Music Monday - Mayer Hawthorne!

If you haven't already heard the name Mayer Hawthorne, you better get familiar, because this guy is about to take off.

Set to release his third studio album 'Where Does This Door Go?' tomorrow, Mayer has been steadily creating a name for himself as one of the pioneers of the continuation of the classic Detroit soul sound in modern day.

Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Mayer draws influences from much of the music he heard as a child in his parents house, the songs of Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, Barry White and Smokey Robinson amongst others helped to shape Mayer's soulful style.

Mayer never set out to become a modern day R'n'B sensation though, he started out in hip hop groups and was known as DJ Haircut, a member of the groups Now On and Athletic Mic League.

When he moved to LA in 2006 and was subsequently signed to Stones Throw Records, he began messing about with soul music as a side project, making tracks and releasing them for free download, as is a Stones Throw tradition.

Once label head Peanut Butter Wolf caught wind of these tracks, he urged Mayer Hawthorne to record and release an album and the rest, as they say, is history.

He released his first single 'Just Ain't Gonna Work Out' in early November 2008, which was released on a limited edition heart-shaped vinyl. It wasn't until almost a year later, in September of 2009 that his debut album 'A Strange Arrangement' was released, featuring the other singles 'Maybe So, Maybe No' and 'The Ills'.

'How Do You Do', his sophomore album was released in October of 2011 and saw Mayer jump to a major label in the form of Universal Republic. The album received good reviews across the board and featured singles such as 'Can't Stop' featuring Snoop Dogg, 'No Strings' and 'Henny and Ginger Ale'.

'Where Does This Door Go?' has been intimated by Mayer himself as being completely different from his first two albums and after streaming it in the shop today, we agree with that, he has seamlessly knitted together his soul influences with some of the more modern, contemporary R'n'B sounds to craft a great new album which also features Kendrick Lamar and production from Pharell.

You can stream it here or buy it tomorrow when it releases!