As we are fortunate to have close ties with the Mack Avenue label, this gives us the opportunity to introduce you to many exceptional artists, like this 28-year-old singer who, without a doubt, is destined for a bright and long career. *Bones* is his first solo album, a little gem that will make you fall head over heels for this artist who already knows perfectly how to apply his vocal universe to his compositions, bringing a fresh sound. The tracks were recorded live with his band—keyboardist Andrew Freedman, bassist Nick Campbell, and drummer Robin Baytas, with whom he has been playing since high school or college—at Figure8 Recordings studio in Brooklyn. And it’s Eli Wolf, a seasoned Grammy-winning producer who has worked on albums by Al Green and Norah Jones, who is in charge of production.

As the saying goes, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree… Michael’s father, Scott Mayo, was a saxophonist for Earth, Wind & Fire, among others, and is currently the musical director for Sergio Mendes, while his mother, Valerie Pinkston, now a backup singer for Diana Ross, has also sung with Beyoncé, Luther Vandross, Ray Charles, Whitney Houston, and even Morrissey.

Regarding *Bones*, Michael Mayo says: “Self-transparency is important to me, I’m not trying to meet others’ expectations,” he says of his genre-defying debut, which is deeply personal. “I wanted to find the things that musically resonated with me, working with people who can bring that vision to life.” Of course, one can hear the influence of Bobby McFerrin, from whom he has drawn this dreamlike form that explodes here and there in his works. Michael Mayo’s music is a flawless blend of alternative and neo-soul elements, a unique combination that defies genres. And Michael adds: “I listened to *Pet Sounds* a lot in college,” he admits, also naming Brandy as an early favorite. “But I also grew up with A Tribe Called Quest, The Fugees, Busta Rhymes, Biggie Smalls, and J Dilla. I love his beats so much. I feel right at home. They all seem inherently connected. I love linking all these different genres together. Why not mix them all and see what happens?”