success. Schiltz recruited musicians to bring Hurricane Bells to life and the project, now a fully-fledged band, hit the road. The band embarked on several US tours in addition to playing to energetic crowds across India and Japan.
2011-2019: Olé Recording, Blue October, TV Ads and Film Scoring
Suddenly, Schiltz was in demand. Following the breakout success of Hurricane Bells, Schiltz became a sought-after songwriter, composer and touring and studio guitarist.
Rather than blow his royalty checks on more guitars, Schiltz followed a wise friend’s advice and invested in analog recording gear and vintage microphones to open his own studio, Olé Recording.
With a complete analog recording studio at his disposal, Schiltz crafts unique sounds unheard elsewhere. His curated collection of one-of-a-kind guitars, effects, synthesizers, drums, pianos and percussion brings an intuitive, human element to the creative process.
In 2011, Schiltz began an ongoing collaboration with the band Blue October. He has made creative contributions to every album since Any Man In America (2011) and co-wrote "I Hope You’re Happy,” the title track to Blue October’s 2018 album which landed multiple Billboard Top 20 chart placements and has over 22 million plays on Spotify.
All smiles onstage with Justin Furstenfeld and Blue October. Photo: Mayumi Nashida
Schiltz has also co-written other Blue October fan favorites including “This Is What I Live For,” “Fight For Love,” “Change” and “Coal Makes Diamonds.”
2019-Present: Longwave Reunion, Hurricane Bells Returns, Wah Together, The Strokes, Joins Blue October Full Time
Longwave returned in 2019 with the album If We Ever Live Forever. The concert video and album Live at Bowery Ballroom followed in 2020. Schiltz also revived Hurricane Bells in 2020, issuing the There’s Nothing Precious in the Past EP the same year. The instrumental full-length Our World Is 3D arrived in 2021, reestablishing Hurricane Bells as an enduring creative outlet for Schiltz’s ever-evolving artistry.
In 2021, Schiltz was also invited to fill in on guitar with The Strokes for a gig at New York’s legendary Irving Plaza.
In 2022, Schiltz formed the eclectic fuzz-pop supergroup Wah Together. The group—which also features members of LCD Soundsystem, Electroputas NYC and The Rapture—released its debut LP, Let’s Wah Together on Dedstrange, a newly-formed record label founded by Oliver Ackermann (Death By Audio, A Place to Bury Strangers).
In 2023, Schiltz joined Blue October full time. The band is currently writing new music and touring behind their upcoming twelfth album, Spinning The Truth Around Part 2. Blue October issued their first single since Schiltz joined full-time, “Down Here Waiting” on July 7, 2023.
Steve Schiltz lives in Brooklyn with his wife and their two children. One of their favorite songs to sing together before bedtime is Tom Petty’s “Wildflowers.”
Aaron M. Rogers