What is your name?
Garfield Mayor
What is your genre of music?
I’d describe it as Singer-Songwriter Pop
Give us a little bio about you.
By the age of 17 I’d decided I wanted to pursue a career as a songwriter. Age 23 I auditioned for the Head of A&R at Sony UK. Nothing came of it, and at 27 I started considering other options. Then out of the blue, the President of Universal Music posted “Garfield Mayor’s music, and his gift for song writing are of the most timeless and special I have ever heard”, and I became the first artist to sign to his new label RTEL Records. I lived the dream for 3 years, until it all came crashing down amidst the 2008 financial crisis. I’m 48 now, and I still can’t shake the idea that music is the best contribution I can make in this world during my time here. Recently however, I’ve come to realise how much stock I put in feeling deeply moved, and that experiencing deep emotion is something many of us (including myself) increasingly struggle to access. We are depriving ourselves of a vital form of therapy. So I connect with hearts and minds as often and as fully as possible to try and make this happen.
What made you go into music?
When I was 14, I’d never even touched an instrument. One day, a friend picked up his dad’s acoustic guitar and started playing this amazing classical piece… It was mesmerizing. He then offered it to me. Being left-handed, I instinctively flipped it upside down. Within minutes, I was playing the exact same piece – just upside down. It felt completely natural. From that moment, playing and producing music became my defining passion.
Who are your influences?
My dad is to blame! Every year, we’d go on on long road trips across the continent, and each trip was a musical education: Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner – you name it. Back home, I dug deeper: Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin. The 60s scene piqued my interest in psychedelia and consciousness. The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s took a hammering! Through the guitar-god axis, I discovered John Squires and The Stone Roses, then onto The Charlatans, and the whole Madchester scene… I loved how traditional instruments merged with progressive dance music sounds – it’s still an important concept in my music today. Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, REM, The Stranglers, Bob Marley, Ben Harper, Gomez, Basement Jaxx, and David Gray have all had their moment. But since my record deal collapsed I’ve barely listened to any music… Something inside me broke, and I’m still trying to fix it.
You released your latest single ‘Any Tips (Jimmy James), tell us more about the single and the meaning behind the album.
The failing of my record deal with Sony Music hit me hard – it had been my dream for so long that having it stolen away so quickly felt like the ultimate cruelty. Losing it was bad enough, but 18 months of legal wrangling to recover the rights to my music left me devastated and penniless. I still haven’t recovered to be honest. But after reading Sharon Lawrence’s book Jimi Hendrix: The Man, the Magic, the Truth, I at least felt in good company… Jimi (and his band) got properly shafted, and the result was the ultimate catastrophe. With that in mind, I wrote a kind of prayer to Jimi, asking for any wisdom garnered from his own tragic experience. The result was my latest single ‘Any Tips? (Jimmy James)’… ‘Jimmy James’ was the name by which his father Al referred to him. I think we’ve all done that – said a prayer when we’re really desperate – even if we don’t have a religion… It’s a kind of universal last resort.
Describe the track in two words.
Tragically hip.
What was the writing and recording process like?
Long. I spent over 10 years making this latest album. Partly because of my obsessive/perfectionist tendencies (working on that lol!), but also because I had to develop my production skills – I wanted an album that sounded as good as anything from the major labels… It took a lot of time and patience to reach that level.
Who did you work with on the single?
We recorded the drums with my long-time collaborator Ben Haines on his electronic kit. He’s the most tasteful, sympathetic drummer I’ve ever come across. I kinda wish I could make it just so that I could give him the sort of job he deserves! Everything else was cut at my home studio by myself, except for the backing vocals which were performed by fellow Coventry singer-songwriter Lucy Sale. Mike Spencer (Ellie Goulding/Emeli Sandé/Ed Sheeran) who worked with me on my debut album Take and Take was kind enough to offer advice on the mix, as was Sound on Sound legend Mike Senior. We mastered it with Simon Heyworth (George Harrison/Nick Cave/Imogen Heap) at Super Audio Mastering in Devon.
What can we expect in 2025?
I have another 4 singles planned for release this year – roughly one every 8 weeks, the next being 4th April. But my main drive is get on stage more often– I think that’s where I can move people the most – assuming I can find the right intimate venues and audiences. A few nice support slots would be good too: in 2015 I opened for Joan Armatrading and it was a magical experience which I’m desperate to relive! If anyone’s got any gig suggestions I’d love to hear them (bookings@garfieldmayor.com)?!?
Where do you see yourself in 5 Years?
In my studio. Producing new music has taken a bit of a back seat of late as I navigate the challenges of independent self-promotion. But I have so many songs and ideas yet to explore – and that for me is where my heart really lies.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
“You’ve got to go there to come back”
When you are performing a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
- My Taylor 314CE acoustic guitar
- To meditate beforehand
- My G7 capo
- That the song is bigger than me
- My boss tuning pedal
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Facebook
Instagram
TikTok
