Nonesuch Records

Jessica Lea Mayfield spent her youth in her family’s traveling bluegrass band and there’s no doubt it helped her grow wise beyond her 21 years. She sings like a woman who’s weathered many lives and broken more than a few hearts. With the help of producer Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, she twists her country roots into contemporary alternative rock that even folds in bits of hip-hop, psychedelic-soul and electro-pop without ever stretching too far for comfort. This is a moody album with fractured guitars, drum loops, shadows and shady people. A dry wit and almost reckless display of emotion help balance the affair perfectly by always keeping the focus on Mayfield’s hypnotic, timeless and vulnerable vocals.