oh yeah, i bet you no one saw this coming. truth be told, he’s one of the most interesting artists to hit stones throw records since dilla (yes, i mean that) and was probably one of the easiest interviews the bears have ever landed. it was as simple as me talking to a publicist on aim and him giving us an interview within a couple of days. don’t steal my secrets, y’all.

i recently got the chance to talk to him about his album, a strange arrangement, (pick that up.) touring and sunglasses — among other things. you know the drill – hit the jump for the interview.

-grizzly

Roshan Bhatt, weworemasks.com: Hey Mayer, how’s it going?
Mayer Hawthorne: Hey dude. I’ve been better. I just came down with strep throat this morning and I’m trying to get my voice together.

WWM: So, A Strange Arrangement just dropped a couple of weeks ago. how does it feel to have finally have the album out, and how has the reception been so far?

MH: It feels incredible. I’m just excited for everyone to hear the album. So far, so good. John Mayer tweeted the other day that my album was the best album he’s heard all year, so it can’t get any better than that.

WWM: That’s awesome. I guess that the concept of ‘Mayer Hawthorne’ started out as somewhat of a joke between you and your friends. What was the turning point for you, where you decided to take the project head-on and seriously?

MH: Well, I don’t know that it was a joke. That was kinda taken out of context. It wasn’t a joke, but I just didn’t take it very seriously at first. It was a fun experiment. But I’ve always taken the music aspect very seriously. It’s just like not taking myself so seriously. I think that the turning point was when Peanut Butter Wolf [Chris Manak, DJ, producer and founder of Stones Throw Records] asked me to record a full album of material. Prior to that, it was something I had never thought about doing.

WWM: You started out as Haircut, which is a much more straightforward hip-hop project. How did that evolve into Mayer Hawthorne?

MH: Well, I was a hip-hop DJ and producer. I’ve been DJing and collecting records my whole life and when I recorded the first few Mayer songs, it was just something for fun I was trying on the side. I never even intended for those songs to be released or heard by the public, you know?

WWM: Right.

MH: But I’ve always been into soul music. I’ve been collecting the records my whoile life. I grew up outside of Detroit. Motown. So that’s been my whole thing.

WWM: Yeah, I was actually gonna ask you about that in my next question. Since you grew up next to the city, whether you grew up on it or if it was more of an acquired taste.

MH: Yeah, man. It’s unavoidable. It’s an enormous part of history there. they’re all very proud of the heritage.

WWM: Well, it’s just such an important movement in music so I could only imagine.

MH: Yeah and that’s what I would listen to on the radio. When I’d drive with my Dad or go to work with him, when I wasn’t in school. He had an auto shop and just listened to that type of music and I would always ask him about the artists.

WWM: Who are some of your favorite artists from that era that you would you say you are musically compatible with?

MH: Smokey Robinson for sure. Both as a writer, a producer and arranger. And as a singer, the artist himself. Then, as far as Motown goes, I was always a big Marvelettes guy. Love The Marvelettes. It was poppy but it was still kinda weird, and that’s definitely my favorite stuff. You can really hear that in my album.

WWM: You are one of Stones Throw’s sore thumbs. What are your thoughts and feelings about doing something completely different than your peers?

MH: Well, I mean in a lot of ways it’s great because I just stick out like you said. Stones Throw is just a label of good music, period though. They’ve had some big hip-hop records over the years. There’s also Dam-Funk and James Pants, you know?

WWM: Do you worry about that ‘throwback’ or ‘retro’ tag that gets thrown around with your name?

MH: Nah, it doesn’t bother me. People gotta call you something, right? All that matters is that they’re enjoying the music. As long as they’re paying attention and enjoying the ride.

WWM: How does it feel to be a part of something that was pivotal in the careers of people like Dilla and Madlib? We’re all huge Dilla fans, so it’s cool to see you in relation to some of our heroes.

MH: It’s super thrilling. It’s an honor to be associated with my heroes. They’re my heroes too.

WWM: Have you signed on for more than one release? If so, where are you going from here?

MH: Hey, I’ve already started on the next album. There’s gonna be some new stuff soon enough.

WWM: How has the reaction been for the “Ask Mayer” videos? We’re fans.

MH: It’s been way more than we thought. It was just a low budget spur of the moment thing and the response has been overwhelming. I’ve been getting all kinds of e-mails every day.

WWM: I know you’re on tour now – how’s the tour been so far?

MH: We just did our second show, so we’re just getting started.

WWM: Who’s on tour with you?

MH: Buff-1 and 14KT. They’re doing the US tour with me.

WWM: I know you’re not hitting Houston or Dallas on this tour, you think it’s in your future?

MH: Yeah, I know. We’re only doing Austin on this tour, unfortunately. I’d love to go Houston and or Dallas, but we just gotta get booked.

WWM: What are your plans for the rest of 2009, going into 2010?

MH: Well, I’ll be on the tour for the rest of the year supporting this record. We’ve got a full US tour for 27 dates and then straight to Europe for a full tour. I’m constantly recording and working on some new music, so there will be new stuff real soon.

WWM: Lastly, we’re just curious as to what you’re spinning lately. Anything we should be checking out?

MH: There’s all kinds of stuff. I really liked the new Bird and The Bee album [Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future]. Definitely check out Buff-1 and 14 KT. I wouldn’t bring them on tour if i didn’t love their stuff. There’s also a singer songwriter from norway called Hanne Hukkelberg. It’s sort of like folk rock, loosely. It takes some getting used to, but I’ve just been obsessed with it. Her songwriting is just incredible.

WWM: Oh, man. I have to ask you one more thing for [Panda]. He really wanted to know what kind of glasses you’re wearing in the Hitsville, USA promo pic.

MH: [Laughs] Um, it wasn’t a famous designer. I got those in Tokyo, Japan. They were only 15 bucks from a shop. I never pay too much for glasses.

WWM: He’s gonna like that answer. Well, that’s about it man. Thanks for talking to us. I know you have strep, so I won’t bug you any longer.

MH: Thanks, I appreciate it man.

WWM: Any last words for the readers of weworemasks?

MH: Um, just follow me on twitter!

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mayer hawthorne on myspace.

preview a song from a strange arrangement:

mayer hawthorne – “just ain’t gonna work out”

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a strange arrangement is in stores now.

-grizzly