Seven by Melanie Scholtz

My inspiration for Seven came from 7 years of building a new life in
New York City. They always say that every seven years you
become a new person. You literally have a new skin and the body
produces new cells every 7 years. So you are literally not the same
person every seven years. New York’s grit and glitz, two faced grin, definitely inspired the urban sound of this record. Benjamin, an
ode to the good old, and much worshipped $100 bill, speaks of the
fast paced, money driven society. The concrete jungle and
skyscraper mother board, honking cars and caterpillar subway
trains, many on which I scribbled a lyric on or recorded a voice
memo that became some of these songs. New York is part of the
DNA of this record as much as the heartbreak, loneliness,
exhilaration of the city lights and the hope that your next lucky break
could be just around the corner. The “ If I can make it there”, love
to hate city that never sleeps, had me wired so many times and the
melodies flowed from my heart like the dreams of every soul that
comes here thinking that they’ve reached the promised land.

Melanie Scholtz is a South African born, multi award winning jazz singer, composer and educator.
She started playing the piano at the age of 5. Went on to study Opera at The University of Cape Town Opera School and graduated Cum Laude with a Performer’s Diploma in Opera in 2000.

She has performed with Wynton Marsalis , Kurt Elling Hugh Masekela , Bobby McFerrin, and Christian McBride.