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Jessica Lea Mayfield

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Location: Kent, OH

Website: http://www.myspace.com/jlmayfield

Bio: Out now on Polymer Sounds, Jessica Lea Mayfield’s first full-length album With Blasphemy, So Heartfelt has been gathering critical acclaim with Philadelphia Inquirer stating, “Mayfield’s ... (more) smokey, dirge-like folk songs are rightly the dominating presence…” and Seattle Weekly proclaiming, “Her languorous, understated, and often dark sound can best be described as Hope Sandoval meets Jim James meets Neko Case.” Named “Vocalist of the Year” in March by The Cleveland Free Times, Mayfield is confirmed for a national tour with shows in New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. (please see reverse for details).
The album was produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys and recorded over a two-year span in his home studio in Akron. With Blasphemy, So Heartfelt features Mayfield on acoustic guitar and vocals, Auerbach on a variety of instrumentation and Mayfield’s brother (David) on upright bass. Dr. Dog’s Scott McMicken and Frank McElroy provide vocal harmonies on the track “I’m Not Lonely Anymore.” Says Auerbach of the recording experience, “I think she’s dark and moody in a mysterious way, not unlike Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.” He adds, “I’m just always really excited to make music with her.”
The 18-year old first performed with her family band One Way Rider at the age of eight. In 2007, Mayfield lent her voice to the track “Things Ain’t Like They Used To Be” on The Black Keys’ album, Attack & Release, making her the first guest vocalist to appear on any record released by The Black Keys. Recently, With Blasphemy, So Heartfelt debuted in the CMJ top 200 and in the top 50 on the Indie Albums chart.
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