Biography
Some musicians play music because they want to – and others play because they have to. Todd Steinhilber (toddsteinhilber.com) is clearly in the latter category. For him, music has always been an all-encompassing experience, where the only way to play and record is by putting every piece of himself in the songs themselves. You can hear that in his debut EP, Arise a thrilling and passionate collection of songs that herald the arrival of a performer sure to impact all those that hear him.
Based in New York, Steinhilber began playing guitar at the age of 12. From the moment he touched the guitar, Todd says, “I knew that was the direction my life was going to go in.” His parents, both huge music fans, exposed him to the Beatles (his first musical love) and then he discovered Bruce Springsteen, an artist whose dedication and passion for music Todd has completely identified with. Todd explains, “What I always loved about Bruce, and then Bono later, is that even with all of their success, you just know that it’s not about the money, fame or anything else. They do it because there’s nothing else for them. I’ve always wanted my music to have that same type of commitment.”
Arise delivers on Todd’s commitment. The four songs, written and produced by Todd – and featuring him on every instrument are the culmination of what he’s learned as a musician. He adds, “Everything I’ve done has led me to today. This is where I am right now, and this is what I want to say.”
The title track from the EP, “Arise,” is Todd’s rock take on “Tomorrow Never Knows,” and lyrically reflects what he describes as, “a lot of the esoteric stuff I’ve been reading over the past few years – everything from Ekhart Tolle to Krishnamurti.” Over a driving and propulsive beat, Todd’s vocals shimmer as he sings the lyrics about the need to look forward rather than back. “Most people are looking behind them and not in front of them,” he explains. “But I’m quite certain that I wrote a lot of those lyrics for myself.”
“Walk On” features a more modern arrangement that reflects Todd’s love of another intensely passionate band, Radiohead. With a lyric urging to “live your life while you’re still young,” the song stems from what Todd describes as, “the catalyst of 9/11.” He continues, “There was so much fear going around and my idea was that you have to just keep walking. When you stop being you is when you start letting someone else control your life.” Musically stirring, the song is redolent with the determination and spirit that Todd intends.
There’s an atmosphere of foreboding that envelops “It’s Alright In The End…,” but the fiery rocker rides right through it with a thunderous beat that conveys as much grit and gravel as the tough-minded lyrics. Todd’s production on the track stands out for its seamless mix of modern ambient and classic rock sounds; it’s a combination of sounds that few would even think to try, and even fewer could pull off.
Like most of Todd’s work, “Go” is a blend of determination in the face of anything that comes. “I started the song thinking about my father’s passing, but like many things in life, what you start off with is not always what you will end with. The message expanded as I wrote and it became far more universal.” Mixing a melancholy melody with a lyric of resolve and purpose, the song represents Todd’s use of music to confront, rather than escape, life’s biggest challenges and harshest blows. And in that, Todd separates himself from the huge majority of artist for whom music is simply just “entertainment.”
Todd is looking forward to playing out in the New York area and expanding upon his fan base. But as he says, “It’s the artistry that matters. It’s the communication and expression of myself – and then having someone else get it. That’s what keeps me going. And I think it’s what keeps everyone going – the hope that someone else is getting them.” On Arise, Todd’s passion communicates clearly, ensuring that anyone whose ears are open enough to listen, will absolutely get it.
website: toddsteinhilber.com
Artist descriptions on Last.fm are editable by everyone. Feel free to contribute!
All user-contributed text on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply.
