Photo by: moonie

Mayer Hawthorne grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, just outside of Detroit, and vividly remembers as a child, driving with his father and tuning the car radio in to the rich soul and jazz history the region provided. “Most of the best music ever made came out of Detroit,” claims the singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, who counts Isaac Hayes, Leroy Hutson, Mike Terry, and Barry White among his influences, but draws the most inspiration from the music of Smokey Robinson, Curtis Mayfield, and the legendary songwriting and production trio of Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, and Eddie Holland Jr.

The “retro” tag is added to almost any contemporary work that sounds like it was originally recorded between 1966 and 1974, and Hawthorne, among the newest contributors to the genre, is aware of how trends come and go. After being introduced to Stones Throw label head Peanut Butter Wolf by mutual friend Noelle Scaggs of The Rebirth/Fitz & The Tantrums, even his current boss was skeptical. “He showed me two songs and I didn’t understand what I was listening to,” Wolf recalls. “I asked him if they were old songs that he did re-edits of – I couldn’t believe they were new songs and that he played all the instruments.”

And after meeting in person, it was even harder for Wolf to believe that Hawthorne was also the lead vocalist. Few expect such heartfelt sentiment to come from a 29-year-old white kid from Ann Arbor, but he has caught the ear of not only Peanut Butter Wolf, but BBC Radio 1 host Gilles Peterson, KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic host Jason Bentley, and producer/DJ Mark Ronson. Expectations are high for the admitted vinyl junkie who never planned on taking his crooning public. Hawthorne’s hanging-by-a-string falsetto and breakbeat production on his first recorded effort, the tender “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out,” are simultaneously Smokey and J Dilla – equal parts “The Tracks of My Tears” and “Fall in Love.” “It’s soul,” he explains, “But it’s new.”

Hawthorne has produced and played instruments for much of his life, but never intended to become a singer. He isn’t formally trained, and never sang in the church choir or in any of the bands he was in before founding The County (formerly The County Commissioners). But here he is, new school soul sensation, who has taken the Motown assembly-line production model and eliminated nearly every element but himself and a few hired hands. “I think Mayer is the only artist in the history of the label that I’ve signed after hearing only two songs,” says Peanut Butter Wolf. “Sometimes, you just know it’s the right thing to do.”

And for those willing to believe anything is possible, be grateful to have Mayer Hawthorne on the scene. It’s not just throwback music anymore – this revival is all about progression.


For all business inquiries contact:
A-Side Worldwide Management
Jackson Perry: jackson[at]asideworldwide.com

For live bookings contact:
Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
North America: Jbeau Lewis jlewis[at]caa.com
EU/UK, Worldwide: Georgia Spencer Holmes GSpencerHolmes[at]caa.com

Record Label: Stones Throw

Mayer Hawthorne Photos

“We love, love, love it!” – Perez Hilton

“Motown soul with a fresh pair of kicks” – Ford Models

“Mayer Hawthorne makes Harry Connick Jr. seem downright taciturn. Any white kid in a seersucker suit who’s got the balls to take the stage after playing a recording of James Brown’s old Are you ready for Star Time? intro had better back that shizz up with some bravado, and Hawthorne takes it to the limit!” – Entertainment Weekly

“Hawthorne is well on his way to becoming a veritable soul sensation” – W Magazine

“A breath of fresh air for a world gone crazy” – Yahoo Music

“Hawthorne emerges with a jaw-dropping collection of classic soul” – RollingStone.com

“Immaculate debut” – Spin.com

“A Strange Arrangement is a master class in soul music” – Esquire.com

“He’s an able singer, a gifted mimic and an arranger of astonishing precision” – NY Times

“Hawthorne turned out one of the best soul records in decades with A Strange Arrangement” – Dallas Observer

“The fastest rising pop star in the Americas” – Detroit Metro Times

“Best record of the year goes to Mayer Hawthorne” – John Mayer

“My favorite new artist is Mayer Hawthorne” – Snoop Dogg

“That Mayer Hawthorne album brings me back to that golden time in music” – Kanye West

“Mayer Hawthorne is incredible” – Jazzy Jeff

“He’s crazy. His music is fire.” – Ghostface Killah

“I have no idea what this is, old or new, but it’s fucking good!!!“ – Mark Ronson

“That’s fuckin’ music right there!” – Kevin Smith

“I loved Mayer Hawthorne’s album A Strange Arrangement, he’s got a great voice and songs and it sounds so big” – Lily Allen

“One of the biggest records of 2009!” – Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio 1)

“Mayer Hawthorne is taking the world by storm and an artist we love here at KCRW” – Jason Bentley (KCRW)

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