Melanie Scholtz, an award-winning South African vocalist and composer, has released five successful solo albums and has participated in many various projects, including her collaboration with Anti Apartheid activist and poet James Matthews called Freedom’s Child, brought to light the struggles of Apartheid. She was chosen to be a featured artist in The Great South African Songbook Tour from September 2019- Feb 2020 with Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz at Lincoln Centre. Spanning the continents and numerous experiences her album Seven is a testament to both honoring her heritage and embracing change. 

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 - main and backing vocals
Bokani Dyer - keys
Benjamin Jephta - bass
Marlon Witbooi - drums

Special guests:
Paul Carlon - saxophones
Mark Collins - trumpet
Al Du Toit - Guitar

Produced by Bokani Dyer Co-produced by Melanie Scholtz

Recorded at DyerTribe studios, South Africa on September 2 2023 & March 2, 16, 30 & May 5 2024 at Scott Kettner Studios, US Mixed by Tim Stambaugh
Mastered by Tim Lengefeld
Recording Engineers: Tshepo Mother and Scott Kettner

Executive Producer and AfricArise Curator – Seton Hawkins

Cover photo - Krystal Pagan-De La Rosa
Album Artwork/ direction - Melanie Scholtz
Album design and layout - Talis Frouge