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Mayer Hawthorne discusses his upcoming album Mayer Hawthorne's New Album Is 'Way Different From Its Two Predecessors'By Gary Graff, Detroit (Billboard) Pharrell Williams, Jack Splash contributed to the "How Do You Do" follow-up.
Mayer Hawthorne says his forthcoming third album, as yet untitled and due this summer, is "definitely different, way different from its two predecessors." Hawthorne came to Austin for South By Southwest to preview eight tracks slated for the set -- culled from nearly 40 he said he worked on -- during a playback session on the open-air terrace of the W Hotel. "This is the first album where I didn't produce the entire album by myself," Hawthorne explained. "I worked with a lot of unbelievably talented people on it, and it really made me a better producer myself." Among his collaborators at sessions in New York, Los Angeles and Miami were Pharrell Williams, Oak, Jack Splash, John Hill and Jake One, while another big-name producer unwittingly helped steer the direction of the album. "One of the very first producer meetings that I had was with...Rodney Jerkins," Hawthorne related. "I played him a few demos I had done and I explained to him my vision for the record, and he basically told me I would have to scrap everything and start over again because I couldn't have any 7th chords in any of the songs 'cause it was too jazzy -- 'too soulful' were his words, I believe. So after that I decided that every single song on this new record would have to have a seventh chord in it." The songs Hawthorne played -- including "The Stars Are Out Tonight," "Fool," "Wine Glass Woman," "Her Favorite Song," "Crime"-- displayed the classic soul-pop flavor that's his stock in trade, mixed with more contemporary sonics and beat sensibilities. "The main focus of this record was about storytelling," he said, while before the relaxed, reggae-tinged "The Only One," Hawthorne commented that "going into this record I decided that I would want to make an entire album of songs that I would play on my yacht, when I was cruising on the yacht on the water." Hawthorne is currently off the road as well but eyeballing tour plans to support the album's release.
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Mayer Hawthorne Announces New Album 'Where Does This Door Go' Released July 15th 2013Mayer Hawthorne releases his long-awaited third album "Where Does This Door Go" on July 15th. The album features a host of top producers, including Jack Splash (Cee-Lo Green and Alicia Keys
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Hawthorne's first album,A Strange Arrangement,is a masterpiece.There were no outside producers,no guest rappers,or any guest artists at all.It was just him doing the retro-soul thing as only he could.But now that he's with a major record company,they're setting him up with contemporary producers and guest rappers (this time,it's Kendrick LaMar...wtf?!).I really hope that his own vision and sound doesn't get left behind as they try to make him sound more commercial.The first single "Her Favorite Song" is a good sign.Can't wait to hear the Pharrell-produced tracks.Rodney Jerkins sounds like a moron that only cares about what sells. 7th chords are awesome! "Keep in mind that I'm an artist...and I'm sensitive about my shit."--E. Badu | |
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I've heard pharell mention that the major 7th chords are a favorite of Jay Z when he's producing. Used them on Allure which is a favorite of mine from the Black album. As for Hawthorne..I just hope he tours Houston! New album is shaping up to be a good one. Glad he's collaborating on the production side..sure wish Prince would..as a change of pace. 1 over Jordan...the greatest since | |
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7th chords are really basic stuff in pop and rock. What the hell was that guy talking about? "Jazzy" would be something like a sus2b5maj7 chord.
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I knew this would happen once he was on a major. |
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Same here | |
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I sorta wish he had stayed on Stones Throw Records.It's a small,independent company but they gave them 100% freedom to write and produce his own music.Now that he's with a major,we're gonna see alot of outside producers and interfering from the label.They want him to reach the Robin Thicke/Justin Timberlake level of fame.Still,I'm hopeful that the new album will have some great tracks.
Yeah, sounds like a very strange thing for an accomplished keys player such as Rodney Jerkins to say. Sounds almost like this was misinterpreted/misquoted sarcasm. Music, sweet music, I wish I could caress and...kiss, kiss... | |
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He is neither as great of a singer as they are, nor is he as good looking. His strength was in arrangement and taste. This makes going major a hit or miss. We don't know, but I really hope his team doesn't fuck it up for him. My Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/tundrah | |
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mjscarousal said:
That came out wrong. It's more correct thing to say that his technical ability as well as voice is not as perfected, but his strength is in character and ear for the right sound. My Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/tundrah | |
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The walk and maybe so are THE shit !! | |
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the new album cover
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Mayer Hawthorne Reveals “Where Does This Door Go” Tracklist and Speaks on Kendrick Lamar Collab06.03.2013An artist with an appreciation of various genres of music has the ability to mold an album into an inimitable work of art. Mayer Hawthorne (singer, songwriter, producer), craftily creates and performs songs influenced by hip-hop, old-school Motown, and bluesy rock. His latest album, Where Does This Door Go, hosts an abundance of surprises – the overall sound is as tastefully unpredictable as the collaborations. Here, Hawthorne discusses the inner workings of his latest album, partnership withKendrick Lamar, and co-producing with Pharrell Williams. Here, the soulful crooner reveals the entire track listing for Where Does This Door Go, to be released July 16th. Life + Times: Regarding Where Does This Door Go, you stated that you were going for a fun approach. What was your favorite part of the development of the album? L+T: At SXSW, you premiered some of the tracks from Where Does This Door Go. If I’m not mistaken, you originally didn’t know if you were actually going to release some or all of the tracks as an EP or album…or even release them at all. Is that correct? Was there a determining factor that led to your decision to create a LP? L+T: You worked with a lot of industry heavies on the new album. For example, “Wine Glass Woman” has Pharrell written all over it. How did you come into contact? Did you guys mostly see eye-to-eye on the production of the tracks? L+T: In addition to Pharrell, you also partnered with Greg Wells, John Hill, Jack Splash, and Oak (of Oak & Pop). All five of these producers have different musical perspectives and approaches. How were you able to take a piece of wisdom from each producer and mold it into the album – without it losing its cohesiveness? L+T: On a personal note, “Crime” is one of my favorite tracks on the record. How did this collaboration with Kendrick come about? L+T: Is a musician truly only good as his last record or can he rest on his laurels? Mayer Hawthorne will be touring this summer in support of Where Does This Door Go. Click here for tour dates. Pre-order the album here. Mayer Hawthorne Where Does This Door Go Tracklist 1. Problematization 14. All Better | |
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Deluxe edition contains a second disc featuring four bonus tracks...
"Fool" "Kalia" "Small Clone" "Designer Drug" | |
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Nice!!!!! LOVE the owl on his shoulder! Hungry? Just look in the mirror and get fed up. | |
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DESIGNER DRUG IS THE SHIZZLE YO!!! | |
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Mayer Hawthorne Flips the Script on New Album 'Where Does This Door Go''This is the album I always should have made'
JUNE 12, 2013 4:30 PM ET
It's not a little bit different," Mayer Hawthorne says of his forthcoming album,Where Does This Door Go. "It's a lot different." For his latest effort, out July 16th, the neo-soul singer tells Rolling Stonehe threw out all of his previously self-imposed rules. The result is a radical left turn from the classic Holland-Dozier-Holland-style sound that comprised his first two efforts. "This is the album I always should have made," he adds. "I truly did not give a fuck on this album. It was very freeing for me."
The singer – who was raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan and has since relocated to Los Angeles – says Where Does This Door Goallowed him to explore all his varied musical influences, from hip-hop to funk and metal. "This is the album that is truly me," Hawthorne says. "It was really about a journey into the unknown, doing something totally different and not knowing where it was going to go or how people were going to respond to it. And if that means really having that sort of DJ Haircut side of me come out and my hip-hop background, and my love for Michael McDonald andSteely Dan and the Cars. . . I used to be a metalhead, too, back in the day. I listened toIron Maiden and Helmet and those are influences that have finally gotten [a] chance.
Hawthorne's writing and recording process changed noticeably for the album, too. "This was the first time ever in my career that I've had a surplus of songs," he says. "For the first two albums, it was like, 'Oh shit, we have nine songs and I need to write one more so I can have enough for a whole album,' you know?" On past albums , Hawthorne says, he played nearly every instrument on the albums. Working with a dream team of producers for Where Does This Door Go, including Pharrell Williams ("He really got me to focus on the storytelling aspect"), helped Hawthorne refine his focus. "This time it was like a completely different experience working with all these other producers," he says. "It took a lot of the work out of my hands when I'm not doing everything myself. It helped to just focus on being creative and writing." For his first two albums, 2009's critically acclaimed A Strange Arrangement and 2011'sHow Do You Do, Hawthorne admits he felt restrained by the Motown-soul sound for which he'd become known. "In the past, I've approached the songs with a certain sort of box that I was in where it had to sound a certain way," he explains. "I was very focused on maintaining my Detroit roots." Comparatively, Where Does This Door Go has a very California vibe to it, he says. Specifically, the singer points to "Crime," a smooth, G-Funk-style ode to having parties broken up by cops, as stylistically West Coast. "It's really sort of my 'Fuck Tha Police,'" he offers. "It's a very smooth song but it has a very underlying sort of N.W.A. vibe to it, as far as the content." To flesh out his vision for the song, Hawthorne recruited Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar, who spits the first rap verse to ever appear on a Hawthorne cut. (Snoop Dogg guested on How Do You Do's "Can't Stop," but Hawthorne insisted he sing for it.) "Kendrick was the only person that I wanted for that song," he says of "Crime." "It was just like, Kendrick being from LA and being from Compton and being a young, upcoming rapper, it just seemed like it would fit so perfectly. He brought that youthful angst and that sort ofTupac vibe. It really came out." Other highlights include the slinky, reggae-drenched "Allie Jones," the Steely Dan-influenced “Backseat Lover," and "Her Favorite Song," the Jessie Ware-assisted lead single anchored by a funky bass lick and a hip-hop beat. Hawthorne heads to Europe later this month with his band, the County, before returning Stateside for a string of shows in July. "We've already learned the whole album," he says. "We started real early because I knew that these songs were going to be difficult. It's something that we're extremely focused on." The singer feels the album is well-tailored for a live setting. "There's so many elements in this album that everybody can sing along with. It makes everybody a part of the show." "Any time we do a Mayer Hawthorne show, we're always trying to make sure it's the best show you've seen in your life," he adds. "I want to make sure that nobody ever wants their money back when they come to see Mayer Hawthorne." | |
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Mayer Hawthorne debuts new song written for his father
WORLD PREMIERE. With Father's Day coming up, check out this new song for my Dad (produdced by Pharrell Williams) #WDTDG | |
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