Markus W. Schneider is a guitarist, composer, improviser, and producer from Vienna who works primarily in experimental music, with influences from pop and jazz. He challenges the traditional role of the electric guitar by exploring alternative playing techniques, electronics, and recontextualizing established repertoires and clichés.
His solo projects showcase this approach: "Fragile Findings" delves into electroacoustic improvisations, "Ghosts in my Pocket" explores acoustic guitar music, and "Widerspruch" is a deconstructive song cycle that pushes the boundaries of traditional song formats.
Schneider is a key member of several collaborative projects. He is one half of the Art Pop duo 264 HOURS OF SLEEP with Christina Ruf, part of the improvisation duo Gnigler/Schneider, and a member of the experimental pop band GLAM (with Gloria Amesbauer and Aras Seyhan). He also plays in Lukas Aichinger's jazz sextet AHL6, the noise band Ferro Taylor, the multimedia group Monza Blitz, and the band B. Fleischmann.
Markus W. Schneider has performed at numerous international festivals, including Donaufestival Krems, Jazzfestival Saalfelden, V:NM Festival, TimeZones Festival in Bari (Italy), Jazzwerkstatt Festival, One of a Million Festival in Baden (Switzerland), SUAL Festival, and the Outreach Festival.