Mary Lemanski started her professional music career at age 11, playing pipe organ. For the past 14 years, Mary has released her original music on the Internet. She has received much recognition for her music and has performed throughout the United States. She has opened for Marky Ramone & the Speed Kings, D.I., and Val Emmich. In 2010, Mary Lemanski released her first full-length CD, "Eclectic." Since releasing "Eclectic," Mary has performed at Six Flags Great America and was a Semi-Finalist in the 2011 Song of the Year songwriting contest. She was also a Regional Winner in Flavorpill's A Band Apart competition and was featured on the Chicago Regional Winners mixtape. In 2012, Mary released, "Speechless," an album of instrumentals in various genres. She is currently working on her third full-length release. Mary is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), as well as the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS).
Latest News
I am currently working on my third full-length release.
Mary Lemanski's Biography
Mary Lemanski started her professional music career at age 11, playing pipe organ. For the past 14 years, Mary has released her original music on the Internet. In 2004, she placed runner-up in the Song of the Year Contest, had a Top 10 Hit on Broadjam.com's New Wave charts, and performed at the One World Festival in St. Cloud, MN. In 2005, she was showcased at Earth Mother Mind Jam in Tempe, AZ, the Putt Putt Pub Crawl in St. Louis, MO, and the Millennium Music Conference in Harrisburg, PA. In May 2006, Mary won honorable mention in the R&B/Hip-Hop category of the Song of the Year Contest. In 2010, Mary Lemanski released her first full-length CD, "Eclectic." Since releasing "Eclectic," Mary has performed at Six Flags Great America and was a Semi-Finalist in the 2011 Song of the Year songwriting contest. She was also a Regional Winner in Flavorpill's A Band Apart competition and was featured on the Chicago Regional Winners mixtape. In 2012, Mary released, "Speechless," an album of instrumentals in various genres. She is currently working on her third full-length release.
Mary earned a Music/Business Administration degree from Millikin University, a certification in audio engineering from the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences, and an MBA in e-Business from the University of Phoenix. She is the Director of Operations and the Chicago & Springfield, IL coordinator for Songsalive!, an international songwriting organization. Mary has worked widely in the music industry, including Epitaph Records, BMG Entertainment, Clear Channel Radio, Razormaid.com, and Rhino Staging. Mary has done songwriting, marketing, and image consultation for many record labels and individual artists. She wrote columns for GoGirlsMusic.com and LooseyLucy's Headquarters and opened for Marky Ramone & the Speed Kings, D.I., and Val Emmich. Mary is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), as well as the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS). In addition to performing her original music, Mary is available for hire to perform classical, jazz standards, showtunes, and pop. Her other interests include spending time with her family, acting, dance, writing, and reading.
Press Info - Reviews
Reviews
Eclectic Reviews
...While a term this reviewer had never before come across, 'swirled pop' is an apt description for the music, as she's applied her chops to New Wave, Hip-Hop, Blues, Pop and Classical music in the past and Eclectic's 10 originals are, true to its title, equally wide ranging...in "Man of My Dreams" and a "Song for Aiden" her singing calls to mind the bruised hopefulness of "Whitechocolatespaceegg" era Liz Phair. Lemanski's earnest but world wise lyrics are also somewhat Phair-esqe, as they take on the often-thorny particulars of contemporary relationship without necessary providing easy answers.
Ultimately, its Lemanski's willingness to stretch both her vocal and range of genre and mood to fit the song, which makes Eclectic an interesting listen. "Such a Mess" calls to mind a track for a musical such as "Rent," while the punk pop of "Leave Me Out of It" owes a nod to "Blondie."
-Review by Deborah Crooks for Rockin' Moms (www.rockinmoms.com)
Contest Review
Song of the Year Contest: Critique of "Groove Me" from Mary Lemanski EP/Demo
You have some very creative and catchy lyrics with good word usage. The organization of your lyrics has a good natural rhythm. Good work...The melodies are clean and have a nice feel, a sense of attitude. Good composing!
Live Review
Phoenix New Times: March 25-31, 2004
"Austin Translation: A Phoenix Passport to South By Southwest" by Michele Laudig
Her songs are vaguely bluesy and her voice is deceptively sweet, with a hint of naughtiness during the choruses.
David A. Loebach, Ed.D. - Fan Review
Mary Lemanski is a very talented smiling young lady who feels deeply and articulates it well in her song. Her talent is awesome!!!
SongsAlive! Songwriters' Showcase Review
...Mary Lemanski ended with a full-band set of funky-folk, which was a lot of fun, and brought an end to this very diverse and well-put together Showcase, which impressed the songwriters and the audience alike.
Album Reviews
"Six Songs Just For You" Demo/EP Review
Geneva World - Girlmedia.com - Girl Power Flower Hour - KCRH
...I see a bit of Fiona Apple or Tori Amos fame in her future.
Mike McGuirk - Staff Writer - listen.com
Angelic-voiced pianist plays stark, melancholic arias that are as scary as they are pretty. The sound of loneliness.
69.9 TeKa Radio AM 2 - MP3.com Radio Station
Melancholy and mysterious, Notes On Mary. Mary Lemanski is a very talented pianist with a beautiful voice. This song is very "low-key" and yet it has the ability to stir up deep imagery and emotion in the listener, at least it did with me.
"Open Dress Rehearsal" Demo/EP Review
Queenie
"Make It Go Away" by Mary Lemanski: This wistful song by Mary Lemanski has a lovely melody and beautiful arpeggiated minor modal piano accompaniment. It is similar to early Tori Amos songs, back when Amos was a stronger melodist. It is a song about the revulsion that the modern world can invoke in people, and features intelligent lyrics...Mary, age 25, comes from a strict religious background, like Tori Amos, and I think you can hear it in her music that she is not jaded and sick of the world. I usually don't say this sort of thing, but since it will drive more visitors to her page, Mary is just as cute as a button. Mary writes AAA/Adult Contemporary music, which is a style I favor the most over Rockabilly or Country, which she also does. She is a good songwriter and deserves a listen.
Similar Artists
Kate Bush, Alanis Morrisette, Tori Amos, Nine Inch Nails, They Might Be Giants, Ben Folds
Influences
40's-present pop music, alternative, blues, jazz, r&b, rock; Kate Bush, Alanis Morrisette, Tori Amos, Nine Inch Nails, They Might Be Giants, Ben Folds