http://tinyurl.com/cly7994

As always, I am beyond grateful for you all and your support. I couldn’t do this without you!! (And guess what … some of you made it into the video!)

Photos by Brian Alan Photography

Design by Mary Scholz

Keep pushing through the tough part to get to the good part!

By Mary Scholz

Song Five: 

“Weight of It All” by Matt Nathanson

…The big game changer for me as a songwriter…

One girl, one guitar, one song, one iPhone, one take. It’s not perfect, and not as clean a quality as my new recording equipment. But that’s part of the beauty and the point of this song. Not perfect, not clean. Just real.

The year was 2003. It was the summer before my sophomore year of college – one of the most freeing summers I can remember. I was home from school, working as a teacher for a musical theatre camp near my parents’ house and hanging out with a group of kids from high school that I had never really spent much time with.

I saw John Mayer and Maroon 5 in concert at the Tweeter center. I started playing open mics. I reconnected with a boy I knew in high school…I had the first of my annual summer pool parties and we had chicken fights and listened to awesome music all night.  At the end of that night I was handed a mix cd that just read “Matt Nathanson.”

What I knew was that I was being handed a compilation of songs this boy thought I would enjoy by an artist I’d never heard. What I didn’t know was that I was being handed a compilation of songs by an artist that would intensely shift the way I listened to and wrote music. That would change the way I saw concerts and experienced songwriters.

(Matt would probably be happy to know that, not too many nights later, I made out with that boy to that cd)

One of the songs on the mix cd was “Weight of It All,” off of Matt’s 2002 release, “When Everything Meant Everything.” It was his last independent release before his first project with Universal. The song was later recorded for “Beneath These Fireworks,” which was released in October of 2003 (just two months after hearing of him the first time).  By the time that album came out I was already a hard-core Nathanson fan. I went to see him play for the first time at Princeton that September with my friend Rick. He played on a tiny raised “stage” in a small room where we had to sit against the wall because there wasn’t really seating and it wasn’t really a venue.

I went to see him in coffee houses and learned the way a musician communicates with their audience.  He performed multiple times at “The Point” in Bryn Mawr, a legendary music café and coffee house where I spent my summers playing open mics. (Formerly called “The Main Point”) Billy Joel, Elton John, Bill Wither, Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Wonder, Jimmy Buffett…they had all graced the same stage.  He was from Massachusetts but he lived in San Francisco and recorded his live album right there are The Point the following summer. I was in the audience. He actually talks to me on the album.  Seeing him live is always a damn good time. You have to be prepared for dirty humor and the chance you’ll get teased from the stage. The man in entertaining, hilarious and a fantastic musician. He’s one of those people that you can see in every motion just how much they love music.

(From his show at the TLA in Philly, April 2005. I love this photo)

So this song in particular has always stuck out to me. I’m not sure what it is really, just something about the sentiment of not really being known by the people you are most intimate with. My favorite line by far is

“I spent days, stupid, nailed to your floor

And I spent nights, pushed against you

Trying to keep warm

But you don’t know me at all…”

… trying to feel warmth from someone who isn’t reciprocating…Or who you know really isn’t truly looking at you.

Or the opening…

“I’m weak when you miss me

When you roll me on your tongue

When you whisper me your best moves

I almost believe you

But you don’t know me at all. “

Okay I love the lyrics. All of them. Of all of Matt’s songs, this one has always resonated with me the most. And I like the original version better than the second. That’s the version I’m covering here.

Matt doesn’t play coffee houses anymore. He’s had big hits and collaborated with awesome artists, touring through big venues like Radio City Music Hall. And it seems nowadays I can’t go into a department store, restaurant or coffee shop without hearing one Matt Nathanson song or another playing overhead. And that has been a fantastic journey to watch.

Matt Nathanson – thanks for lessons in songwriting, communicating with your audience, knowing yourself and not being afraid to be honest about it through your music. Here’s to collaborating one day.

(And thanks to the boy, Brandon, who I still call a great friend, for handing over that mix cd.)

Matt signing “Weight of It All” Live – not the best sound quality but it gives a good idea of him with the crowd…

After seeing him perform the first time: Rick and I with Matt at Princeton, September 2003 (I look so young!)

I’m writing you from a snowy Saturday morning here in Brooklyn. The winter storm “Nemo” rolled through last night and left Brooklyn fairly quiet this morning. Of course you can’t keep New York quiet for long – they had the streets plowed and the sidewalks shoveled in no time. Everyone might be moving a little slower today but they’re still up and at-em.

I arrived in New York on Wednesday and have been working with my good friend Nathan on arrangements and pre-production for the album since Thursday morning. Some of you may remember him from my previous two EPs – he co-produced and played on those!

I’m already so excited to share what we’ve been up to – and yet there’s still so much work ahead. It’s funny how some songs, even though you wrote them yourself, still seem to hide from you. Some of the tracks are exactly what I’ve imagined for them – and some of them have surprised me and found their way to be completely different, both in tone and instrumentation. But I’ve learned that the melody and lyrics lead you – and I’m so inspired by what is finding it’s way out.

It’s going to be a long but awesome process, and I hope you’ll all be along for the ride.

 (out in the snow in Brooklyn – taking a break from our work!)

Right now I am in Nashville, where I played two different shows Thursday night.

The first was at The National Underground right on Broadway, and the second for a songwriter’s round at The Listening Room Cafe. What a great space and what a great group of writers!

My favorite part about that show was that I got to share the stage with my good friend Harold Allen - it’s been years since we shared the stage in New York!

We finished up the night with a surprise from the weather – well a surprise to me, as I hadn’t checked that day’s weather. Snow in Nashville! Everyone said how rare it is – but the last time I was in Nashville in January it snowed for a whole week…so I don’t believe them!

See ya in New York next!

Music and Lyrics Written by Mary Scholz

Lyrics:

I’m sorry baby but I tried
Sorry for telling you those lies
Sorry for messing with your mind
I never meant to make you cry

You say you can’t believe the things I do
Can’t believe the words I say
But I’m just trying to catch the truth
So I can throw the scars away
Well you had your distance to review
You had your miles in the way

I’m sorry baby but I tried
Sorry for telling you those lies
Sorry for messing with your mind
I never meant to make you cry

Well I’m not the one you wanna hold onto
I’m just the one who got confused
Your eyes they can’t see through the bruise
From the girl you thought you knew
Well my lips are twisted and refuse
To find the words to say to you

I’m sorry baby but I tried
Sorry for telling you those lies
Sorry for messing with your mind
I never meant to make you cry

You were everything, everything, everything
And I came so close to being, close to being, close to being
All the things that I’m supposed to be, supposed to be, supposed to be
But am I supposed to be for you or just for me?

I’m sorry baby but I tried
Sorry for telling you those lies
Sorry for messing with your mind
I never planned to say goodbye

Love to all!

I know a lot of people who are far from home most of the year and are excited to be traveling back to their families and where they grew up over the holidays…so this song is for all of the gypsies headed home, and all of the amazing people that I can’t wait to hug! I put together this acoustic version of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” as my gift to you, so make sure to download it (free) and add it to your holiday playlist!

I also put together a little video to go with the song, so if you are interested to see how the Scholz’s celebrate Christmas, here’s a little taste. Plus you get to see me recording the song as well

“Naughty or Nice”

Who caught “Naughty or Nice” on the Hallmark Channel? It’s original air date was November 24th but it will be airing all holiday season, so if you missed it, check your local listings to see when it’s back!

According to their numbers, “Naughty or Nice” was the highest rated movie of the year for Hallmark – so I’m pretty excited to have been a part of that!

My first time watching was at the same time as all of you (west coasters) so I got some friends together and cozied up with milk and cookies (chocolate chip, of course) to kick off the holiday season.

Fan Submitted Photos:

Thank you to everyone who sent in photos – both of me on their tvs or them with me on their tvs!

Here are some of my favorites!

Anna and Lucas – some of my smallest and most adorable fans!

I’m on the big screen in Hermosa Beach! Thanks to Matt and Bryan for sending this one in!

Jimmy, Mary and Hilarie…and a Christmas tree!

My Mama and the Movie Poster!

For more photo fun, check out www.facebook.com/maryscholzmusic

By Mary Scholz

Song Four: 

“As Long As You Love Me” by The Backstreet Boys

(written by Max Martin)

…The Song that Taught a Girl to Stand Up for Herself…and that she was More Than Good Enough…

You knew this was coming…
Anyone who knows me well or has had a conversation with me about my musical influences through life knows that I was and will always be a die-hard Backstreet Boys fan.

And I’ll tell you exactly why.

I was first introduced to the Backstreet Boys at the age of 12. My friend Jillian was a fan. We had just finished the 7th grade. The songs were catchy. The boys were cute. And I got to go to my first concert since James Taylor when I was much younger. I made a sign that read “Brian I hope your heart Quits Playin Games” and thought I was the most clever girl in the world. (Brian Littrell had a heart murmur due to a hole that he had…in his heart…their first big single was “Quit Playin Games With My Heart…”)
We sang along and knew all of the dance moves and had an amazing time.

That’s the surface level reason.

Not only were their songs well crafted (thank you Max Martin), their harmonies tight and their shows incredible entertainment, they showed up in my life just when I needed them most. And they have continued to do so over the years.

As a kid I definitely went through bouts of depression. No one knew about it – I was very, very good at hiding it. There were many reasons for this – I felt largely out of place. Artsy in a school and neighborhood of athletes. Italian/German mix in a school with hard core Irish Pride. Glasses. Braces. Frizzy hair. I got picked on for having long hair when it was cool to have a short ‘do. I got made fun of for having crushes on the nicer, less popular boys in the class. I stood up for those boys when they got picked on but still was largely unrecognized by them. I felt guilty for having anything but gratitude and happiness towards life as I had been blessed with a loving family and a really nice, safe childhood. Being aware of this made me even more sad.
Despite the blessings, I had some rather dark moments.

I have always been aware that for whatever reason, I have been given the ability to experience intense joy and intense sorrow – usually coupled together, which I always found confusing. And I knew that there were so many more kids who had such difficult lives and struggles, so I felt…guilty. And invisible.

So where do the Backstreet Boys fit in? Well, if you’ve ever listened to any of their music, you’ll notice that most of their songs are geared towards placing them in the role of the guy on the outside, who sees a girl in pain and swears he’ll love her more than whoever is making her sad. A genius marketing tool as far as this adult music business individual is concerned. The 12-year-old-girl listened and believed.
She knew that those boys weren’t singing those songs to her…but she also knew it meant that somewhere, someday, someone would feel that way about her.

And somehow that was enough.

They also taught me to stand up for myself.
When I was in grade school, everyone listened to rap. I had no problem with it, but I just wasn’t digging Biggie Smalls the same way as I wanted to sing at the top of my lungs to BSB. So when we were assigned to cover our notebook with photos of things that inspired us, I included them. Kids laughed.
“The Backstreet Boys?!”
“Weren’t they here over the summer in concert? What did you go to their show too?”
(laughter)
I didn’t laugh it off or deny it as I might have before.

“They were – of course I did. We sat in the second row and it was AWESOME.”
(Silence)
Then, a popular girl, and I assume closet BSB fan…wide eyed…
“You sat in the SECOND ROW…?”
“Like I said. Totally awesome.”

I remember feeling so empowered by not backing down from who I was to appease people who thought they had a right to decide how I should feel about things.
Never mind that we sat in the second row of a section not exactly in front of the stage…
I made my point. My name is Mary. I have my own opinion and I don’t give a crap if you have a problem with that. Kids actually started treating me differently after that.

Theirs was the first cd I bought when I bought my first cd player. In keeping with tradition, every time I have gotten an iPod or any kind of music player…theirs is the first music I load on or listen to on it. It’s a lucky charm of some sort of mine.

They continued to release albums coinciding with difficult times in my life – deaths in my family, bad breakups, strained relationships…and they’ve always reminded me to be myself and keep looking forward.

So I will never deny them as a musical influence or their impact on my life. As a singer/songwriter it’s “cooler” to claim all of the amazing folk music influences that I do truly love…but I’ll always be completely honest about what a big deal this boy band was and is for me.
I’ve seen them in concert every summer that they’ve toured (minus this recent tour with NKOTB due to my travel schedule) and I will continue to buy their albums and be grateful for the fact that they saved a very sad 12 year old girl.

I picked “As Long As You Love Me” simply because it is my favorite.

And Max Martin, who wrote this song…well he’s the man behind the boys. Genius song writing – his (very shortened) list of hits speaks for itself.
Songs co-written by Max Martin:
Backstreet Boys:
As Long As You Love Me
Quit Playin Games With My Heart
Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)
I Want it That Way
Larger Than Life
Shape of My Heart
Robyn:
Show Me Love
N’Sync:
Tearin Up My Heart
I Want You Back
It’s Gonna Be Me
Britney Spears:
Baby One More Time
You Drive Me Crazy
Oops!…I Did it Again
Stronger
Bon Jovi:
It’s My Life
Complicated
Celine Dion:
Love Is All We Need
Faith
Kelly Clarkson:
Since U Been Gone
Behind These Hazel Eyes
Daughtry:
Feels Like Tonight
Katy Perry:
I Kissed A Girl
Hot n Cold
California Gurls
Teenage Dream
Last Friday Night
The One That Got Away
E.T.

You get the idea….