Mayer Hawthorne cut his teeth in his hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he startedmaking beats and DJing at the height of Detroit hip-hop. Since his debut heart-shaped single,Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out, dropped via Stones Throw in 2008, Hawthorne has released fourLPs, raking in accolades from esteemed publications like GQ, Vanity Fair, New York TimesMagazine, Playboy, and Rolling Stone. From NPR’s proclamation of his imminent stardom toBBC Music’s endorsement of his authentic soul, his artistry has captured the hearts of critics andfans alike. With appearances on Conan, Letterman, Kimmel, The Today Show, and beyond,Hawthorne’s cultural impact is undeniable.

Your favorite artist’s favorite artist, Hawthorne opened for Amy Winehouse on her tragic finaltour and served as direct support for Bruno Mars twice. He crafted modern yacht rock jams withPharrell poolside in Miami and John Mayer called his debut the “album of the year” on Twitter.His songs have soundtracked episodes of HBO’s Girls, the end credits of the final episode ofUgly Betty, and is the only non-Kanye song in the famed Spike Jonze directed short film, WeWere Once A Fairytale. Hawthorne has written and produced the lion’s share of his catalog, andapart from his solo work, he collaborates with producer Jake One on their boogie funksuper-group, Tuxedo, which is now three albums and multiple world tours deep.

After the release of his last album Man About Town on Vagrant Records in 2016, Hawthornelaunched the next phase of his career as a producer and writer for fellow artists. Recent creditsinclude Jordan Ward’s single “Lil Baby Crush” released through Interscope Records,“Truth orDare” by Chika featuring Freddie Gibbs, and most notably “Options featuring JID” from DojaCat’s double platinum album Planet Her, which earned him another Grammy nomination. Whenthe pandemic struck, Hawthorne took to YouTube, where he started the “Wine & Vinyl Hour”live streaming series, spinning rare records for his global community of viewers and reachingthem in the most intimate of settings; at home.

Hawthorne’s insane personal vinyl collection and party rocking experience make him the go-toDJ for celebs like Kendall Jenner and Kourtney Kardashian as well as brands like Levis, GQ andSeth Rogan’s Houseplant. Though he’s lived in Los Angeles for over a decade, Hawthorne hasnot forgotten his blue collar roots. His photo hangs on the wall at Lafayette Coney Island inDetroit, and he performed for over 100,000 people at the Big House in Ann Arbor in the middleof heavy snowfall during the 2014 NHL Winter Classic. While Hawthorne got his start makinghip-hop and neo-soul, his aesthetic sensibilities balloon beyond any genre parameters, andbeyond music itself. Anyone who remembers that early heart-shaped seven-inch, andHawthorne’s Grammy-nominated How Do You Do album packaging knows he’s attuned todesign. (A look at his renovated Los Feliz bungalow says as much.)

This summer, Hawthorne debuted “The Pool,” a swirling, smoke-filled slapper that guides thelistener towards transcendence. Written and produced by Hawthorne, this song is whererebelliousness and carefree living intertwine, inviting you to embrace the thrill of psychedelicadventures. “I wanted this song to feel dangerous. Like you’re screaming down a hot desert roadon a Harley, high on mushrooms and you might lose control.”