Most frequent collaboratorDavid Castell · 38 tracks
GenresAlternative RockPost-grungePop Rock
Complete Artist
100%
Authorship
Holds writing credit on 153 of 153 tracks
Who writes Blue October's songs?
Frontman Justin Furstenfeld is the band's lyricist and primary songwriter. He has written the band's material since its 1995 founding, drawing on his own life, and he holds a writing credit on nearly every Blue October song. Other members contribute music on specific tracks, but the words and creative direction are his.
By the Numbers
12
Studio Albums
153
Tracks Credited
100%
Self-Written
31
Years Active
28
Collaborators
Authorship Breakdown 153 / 153 self-written
Who wrote the songs?
Across all 153 tracks: how many Blue October wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.
Blue October has a writing credit100%
68%
32%
Sole author104tracks68%
Co-written49tracks32%
Outside writers0tracks0%
Role Fingerprint how they contribute
Blue October's roles across the catalogue
Share of all 153 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.
Lyricist (words)100%
Composer (music)99%
Producer84%
Performer100%
Member Credit Breakdown share of tracks each member is credited on
Percentage of all 153 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.
Member
Period
Lyrics
Music
Production
Performance
Justin Furstenfeld
1995-present
99%
99%
84%
100%
Jeremy Furstenfeld
1995-present
4%
5%
0%
99%
Ryan Delahoussaye
1995-present
6%
7%
0%
100%
Matt Noveskey
1998-2002, 2004-present
9%
10%
0%
88%
Steve Schiltz
2010-present
6%
7%
0%
14%
C.B. Hudson Former
2000-2010, 2013-2016
3%
3%
0%
49%
Matthew Ostrander Former
2016-2018
5%
5%
0%
17%
Will Knaak Former
2018-2024
1%
2%
0%
25%
Brant Coulter Former
1999-2000
0%
0%
0%
9%
Dwayne Casey Former
2003-2004
0%
0%
0%
3%
Piper Dagnino Former
2003-2004
1%
1%
0%
0%
Liz Mulally Former
1995-1998
0%
0%
0%
8%
Authorship Over Time writing credit per album
Blue October's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.
avg 100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
1998The Answers
2000Consent to Treatment
2003History for Sale
2006Foiled
2009Approaching Normal
2011Any Man in America
2013Sway
2016Home
2018I Hope You're Happy
2020This Is What I Live For
2022Spinning the Truth Around (Part One)
2023Spinning the Truth Around (Part Two)
Early · 100% written
Mid · 100% written
Late · 100% written
Authorship by Decade track-weighted
100%
1990s
The Answers
100%
2000s
Consent to Treatment, History for Sale +2 more
100%
2010s
Any Man in America, Sway +2 more
100%
2020s
This Is What I Live For, Spinning the Truth Around (Part One) +1 more
Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author
Where Blue October sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.
Blue October
Other artists on the site
Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.
Written by Justin Furstenfeld, C.B. Hudson, Jeremy Furstenfeld, Ryan Delahoussaye, Matt Noveskey, Charles Britton Hudson III
Wrote it
Say It
Approaching Normal
Written by Justin Furstenfeld
Wrote it
The Chills
Any Man in America
Written by Justin Furstenfeld, Tim Palmer
Co-wrote
Bleed Out
Sway
Written by Justin Furstenfeld, Jeremy Raby, Chris Lindsey, Mark L. Holman, David Castell
Co-wrote
Home
Home
Written by Justin Furstenfeld
Wrote it
I Want It
Home
Written by Justin Furstenfeld
Wrote it
I Hope You're Happy
I Hope You're Happy
Written by Justin Furstenfeld, Steve Schiltz
Wrote it
Down Here Waiting
Spinning the Truth Around (Part Two)
Written by Justin Furstenfeld, Eric Holtz, Steve Schiltz
Co-wrote
None of the signature songs above fall in this category.
Discography 12 albums
Covers all twelve Blue October studio albums, from The Answers (1998) through Spinning the Truth Around (Part Two) (2023). The 2024 release Happy Birthday is a remix album, not a studio album, and is outside this scope, as are live albums and compilations.
Bubble size = tracks worked on together. TP Tim Palmer · EH Eric Holtz · BM Blue Miller · NL Nick Launay · BB Brian Baker
The Authorship Story
Data Insight
Blue October is one of the purest single-author projects in modern rock. Justin Furstenfeld writes the lyrics to everything and holds a writing credit on nearly every song across the catalog, so the authorship map barely moves from album to album. On the early records he writes almost entirely alone; over time he opens the writing to a rotating set of co-writers, most often engineer Eric Holtz and producers like David Castell and Tim Palmer, plus bandmates on individual tracks. Outside names are rare and stand out when they appear: Steinberg-style hired writers never turn up here, but guests like Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan co-wrote 'Sobriety' on the band's later work. The band members occasionally share a credit, Matt Noveskey and Ryan Delahoussaye most often, but the words and the creative direction stay with Furstenfeld, which is why the confessional themes of mental illness and recovery run unbroken through the whole discography.
Quick Facts
OriginFormed in Houston, Texas, in 1995 by brothers Justin and Jeremy Furstenfeld.
Platinum albumFoiled (2006) went platinum and sold roughly 1.4 million copies in the US.
Biggest hit'Hate Me' reached number two on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart and is certified platinum.
Single authorJustin Furstenfeld is the band's sole lyricist and writes or co-writes essentially the entire catalog.
Own labelSince the 2010s the band has released its music through its own label, Up/Down Records.
CatalogTwelve studio albums from The Answers (1998) through Spinning the Truth Around (Part Two) (2023).
Creative Fingerprint
A single-author confessional rock band whose catalog is written by frontman Justin Furstenfeld, drawing directly on his own struggles with mental illness and addiction.
The Story
Blue October is an American alternative rock band formed in Houston, Texas, in 1995 by brothers Justin and Jeremy Furstenfeld with violinist Ryan Delahoussaye. Justin Furstenfeld is the band's singer and sole lyricist, and he has written or co-written essentially the entire catalog, drawing directly on his struggles with depression, a bipolar diagnosis, and addiction. The band broke through in 2006 with the platinum album Foiled and its hit 'Hate Me,' which reached number two on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, followed by 'Into the Ocean.' They left the major-label system in the 2010s and have released everything since on their own Up/Down Records, keeping full control of the writing and production. Ryan Delahoussaye's violin, mandolin, and keyboards give the group a string-driven sound unusual for its post-grunge peers. Across twelve studio albums from The Answers (1998) through Spinning the Truth Around (Part Two) (2023), the constant is Furstenfeld's confessional authorship.
Awards & Recognition
Foiled certified platinum by the RIAA (2007), roughly 1.4 million US copies sold
'Hate Me' certified platinum and peaked at number two on Billboard Alternative Songs
'Into the Ocean' certified platinum single
Any Man in America (2011) debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200, the band's highest chart placement
More than 20 top-40 singles on the alternative rock chart across the catalog
Frequently Asked Questions Blue October
Who writes Blue October's songs?
Frontman Justin Furstenfeld is the band's lyricist and primary songwriter. He has written the band's material since its 1995 founding, drawing on his own life, and he holds a writing credit on nearly every Blue October song. Other members contribute music on specific tracks, but the words and creative direction are his.
Who wrote 'Hate Me'?
Justin Furstenfeld wrote 'Hate Me' by himself and co-produced it. It appeared on the 2006 album Foiled and became the band's biggest hit, reaching number two on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart.
What is 'Hate Me' about?
The song is about how Furstenfeld's drug addiction and depression damaged his relationship with a former girlfriend. It opens with a real voicemail from his mother worrying about his wellbeing, and the lyrics ask the other person to hate him so they can move on.
How many albums has Blue October released?
Blue October has released twelve studio albums, from the 1998 debut The Answers through Spinning the Truth Around (Part Two) in 2023, including the platinum album Foiled (2006). The 2024 release Happy Birthday is a remix album rather than a studio album.
Are the Furstenfeld brothers both in Blue October?
Yes. Justin Furstenfeld is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter, and his brother Jeremy Furstenfeld is the drummer. Both founded the band in 1995 and remain current members.
Do other band members write Blue October's songs?
Justin Furstenfeld writes all the lyrics, so authorship centers on him. Bandmates share music-writing credits on individual tracks, with bassist Matt Noveskey and violinist Ryan Delahoussaye the most frequent co-writers, and engineer Eric Holtz co-writing much of the later work.
Who are the founding members of Blue October?
The band was founded in Houston in 1995 by Justin Furstenfeld, his brother Jeremy Furstenfeld, and Ryan Delahoussaye. All three are still in the band. Delahoussaye plays violin, mandolin, and keyboards, giving the group its distinctive string sound.
Why do Blue October's songs deal so heavily with mental health?
Justin Furstenfeld writes from his own experience with depression, a bipolar diagnosis, and past drug addiction, and he has been sober since 2012. His recovery and struggles are the source material for most of the band's lyrics, which is why the theme runs through the entire catalog.
What is Blue October's best-known album?
Foiled, released in 2006, is the band's best-known and best-selling album. It was certified platinum in 2007 and sold about 1.4 million copies in the US, powered by the platinum singles 'Hate Me' and 'Into the Ocean.'
Does Blue October have its own record label?
Yes. After earlier deals with labels including Universal, the band established its own label, Up/Down Records, and releases its music through it, giving Furstenfeld control over the band's output.
Blue October