Drifter Comes Through All Guns Blazing in Garfield Mayor’s New Single “Back Here Again”
“Are you on the right path? Is this the life that was meant for you?”
In his new single Back Here Again (OUT NOW), Garfield Mayor will seek to reassure that you are not alone in wrestling with such questions.
Packaged in a huge production that honours the scale of the conundrum at its heart, swooping orchestral lines soar above gritty guitars and a plaintive vocal. Fusing UK indie with Americana, Back Here Again achieves a class of which Richard Ashcroft and The Verve would rightly be proud.
“At times I feel very lost, like I don’t know where I’m going. And no matter what steps I take, I always seem to end back in the same place - like I can’t move forward. I wanted to write a song that captures the frustration and loneliness bundled with this,” broods Mayor.
Despite the essential British twang, the opening bars of Back Here Again achieve something remarkable by recalling the high plains of the American West, through a soundscape reminiscent of Elmer Bernstein’s The Magnificent Seven or The Big Country. Thereafter, guitars alternate between atmospheric acoustics and grittier electrics, tracing the emotional conflict within. In a heartrending climax, Mayor’s voice finally breaks: “Can you hear me calling/Can you see me wave/I’m right here below you/I’m standing right here”.
Whilst the scale of the production suggests 'expensive', Back Here Again is notable in that it was self-produced entirely at Mayor’s home studio in Coventry. Despite this, Mayor is quick to acknowledge the help of Mike Spencer (Ed Sheeran/ Emeli Sandé) and Mike Senior (The Charlatans/Reef) who advised on the mix, as well as the mastering services of Simon Heyworth (George Harrison/Imogen Heap).
Outwardly, Back Here Again comes on all guns blazing. But the real story here is the inner journey many of us share - that of a lost and lonely drifter, searching for the path home.
Back Here Again is OUT NOW on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music and all major digital services.
🔗 Presave Back Here Again now: garfieldmayor.komi.io/music/back-here-again
ABOUT GARFIELD MAYOR
“Garfield Mayor's music, and his gift for song writing are of the most timeless and special I have ever heard” - Evan Lamberg (President, Universal Music Publishing)
From a guy that's been instrumental in the careers of Neil Diamond, Miley Cyrus, Billy Joel, Pharrell Williams and Regina Spektor to name but a few – that's high praise indeed...
Garfield Mayor is a visionary British singer-songwriter who "weaves pop melodies around trenchant lyrics" (Melinda Newman - Billboard Magazine). Through his stories we are taken on a journey where ultimately we are reminded: there's no need to be lonely.
His talents have been likened to those of David Gray, Seal, and Joan Armatrading (alongside whom he performed on her farewell tour in 2015). His critically acclaimed debut album Take and Take has garnered such comments as being
“…loaded with songs that belong on every radio and in every house” (Merck Mercuriadis - manager of Elton John/Morrisey/Pet Shop Boys)
“...full of ‘I wish I’d written that’ songs” - (Rob Thomas - Grammy winning Singer/Songwriter, Matchbox 20/Santana).
Often alone with his guitar or piano, he has performed in London, Nashville, New York, and Paris. Other accolades include being nominated for UK Emerging Talent Awards Best Solo Artist and People’s Choice Award, Ultimate Ears Artist to Watch, and Hollywood Music in Media Best Video for “Take and Take”.
Influenced by the class and breadth of Paul Simon’s pen, the aesthetic of Fleetwood Mac, the hybrid sound of David Gray through to Kasabian, and the attitude that the best of any genre deserves due respect, Garfield Mayor is diverse yet familiar all at the same time.
