Chris von Sneidern (CvS) Talks to Holly Stephey

Since 1993, Chris von Sneidern (CvS) has released twelve critically acclaimed, self-produced albums: Sight & Sound , BigWhite Lies , Go!(, Wood + Wire ), The Sportsmen Spirited ; London Payne, 2-cute 2-be 4-gotten, Live Start Lifting , The knight of lines and proses , The Wild Horse , Headful of Words , and California Redemption Value . The warmth and grace of CvS' music has been recognized by fans and critics alike. Goldmine has compared him to Big Star and Badfinger, while renowned music critic Michael Goldberg has declared in the San Francisco Chronicle: "If the remaining ex-Beatles had any guts, they'd seek out von Sneidern to participate in a Beatles reunion. The guy is that good." Option's Lisa Gidley opined, "most of these songs could kick Jakob Dylan's ass with one guitar tied behind their back." Although CvS has called San Francisco his home for nearly twenty years, he moved to Seattle for the past 18 months. While there, he landed a publishing deal and has placed a song in "Line Of Fire" on ABC Television. In that dark and rainy Pacific Northwest tenure, he spent his time writing and recording his latest album, California Redemption Value. The songs are introspective, yet also a joyful celebration of his eventual return to San Francisco. CvS has spent the latter half of 2005 touring the USA as a solo singer, with his 12-string guitar. The Wild Horse, released in Spain, the USA, and now in Japan, returns to a more traditional CvS singer-songwriter form, the CD features originals in the pop rock style his fans have come to know and expect, with guest appearances by Neko Case (The New ographers), and Kelly Hogan. When he's not busy with his own recordings, CvS runs his studio, Ordophon, where he serves as producer, mixer and engineer. Working with Badfinger biographer Dan Matovina, he has lent his expertise to Golders Green, and 7 Park Avenue, adding instrumentation to demo material from the late Pete Ham of the 70s band Badfinger.