Jessica Lea Mayfield

Early years

Mayfield first performed with her family bluegrass band One Way Rider at the age of 8. They began touring as a family band, boarding a 1956 tour bus (once belonging to Bill Monroe, Kitty Wells, and Ernest Tubb) and headed south from Ohio to Tennessee. At age 11, Mayfield began playing guitar and writing songs. She asked her brother David to show her a few chords, and then she started using those chords to write her own songs. Mayfield would accompany her brother David at open mic nights, often covering Foo Fighters songs. Even today, she cites Dave Grohl as one of her major influences.

White Lies EP

At age 15, Mayfield recorded her first EP White Lies in her brother's bedroom, printing only 100 copies. One of those copies fell into the hands of Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. After an introduction, Mayfield and Auerbach hit the studio, laying the foundation of her debut album With Blasphemy So Heartfelt.

With Blasphemy So Heartfelt

Mayfield's first LP was the September 16, 2008 release With Blasphemy So Heartfelt. The album was produced by Auerbach 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.”

With Blasphemy So Heartfelt debuted with quite a buzz around it. Pitchfork Media gave the record a rating of 8.2 out of 10. Online magazine Blurt named With Blasphemy the Best Album of 2008 and gave Mayfield the title of Best New Artist of 2008. The album's opening track "Kiss Me Again" was featured on The CW's hit series Gossip Girl on February 2, 2009, and "Bible Days" was featured on CBS's CSI: NY. "For Today" is featured on the Starbucks compilation Have You Heard?: Winter '09. Mayfield's cover of the Buddy Holly song "Words of Love" is featured on the Starbucks compilation Sweetheart: Our Favorite Artists Sing Their Favorite Love Songs.

Tell Me

Mayfield released her second LP Tell Me on February 8, 2011.

Make My Head Sing

Mayfield Released her grunge-alternative rock album "Make My Head Sing" in 2014. The album is a nod to her roots and inspiration Dave Grohl. Pitchfork rated it a 6.9 and said, "Jessica Lea Mayfield’s third album opens with the loud, percussive crunch and grind of an electric guitar, thudding loudly and precipitously—definitely the most intrusive sound to creep its way into any of her songs." The album is her first without Auerbach's influence.

Seth Avett and Jessica Lea Mayfield Sing Elliott Smith

Mayfield and Seth Avett of the Avett Brothers released an album of Elliott Smith cover songs in 2015.

Collaborations

In 2007, Mayfield lent her voice to the track "Things Ain't Like They Used To Be" on The Black Keys' album Attack & Release produced by Danger Mouse, making her the first guest vocalist to appear on any record released by The Black Keys.

Mayfield collaborated with Auerbach again on his 2009 debut solo release Keep It Hid, lending her vocals to the track "When the Night Comes".

Touring

In addition to opening for many artists, including The Black Keys, The Avett Brothers, Cake, Band of Horses, Ryan Adams, Ray LaMontagne, and Jay Farrar (Son Volt, Uncle Tupelo), Mayfield has frequently toured as a headliner, and performed at the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, OH as part of A Prairie Home Companion in July 2010.

Studio Albums

Singles

EPs

Collaborations & Appearances