Mayer Hawthorne is the recording name of Andrew Mayer Cohen, a soul singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist from Ann Arbor, United States. He is associated with soul, neo-soul and funk, and is also linked to the Stones Throw label and hip hop.

Background

Hawthorne grows up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and describes hearing soul and jazz from the Detroit area while driving with his father. He is born in 1979. His work draws on the sound of 1960s and early 1970s soul, and he cites Isaac Hayes, Leroy Hutson, Mike Terry and Barry White among his influences, with Smokey Robinson, Curtis Mayfield, and the songwriting and production team of Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland and Eddie Holland Jr. as especially important reference points.

Career

Hawthorne produces and plays instruments on his recordings, and he does not begin as a trained singer. Before founding the County, formerly known as the County Commissioners, he is in several bands but does not sing in choir or formal vocal groups. His first recorded effort, “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out,” features falsetto vocals and breakbeat production, and presents a style that blends classic soul influences with a modern approach.

He becomes associated with Stones Throw Records after being introduced to label head Peanut Butter Wolf by Noelle Scaggs of the Rebirth. Wolf initially hears two songs and is surprised that they are new recordings and that Hawthorne plays all the instruments. Hawthorne later also becomes known as the lead vocalist on his own material. Among the people who take notice of his music are BBC Radio 1 host Gilles Peterson and producer and DJ Mark Ronson.

Style and significance

Hawthorne’s music is often described through retro soul comparisons, but his approach is presented as a contemporary revival rather than simple imitation. His records are characterised by crooning vocals, self-contained production and a close relationship to the Motown model, with most of the arrangement centred on himself and a small number of collaborators. He is presented as part of a newer generation of artists working in soul while drawing heavily on Detroit and classic Northern soul traditions.

Associated acts

He is a member of Tuxedo, Now On and Jaded Incorporated.