Mary-Jess Leaverland

[Libby]

I did it. I finally checked her out! I'm always a bit slow getting around to checking out these new artists. I'm always hesitant to do so, or I keep thinking I will, and I forget. Well, the first thing I heard was her Abide with Me from today. I thought it was very pretty, so I decided to check out her website too. Very pretty, there too! I listened to clips from both her album and Laura Wright's, and I decided I was most impressed by Mary Jess, although Laura's was nice too. I'm seriously thinking of buying her album, whereas with Laura, I'm still thinking about it. I might wait a little to get MJ's, though, because if I do decide to get Laura's album, then it would be better to buy them both at the same time. I also found it very intriguing that she won a Chinese talent show! Very interesting!

[Richard]

Here's Mary-Jess singing "Abide With Me" at yesterday's FA Cup Final:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSKlNobo-Ck

Thanks to Dazza for the video.

Richard

[John H]

May 6, 2012 5:37:42 GMT Libby said:

I did it. I finally checked her out! I'm always a bit slow getting around to checking out these new artists. I'm always hesitant to do so, or I keep thinking I will, and I forget. Well, the first thing I heard was her Abide with Me from today. I thought it was very pretty, so I decided to check out her website too. Very pretty, there too!

Glad to hear it Libby!
Mary-Jess's official website is woefully out of date (latest news September 2011) but if you want more up to date information you should check the Mary-Jess forum maryjess.proboards.com/index.cgi which is run by Dazza.

Hopefully Mary-Jess's performance yesterday before a 90,000 crowd (to say nothing of those watching elsewhere) will raise her profile and encourage more people to check her out.

I don't compare Mary-Jess with Hayley, but that performance of 'Abide With Me' did make me think of Hayley - afterwards. The only other time I have felt such emotion from listening to that hymn was when Hayley sang it to me at Croydon nearly two years ago.

[Libby]

Yeah, I listened to Abide with Me because it's a song I know, of course, so it's easier for me to tell how well she's singing it, I guess. Then I went to her website, and then Amazon. Too bad her album isn't available in the US, but I can live with purchasing from the UK, I've done it before!

Hey, how do the record companies decide whether to release a new artist's album in the US or not? How did they decide to promote Hayley in the US, but not her? Well, I do remember that Hayley's album was released in the US months later after in the UK, but still, I'm just wondering.

[Libby]

I ordered the album last night! I decided against Laura Wright's album this time. I listened to the clips again, but compared to Mary Jess' songs, they were pretty, but not that exciting. Then when I read what Nicola said about it in her review of Mary Jess' album, that it was lack-lustre, I decided I agreed with her and decided not to get it, at least not now. There's nothing original on it. As I think I've said before, Give me something different! And different Mary Jess is. Actually, I hadn't heard many of Laura's songs before, they just didn't do much for me other than sounding pretty. And then, not as pretty as Hayley, or even Mary Jess. More like Charlotte Church's voice, but maybe a little prettier. But choir girl does not quite cut it for me anymore.

[Ross]

May 9, 2012 4:39:04 GMT Libby said:

I ordered the album last night! I decided against Laura Wright's album this time. I listened to the clips again, but compared to Mary Jess' songs, they were pretty, but not that exciting. Then when I read what Nicola said about it in her review of Mary Jess' album, that it was lack-lustre, I decided I agreed with her and decided not to get it, at least not now. There's nothing original on it. As I think I've said before, Give me something different! And different Mary Jess is. Actually, I hadn't heard many of Laura's songs before, they just didn't do much for me other than sounding pretty. And then, not as pretty as Hayley, or even Mary Jess. More like Charlotte Church's voice, but maybe a little prettier. But choir girl does not quite cut it for me anymore.

I think you will like Mary Jess's album. Glorious is a beautiful song sung well by her.

[Libby]

Me too, that's why I decided to get it. The song Glorious is definitely one of the songs that won me over.

[martindn]

Her "Glorious" is on the World in Union official album from the Rugby World Cup 2011 too of course.

Martin D

[Dave]

May 7, 2012 2:48:09 GMT Libby said:

Hey, how do the record companies decide whether to release a new artist's album in the US or not? How did they decide to promote Hayley in the US, but not her? Well, I do remember that Hayley's album was released in the US months later after in the UK, but still, I'm just wondering.

Hi Libby,

I think it's left for the US branch of Decca to decide what is released there as they know the US market best. If they think it will sell enough to make them a decent profit, they will probably release it. In the case of overseas artists, especially with classical/crossover and similar genres, they are going to need a lot of convincing and in most cases will say no.

In Hayley's case, it was easy, as she had already had a smash hit in NZ and then in the UK with Pure and she was (irritatingly) promoted by the media as the new Charlotte Church.

Mary Jess is going to have to get a big hit in the UK (or somewhere) first I think, before the US Decca people would consider releasing her there.

Incidentally, if you search Amazon UK for "Mary Jess" (no hyphen) the sixth album in the list is Hayley's Paradiso, and if you sort the list by popularity, Paradiso is second (after Laura Wright) and both are ahead of the Mary-Jess releases. But if you include the hyphen, Hayley is nowhere to be seen! I love these kind of random facts.

Dave

[Libby]

Yes, I saw Hayley's album in my search results. But it's always sorted by relevance, so Paradiso was below Mary Jess' and Laura's albums.

[Libby]

I just got the CD in the mail on Thursday, and started listening to it last night, then again this evening. I still haven't listened to the whole thing yet. I got as far as the Crouching Tiger song. They're all very lovely songs. I think the first 2 are my favorites so far. I also really liked Rising from the Fire and Everything Can Wait. Oh, and the Lighthouse song, too.

[susieverity]

Hi Libby,

I love 'Lighthouse of Mine' and 'Are You the Way Home'. I'm glad I decided to get this album as when I first heard Mary-Jess I thought her voice was nothing special, but then I ordered the album and found I was wrong esp. as Mary-Jess co-wrote some of the songs, I think she is very talented and this album has a really good theme to it aswell.

Susie

[Libby]

I can see why some people might think her voice isn't extraordinary. I mean, compared to Hayley, in a lot of parts, her voice sounds fairly normal. However, I think the way she uses her voice makes it sound special and unique. Her soprano voice is very pretty. The reason I chose Mary Jess over Laura Wright wasn't just her voice alone. It was partly the songs. Laura sings a lot of traditional type songs, which are very nice, and her voice is pleasant. But Laura's voice didn't sound very unique to me. Mary Jess' did, and most of her songs are completely original, nothing I've ever heard before.

[susieverity]

I agree Libby, the way she uses her voice is definately her strong point, I hope she releases another album soon.

[John H]

Here is a beautiful and moving performance by Mary-Jess of Robin Gibb's 'Don't Cry Alone' at Northleach Church in March.

youtu.be/KTHppoLVDGw