Maria Long

It doesn’t take much time to discover that Maria Long’s music comes from a different place than most artists.  Maria writes to give something back, and her primary focus is to help her audience see a clearer picture of GOD.  Maria’s message isn’t comfortable at times, but it is REAL.  Music has always played a huge role in Maria’s life, but it wasn’t until recent years that it became her career.

Maria recorded her first album, Here With Me, in 2006 and received a tremendous response from listeners and the music industry.  CCM Magazine nominated her for Best New Independent Artist of the Year in 2007.  EMI put her title track “Here With Me” on an indie WOW CD called Underground Sound.  The Gospel Music Channel used two of Maria’s songs “Inside” & “Better” on their live reality show, "Revolve Rockin the Road."  With all of the success of her past album Maria felt that she had her work cut out for her on the next album she would release.

Maria spent 4 years writing her current album ENDEAVOR because she wanted to take her time to go through the process of growth as a musician and a follower of God.  Maria’s new album reflects that growth because ENDEAVOR is a concept album which shows the journey from a sinner to a Savior.  This comes through in the artwork, but also in the order of songs – there was great thought and detail put into every aspect of this album.  The songs take you through a progression of steps that a sinner would take starting with realizing your sin with songs like ("Why," "Beautiful Liar," "Find Me," and "Blame") to experiencing a breakthrough in your life ("Breakthrough," "Move," "Forgiveness," and "Speak"), and then culminating with building a relationship with God ("Home" and "Butterflies"), and then the final song, "Endeavor," which is about remembering where you started, the journey itself, and what you have learned about Jesus, the one who matters most in this life. 

Maria Long recorded her album, ENDEAVOR in Los Angeles, CA, Dallas, TX, Tulsa, Ok, and Lincoln, NE.  Each place was chosen for specific songs because Maria wanted to work with certain people that she believed would bring out the best in her songs.  “Find Me” was Maria’s first radio release, and it made the Billboard Top 40 within weeks of its release.  It was also #1 in Tampa and ranked within the top 10 songs of multiple stations playing the single.  Maria’s song, Find Me was also featured in a popular video game called AuditionRedbana.com.  This was the first time that Maria Long’s music has been in the secular music arena.  Other artists featured in this video game are Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, Sean Kingston, Fall Out Boy, Ne-Yo, Orianthi, and more.  Maria’s second radio release, “HOME” is currently at radio.  She is excited about the possibility of this song doing extremely well.

One could say that Maria Long is achieving her goals and dreams as a musician, but if you were to ask her today what the future holds, she would say, “I am not attached to music at all, I am attached to God – the One Who chose to give it to me.  If God changed the plans on me today to quit music, I would walk away because my highest calling is to know and love God and to teach as many people as possible to know and love Him deeply!  My music is merely a platform that I use to speak about real life issues affecting people today - the stuff that A LOT of people want to avoid and never talk about.  Things like pornography and sexual addiction, lying, anger towards God, divorce, suicide, and lack of purpose in life.  I truly want people to see a real picture of God and who He is because I truly believe if they do, they will never walk away from Him or the love He offers.  I want my life to count in a way that really matters.  The significance we attach to things in life like fame, money, and power, things the world sees as achievements in one’s life, are not always the things God sees as important.  I always want to have my eyes open to the need, to the hurts, and to the people that God has called me to LOVE and show the way!  Because in the end, all that really matters is if He knows me and lets me in the door.  I know that if I make Him my greatest ENDEAVOR and teach people how to as well, then there will be a whole lot of people that enter that door!  What an AMAZING day that will be!!!”