On June 30, Mercy Music will release their fourth album What You Stand To Lose. The 11-track record was produced by Bill Stevenson and mixed by Jason Livermore, and it touches on topics like physical and mental pain, heartbreak, and personal growth.
Vocalist Brendan Scholz, bassist Jarred Cooper, and drummerRye Martincouldn’t be more excited about this release, and they’re hoping to connect with the listeners to let them know they’re not alone. “When people listen to our new album, I want them to feel happy, sad, inspired, and depressed. Then I want them to feel happy again. That last part is critically important,” Cooper states.
Today, Mercy Music released “Found Out I’m Useless” as the third single off the album, joining “Love You/Need You” and “Suddenly.” In the music video, we see the band on the road, playing live shows, and even an epic sequence of Scholz playing the guitar on top of the tour van.
With deep lyrics, superb instrumentation, and great production, What You Stand to Lose promises to be one of Mercy Music’s best albums. Soundigest had the opportunity to interview Brendan Scholz about the record, songwriting, and Mercy Music’s upcoming shows in California and Arizona. Read the interview and watch the music video for “Found Out I’m Useless” below.
What You Stand To Lose revolves around the stages of grief. What made you navigate that topic?
Writing for me is a form of therapy. Some people write in a journal, I write songs. I had a lot of major shifts/changes in my personal life this past year, so writing about it was kind of unavoidable.
What do you expect listeners to take from the album?
I hope they take away the fact that your life can fall apart, but you can still find the strength within to keep going, and that maybe what’s tearing you apart at the time may be the best thing that ever happened for future you.
Do you believe people nowadays are wasting their time unwisely?
I think people should take more time to enjoy who and what’s around them before it’s not there anymore, and not so much what’s on their phone, but, we’re all guilty of that.
Were there any new creative lessons you learned in the process of recording What You Stand To Lose?
I can’t really say there was anything new learned this time around. I will say this is the most amount of time we’ve spent in pre-production on a batch of songs before we hit the studio.
What’s your favorite song on the album and why?
I generally end up hating all the songs by the time we record them, hahaha. If I had to pick one right now, it would probably “Love You/Need You.” I still enjoy playing that one.
Do you find it difficult to show your most vulnerable side when writing lyrics?
Not so much. I kind of wear everything on my sleeve as a coping mechanism, so the songs are pretty much the same way. I’m not the guy you want to ask, “How’s it going?”
Between writing lyrics and composing riffs, which one comes easier for you?
The riffs and melody generally come first and easiest to me. Lyrics are almost always last and always the least “fun” part of the process for me.
What are some genres you would like to experiment with in the future?
With Mercy Music, it’s always kind of been the modus operandi to not sensor what songs are “appropriate” to the project. Like, if it’s a song I think it’s good enough, we’re gonna pursue it even if it’s a little different from something we’ve done before. This band started as kind of a solo project for me and grew from that, so its roots will always be in “does the song stand on its own with a vocal and one instrument?” All that being said, if I had the time I’d love to do a more R&B/Motown-inspired project.
You have upcoming dates in California and Arizona. How are you preparing for those shows? What should the audiences expect?
Preparation has really been no different than usual. We work hard at being a good live band, something we’re very proud of. The audience can expect a little bit longer set that touches on all of our records.
Is there any advice you would like to give to aspiring musicians?
Do it because you love it and it makes you happy.
Gracias.