When my friend Emily suggested I check out a young, White, Soul singer, from Ann Arbor, Michigan, with no vocal training, you could say I had my doubts. It took about 10 seconds of listening to Mayer Hawthorne to throw all my preconceived notions out the window and just appreciate fantastic skill. Here is evidence that soul has no color, and great music can come from unexpected people or places.
Mayer Hawthorne (Andrew Mayer Cohen) did not intend to become a singer. He has worked in music for most of his life, but mostly as an arranger, engineer, musician, and producer. His emergence as a front man came only after the head of Stones Throw Records, Peanut Butter Wolf, heard a few songs that Hawthorne just considered a fun side project. After hearing just two tracks, Wolf signed the artist to the label. Hawthorne has since produced two albums rich in retro-Motown style jams fused with hints of hip-hop. The musical arrangements, high falsetto, and horn flourishes of this music conjures up images of Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, or Smokey Robinson, but the break-beat production and lyrics signal a modern progression from old-school Soul. Beyond the quality of the music, its pretty amazing that for most of these songs Hawthorne played the role of lead vocalist, producer, engineer, arranger, and played most of the instruments. The artist may be unexpected, but the music is undeniable. These songs are sure to take you out of the gloomiest funk and have you snapping your fingers and tapping your feet in no time. Take a listen.
P.S. Check out the Mayer Hawthorn track "Just Aint Gonna Work Out" on the earlier post User Recommended Playlist. Also, click the hyperlinks below to download the track for your collection.
Your Easy Lovin Aint Pleasin Nothin
When I Said Goodbye
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