Mercy Music Reflect On “What You Stand To Lose” On New Album

Las Vegas-based pop-punk outfit Mercy Music have today dropped fourth full-length album, What You Stand To Lose, out via Double Helix Records & SBÄM Records. The title of their new album refers to the many monumental changes in vocalist and guitarist Brendan Scholz‘s personal life since it was “flipped upside down” between this album and their last, 2020’s Nothing In The Dark. Over the course of the album’s eleven tracks, Scholz, bassist Jarred Cooper and drummer Rye Martin, mostly sound downright happy. So long as you don’t listen too closely to the lyrics, What You Stand To Lose just sounds… fun and good and poppy. This isn’t just happenstance. This is by design.

When all is said and done, Scholz, Cooper, and Martin are just good people who care a whole lot about the people who depend on them, all three of them are devoted fathers, the latter two to very young children, and they also care a whole lot about the people who turn to Mercy Music for solace. The album sees the band finding inspiration in the fact that nothing should be taken for granted, no time should be wasted, and there is everything in the world to lose by not collectively fighting hard enough to succeed. 

“I want people to know they’re not alone in whatever they’re struggling with, I hope they find comfort in the record the same way I do in the records I love. 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. What You Stand To Lose is about coming face to face with one of your worst fears, learning from the experience, and hoping you come out the other side a better person.”