Published: August 24, 2026 · 2:52 AM EDT
Sudie Scheller and David J. Irvine lead an independent single built around personal freedom, guitar, piano, organ and a horn section featuring saxophone, trumpet and trombone
Schells & Vine, the singer-songwriter partnership of Sudie Scheller and David J. Irvine, continue building their independent catalog with “Free,” a song centered on breaking through limitations and reclaiming the freedom to live on your own terms.
Released on April 19, 2026 through Twisted Vine Records, the single places Scheller’s lead vocal alongside Irvine’s guitar and piano, but the recording reaches well beyond the duo itself. Bass, drums, organ and a full horn section give “Free” a broader arrangement that brings together elements of rock, soul and jazz.
The song was written and composed by Irvine and Scheller, continuing the songwriting partnership at the heart of Schells & Vine.
While Scheller and Irvine remain the center of the project, “Free” was recorded with a substantial group of musicians.
Tony Saunders plays bass and Joe Renda handles drums, while Wayne Scheller contributes organ. The horn arrangement comes from Tom Timko, who also performs saxophones, with John Martin adding trumpet and trombone. Scheller performs both lead and background vocals, with additional background vocals from Shayla Brattli. Irvine contributes guitar and piano. Those instruments are an important part of the character of the recording. Rather than building “Free” solely around voice and guitar, Schells & Vine use the larger ensemble to give the song a wider musical palette while keeping its message direct.
Irvine’s role extends considerably beyond songwriting and performance. The official credits list him as producer as well as recording, mixing and mastering engineer. Jimmy Crabiel is credited as production assistant engineer, with Sterling R. Jackson serving as preproduction assistant engineer.
The mastering credits also list David J. Irvine at David J. Irvine Studios and Vlado Meller as mastering engineers, with Crabiel credited as assistant mastering engineer. Rather than trying to assign individual stages of the mastering process beyond what has been supplied, those are the credits as documented for the release.
The single is accompanied by an official music video, with part of the production filmed at Pulp in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The video continues a visual side of Schells & Vine that was already developing around their earlier releases. “A Little Romance”, released in December 2025, was accompanied by a cinematic video directed by John Decker. It was followed in January 2026 by “Big Bad Wolf”, before “Free” became the duo’s next release in April.
Together, the three songs document a developing independent catalog rather than a project built around a single track.
Written and composed by David J. Irvine and Sudie Scheller
Sudie Scheller - Lead Vocals, Background Vocals
David J. Irvine - Guitar, Piano
Tony Saunders - Bass
Tom Timko - Saxophones, Horn Arrangements
John Martin - Trumpet, Trombone
Joe Renda - Drums
Wayne Scheller - Organ
Shayla Brattli - Background Vocals
David J. Irvine - Producer; Recording, Mixing and Mastering Engineer
Jimmy Crabiel - Production Assistant Engineer
Sterling R. Jackson - Preproduction Assistant Engineer
David J. Irvine - Mastering Engineer, David J. Irvine Studios
Vlado Meller - Mastering Engineer
Jimmy Crabiel - Assistant Mastering Engineer
With “Free,” Schells & Vine continue developing the musical partnership between Sudie Scheller and David J. Irvine while opening the arrangement to a wider group of musicians. The song’s message is uncomplicated moving beyond limitations and choosing personal freedom but the recording surrounding it is detailed, bringing guitar and piano together with bass, drums, organ, saxophones, trumpet, trombone and layered vocals.
For an independent duo still building its catalog, “Free” becomes another document of where Schells & Vine are heading and of the musicians and production team helping shape that sound.
Written by Gino Alache – Music Journalist
IMAGE CREDIT: Courtesy of LAZZ Promotions / Schells & Vine
Watch Schells & Vine’s official “Free” music video below:
