A Few Tracks

Released in 2009 on Stones Throw Records, 'A Few Tracks' served as the initial calling card for Mayer Hawthorne (Andrew Cohen). While Hawthorne would later move toward more polished, 'yacht rock' leaning production, this early EP is defined by its raw, lo-fi soul aesthetic. Recorded largely by Hawthorne himself playing most instruments, the project was born from a desire to recreate the specific sonic footprint of 1960s soul labels like Motown and Stax. The EP features his breakout single 'Just Ain't Gonna Work Out,' which famously utilized a heart-shaped red vinyl for its physical release. Sonically, the album is characterized by its heavy use of vintage gear, tape saturation, and a vocal mix that places Hawthorne's falsetto front and center. It bridges the gap between the hip-hop world of Stones Throw and the classic American Songbook, earning Hawthorne a unique niche as a modern soul revivalist with a crate-digger's ear for detail.