Exclusive Interview: Stephanie Schneiderman Talks “Cry with Me” Single, Exploring Vulnerability, and More

Stephanie Schneiderman is a celebrated songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. A true creative force, Schneiderman has excelled across multiple disciplines, from her solo music career, which includes nine albums, to her role as a drummer for Swan Sovereign.

She has also made a name for herself in theater and film, and through her organization of humanitarian concerts. Her breakthrough came with a coveted spot at Lilith Fair, leading to tours with artists like Aimee Mann, Marc Cohn, and Sarah McLachlan. Her emotionally resonant music has appeared in TV shows like The Vampire Diaries and Felicity.

This July, she returns with her latest single, “Cry with Me,” an emotional listen that reminds us all to embrace our vulnerabilities.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Stephanie about the inspiration behind “Cry with Me,” the music video for the song, and more.

PC: How did your journey in music begin?
Stephanie: I grew up in a musical family and discovered songwriting in my late teens. Spending a lot of time alone, I found an entire world of sound in the silence of solitude.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Stephanie: There are so many influences that it’s hard to narrow it down to just one person or aspect of life. I’m fascinated by people and the intersections between us all. I’m drawn to the things that make us similar, and I often write about those.

PC: You’ve been a part of so many different bands. How have those experiences impacted your journey as a solo artist?
Stephanie: Yes, my band Dirty Martini (with McKinley and Lara Michell) has had a huge influence on my songwriting. We later evolved into a new band called Swan Sovereign, where we spent countless hours in my basement co-writing new songs and crafting a sound that reflected the overlap of all our musical sensibilities. Their instincts have deeply shaped my own. Additionally, working with electronic producer Keith Schreiner (aka Audio Sculpture) transformed the way I write and produce music. He taught me how to blend ambient, electronic textures with organic instruments in a seamless way.

PC: Tell us about your new single “Cry with Me” and the inspiration behind the song.
Stephanie: There’s so much trauma in the world right now. I believe we are at our most open when we cry, and this song is an invitation to remain tender and open. I think it might be the only way to truly see each other’s humanity in such a divisive moment in time.

PC: You’re also releasing a music video for the single, where you got to collaborate with your niece. What was it like sharing this moment with her?
Stephanie: It was unbelievably cool! Sarah did an incredible job with the choreography, and working side by side with her as peers was a dream for both of us.

PC: Of all the music you’ve released, if you had to choose a song that best encompasses who you are as an artist, which would it be and why?
Stephanie: My newest album Crossfire has quite a few songs that I feel represent me as an artist. The album is the culmination of all the musical directions I’ve explored in the past, and I produced it myself, aiming to infuse it with intimacy and ambiance. I also feel that my new single “Cry with Me” might be the one that best captures who I am. Honestly, maybe my answer is that whichever song I’m working on at the moment best encompasses me as an artist. Ideally, every song reflects that.

PC: As we look ahead to the rest of 2024, what does the year hold for you?
Stephanie: I have a couple more singles that I’ll be releasing this year, and I’m working on developing a songwriting class called You Are the Song, which is designed to be accessible to both musicians and non-musicians. In the course, I guide people through the processes of lyric writing, melody composing, song arrangement, studio recording, performing, and releasing an original song. I’m particularly hoping to bring this course to marginalized communities. The goal of the course is to help people reveal themselves to themselves through song.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: First album you bought?
Stephanie: Glass Houses by Billy Joel.

PC: First concert you attended?
Stephanie: Helen Reddy when I was three years old.

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Stephanie: Elliott Smith’s Either/Or—his brand of melancholic storytelling is every kind of perfection for me. Also, Patty Griffin’s Flaming Red and Living With Ghosts—she has a way of filling every syllable with so much emotion that she makes me cry more than any other artist on the planet. She’s my go-to when I need to cry.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Stephanie: I’ve always wanted to play at the Tremor Music Festival in Portugal.

PC: A must-have on the road?
Stephanie: My nebulizer for my voice!

To keep up with Stephanie, follow her on Instagram, Spotify, and Apple Music.

Photo Credit: Alicia J. Rose