LA based singer songwriter Mary Scholz recently released ‘Begin Again,’ produced by Jonathan Wilson (Angel Olsen, Father John Misty, Connor Oberst).

Mastered by Emily Lazar, with photography by Piper Ferguson, and executive produced by KZZ Music, it’s the follow-up to Mary’s latest chart-topping EP release, ‘Lonesome,’ and her recent cover of ‘While We’re Still Young,’ a reimagined duet with Taylor John Williams paying homage to the late Rusty Young from Poco.

For years, Mary’s stunning voice and evocative songwriting have made her a live circuit favorite. The Philadelphia native has toured nationally for over a decade and made several excursions to Europe. Every time Scholz takes the stage, she forges a personal connection with her audience.

“I wanted the sound of the recording to evoke emotionally”

You just released your latest album, ‘Begin Again,’ what was it like to work on it?

Mary Scholz: I had such a wonderful time working on this record – after so much time on pause, it was beautiful to get into a space with friends and musicians I love and create some magic. We recorded at Jonathan Wilson’s studio in Topanga Canyon, and it felt a bit like entering another world each day, leaving the rush of the city behind me as I drove into the quiet of the canyon. I’ve always felt the weight of “what you record now will be captured forever” when I step into the studio, but this time felt different, somehow – that felt more like a promise than I threatened, and I was able to enjoy the process more openly than on previous records. (though I have enjoyed them each in their own way.)

The album sounds absolutely fantastic. How was it to work with Jonathan Wilson (Angel Olsen, Father John Misty, Connor Oberst) and Emily Lazar (mastering) on it?

Thank you so much! I really enjoyed getting to work with Jonathan, from our first brainstorming lunch to our long hours in the studio. He had a really great knack for keeping things positive and light, and made it a very easygoing space to be creative in. I am so glad to have had him on this project, and was also super excited to have Emily Lazar on board, as well. We didn’t get to work together in person at all, but she’s wonderful, and I am so glad to have had her and her team put the finishing touches on Begin Again.

Are you a classically trained musician? Do you come from a musical family?

I have had a range of training and education, in and out of the classical world since I was very young, and come from a musical family, indeed! My dad plays guitar and sings, my mom plays organ and piano, and my siblings and I always played a variety of instruments and loved harmonizing (or finding the crunchiest conflicting notes we could)! We sang in church, played in the school bands, were in the school musicals, you name it.

It’s a follow-up to your EP release, ‘Lonesome,’ and your recent cover of ‘While We’re Still Young,’ a reimagined duet with Taylor John Williams paying homage to the late Rusty Young from Poco. Can you share some further words about the songs on your latest album and how long did you work on it?

The songs on ‘Begin Again’ span a bit of a longer period of time in writing than my records typically do. While it is full of songs written since the ‘Lonesome’ EP recording, it also has a few gems from earlier on that never made it on to previous records, but found a home with this collection of songs. ‘Strength | Hope | You’, for instance, was written in 2015, while I was on tour in Ireland, and became an acoustic audience favorite over the years. But the time felt right to add the support of the band to drive home the message of healing, and not judging yourself through the process – something I think we’re all really dealing with in our own way right now.

That’s the oldest tune on the record, with a few others from 2017, and the rest from 2020/2021. We worked in the studio for ten days, five with the band, and tracked 13 songs…10 of which are on the record.

What is the typical creative process for you when it comes to music making?

I find that more often than not, nowadays, when I sit down with an instrument and work simultaneously on music and lyrics, I get a more free-flowing output. Sometimes it’s just one, and the other follows. But I try my best to work on them together, as it feels more cohesive when I do. Of course I’m always writing, sans instruments, but getting to work with the two pieces and melody simultaneously is when I find myself really immersed.

Are you planning to play some gigs in the upcoming months?

Absolutely!

Can you share some further details on how your latest album was recorded?

The first five days in the studio, we worked with a group of wonderful musicians who I loved, and started each song by having me talk about its meaning, what I wanted the sound of the recording to evoke emotionally, and played through it acoustically. On previous records, I had played the songs with a band either live or in rehearsals, but this was all fresh. We recorded live, to tape, which was then bounced to digital, and I replaced my vocals and acoustic guitar the next week, when we also did some overdub work. Then it was off for mixing and mastering! Well, once we decided which 10 of the 13 songs would be on this album, and which would wait.

“Performing live has always been my main love”

Some artists delight in making the music, while others seem to delight in playing live … Do you discover new aspects of your songs developing in front of an audience?

Without a doubt. I actually really like playing new songs that are missing a line or a few words, in front of an audience, because sometimes I can work it out on stage, and find that final inspiration. I also always know which lines I don’t stand by if I perform it live, because I’ll feel myself back away from the mic, and then I know I’ve got more work to do. Performing live has always been my main love, though the studio has grown on me so much over the years. It’s a different art form, and a different set of skills, and I really relish in connecting with an audience live. But I’m grateful to have grown my studio skills, too, because that is just another beautiful creative space!

Please take a moment to talk about music that’s had an effect on your sound.

I’ll always be influenced by the sounds of early James Taylor, Carole King, Joni Mitchell records…but I’m just as influenced by records with a clean and modern sound. I try to just be open to the fact that I like what I like, and to not aim to recreate anything in the studio. Actually, I sometimes have a hard time picking a starting point for sound, because I really want to see what suits the music itself. The California record in 2017 was all to tape, and has a very live and earthy sound, and ‘Begin Again’ really combines that with a clean, broad spectral sound as well. You still have that tape hiss, but something about it shimmers, too.

Klemen Breznikar

Mary Scholz Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / YouTube
KZZ Music Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter