Jessica Lea Mayfield and Horsepower

Jessica Lea Mayfield was a touring musician by the time she was eight years old. Born to a musical family who all performed together as the bluegrass band One Way Rider, she joined them on the road before learning to play the guitar at the age of eleven and writing her own songs on the instrument. She cut her performing teeth away from her family’s band by accompanying her brother while he performed at open mic nights, and by the time she was fifteen she had recorded her debut E.P “White Lies”. Only 100 copies of the record were pressed but one of them fell into the hands of Dan Auerbach, lead singer and guitarist of the Blues-rock duo The Black Keys.

He was transfixed by what he heard and offered to let her record her debut album in his Akron, Ohio home studio. They worked on the record on and off for the next two years, during which time Mayfield even featured on The Black Keys’ 2008 album “Attack And Release” which was being recorded at roughly the same time. “With Blasphemy So Heartfelt” was released on the 16th of September 2008 on the indie label Thirty Tigers. Even though it was a relatively low-key release, the reviews of the record were glowing, even netting 8.2 out of 10 on the famously icy Pitchfork.com.

Ever since then she’s continued to release acclaimed records, working with Auerbach again on his debut solo album “Keep It Hid” in 2009 and has opened for everyone from Band Of Horses to Ray LaMontagne to Ryan Adams. In 2014 she blossomed from dark hued country to noisy alternative rock, and continues to go from strength to strength with every song written. Highly recommended.