He’s one of the most energetic, enigmatic, entertaining and beloved performers in Americana circles, and now David Mayfield is allowing fans to be a part of his highly anticipated sophomore album via KickStarter. Good Man Down is due for release in October, and is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed debut, David Mayfield Parade (January 2011).
Mayfield, who has toured pretty much nonstop—since the release of his debut, including stints with his sister, Jessica Lea Mayfield, good friends The Avett Brothers, and Mumford & Sons, has had the opportunity to gauge fan interest in his new material, but he is also excited to have had the time to develop the songs.
“I feel like this record is more mature than the first,” he said. “I made the first one without any real clear vision, and was just recording songs at random. Now that I’ve been touring so much I have had the chance to try new songs live and see how they are accepted, and to construct an album that is more of a cohesive thought.”
The album was recorded at two Nashville institutions—RCA Studio B, which has produced 35,000 songs (including 200 by Elvis Presley) and over a thousand American hits and 40 platinum singles; and The Quonset Hut, where Patsy Cline, George Jones, Bob Dylan and Loretta Lynn have all recorded some of their biggest hits. “What a crazy cool experience to work on my songs in a place with such a rich musical history,” said Mayfield.
As for the KickStarter campaign, in exchange for contributing to the project, fans will receive items such as exclusive t-shirts and posters from Crackerfarm; having a caricature drawn on the album artwork
alongside Mayfield; a private house concert; or the top rung on the ladder—Mayfield producing an album for that person. Mayfield wants this to be a project in which his fans can truly feel like they are a part of.
“I feel like I owe it to the folks out there that support me by coming to shows and buying merch to make the best album I can, not just for myself but for all of us,” he said. “Because it really doesn’t belong to me anymore. There is a community forming and I feel indebted to them, in a good way. It’s really gratifying and terrifying at the same time!”
Fans looking to participate can visit http://thedavidmayfieldparade.com/kickstarter and pick a level of contribution that suits their budget. Alternatively, those with limited funds can help by simply spreading the word via social media, or as Mayfield suggests (tongue firmly in cheek) by “spray painting on government buildings.”
The release of Good Man Down will cap off what has been a wild 18-plus months, with Mayfield having had the opportunity to open for Willie Nelson, and to perform at Bonnaroo and on the Communion Tour with Mumford & Sons. He even took part in something he’s wanted to do for a long time—crowd surfing, which he did recently in New Jersey. “It might not sound that cool,” he said. “But remember, I’m a big guy.” About David Mayfield David Mayfield, known to be a force of nature on stage with boundless energy and enthusiasm for performing, also has a sincerity that is reflected in every performance. There is no posturing, no facade, nothing but great songs and the instruments to play them. His ability to connect with audiences from performances at MerleFest, NPR’s Mountain Stage, The Grand Ole Opry, NX35, The Great Northwest Tour, and Vanderbilt’s Rites of Spring has earned him the reputation of being the kind of extraordinary artist who goes beyond trend and simply delivers genuinely essential music—and much of that stems from Mayfield’s roots. Along with video premieres on Paste and American Songwriter, Mayfield was selected by Southwest Spirit Magazine as one of its 40 Artist to Watch in 2011.
While making his debut album, Mayfield drew inspiration from his musical heroes Buddy Holly, Harry Nilsson, and Randy Newman and the albums he grew up listening to, Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and Melanie’s “Gather Me.” His songs effortlessly venture from classic AM radio rock with lush string arrangements to unadorned alt-country ballads whose lovelorn subjects evoke the outlaw songs of the early 70’s. His music reflects the numerous influences that come from a lifetime of being immersed in American music and channeling its unique forms with sincerity and celebration, from the
howl of early rock-n-roll, to the low lonesome twang of folk and country, with a voice that is all at once heartbreaking and inherently hopeful.
For more information, please visit www.davidmayfieldparade.com
