Exclusive Music Review and Interview with Mayor

Mayor, born Frederick Douglas Shelley II, is a 21 year old emcee from Nashville, TN. He has been in the music industry for 3 years, he first started as a radio Deejay for Volunteer State Community College’s WVCP 88.5. Mayor released his first single “Flex’N” in December of 2012 and released his debut mixtape: “I Am Royalty” on May 3, 2014. The project received great feedback from Mayor’s fans and peers.

The lead single: “All Time High” was released on iTunes and Spotify in September of 2014. The success of the project and the songs he released after earned Mayor a spot on The Cashville Freshman class mixtape in February of 2015. Mayor has his own music group: “Good Vibes Crew” which consists of 4 artists: Mayor, DeWayne, Kelly Charpain and Jay Paris. Mayor has big plans for 2015, his debut album: “Good Vibes, Good Spirits.” is set to be released in the fall of 2015. Stay updated with Mayor by logging on to goodvibesgoodspirits.com

Music Review / Interview:

“Good Spirits”

Nashville – aka Music City – really lives up to its name with artists like “Mayor” bringing heat with his hot new single “Good Spirits”

As the center of country music and a hub for rock, Nashville is rarely thought of as a hip-hop city.., but Nashville has its fair share of local rap history. In the ‘80s, a hip-hop scene mirroring the ciphers of New York emerged, brought by the Blow Pop Crew, who would have a brief moment of national visibility and help spark a regional sound with their song Drop the Bass.

Local artist “Mayor” is keeping hip-hop culture active in Nashville whose gritty raps are starting to garner national attention and accolades, particularly with his debut album: “Good Vibes, Good Spirits.”

“Good Wiiiine….. Good Spirits/ good tiiiiimes….
Good living …I’m on my Griiiind…
and I’m win’n… I’m get’n cash – I ain’t Kidding…..”

Yes, yes this insanely, catchy hook is completly stuck in my head! With lyrics like this maybe we should start calling “Mayors” city Cashville?
Overall, this is an amazing break out single from a hot up-and-coming artist that is already making FM Radio waves from Nashville to Atlanta and now ringing bells in New York. Check out “Good Spirits” being played on Kiss 104.7 FM from AL/GA below and don’t forget to stick around for our exclusive interview with Mayor (Below)

By HBdidit – Exposed Vocals Music Reviewer and Breaking News Contributor.

A NYC fashion designer, music reviewer and lover of life!

Listen to Mayors Kiss FM Radio Broadcast via Exposed Vocals FM Partnership program

Exposed Vocals Interviews Mayor

Exclusive Interview:

Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?

Mayor: They actually followed me on Twitter the other day and they hit me with the details and it immediately caught my interest.

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

Mayor: My name is Mayor, i’m a recording artist from Nashville, TN. I’ve been in the industry for a little over 2 years now first i was a DeeJay and now i am an artist. Being able to express myself and tell my story made me want to become an artist and i do not regret it one bit.

Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

Mayor: It pretty funny actually, i came up with that name when i was in high school. I was a pretty popular kid and in my head i thought i ran things haha. One day i was driving home and “Mr. Jones” by Mike Jones was playing on the radio and one the lines he said was: ” Now i got my own label i’m the boss, I’m the mayor of this town, i get that key to the vault.” I was like hey, that’s dope so i just gave myself that nickname i didn’t tell anybody about it for a long time but we i started deejaying i went by DJ Mayor and when i became a artist i just went by Mayor and it just stuck ever since.

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

Mayor: Online music sharing is great because it allows you to spread your music all over the world a lot of artist wouldn’t be you they are today if it wasn’t for MySpace, YouTube, Soundcloud etc. Yes i do, i understand that i’m not a Drake, J.Cole or Kendrick Lamar so right now i need as many people as possible to listen to my music and giving away free material always helps, you know people love free things haha

Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

Mayor: Yeah, just do your research there’s so many opportunities out there you just have to take the time out and find what your searching for.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?

Mayor: Haha yeah all the time, i forget some of my own lyrics sometimes so i have to freestyle until i can remember it… my band members notice it and trust me they don’t let me off the hook.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Mayor: I have not toured just yet but right now my booking agent is setting me up for a tour next year and i am stoked!
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

Mayor: My inspiration comes from the time i spend with my friends on the weekends that why in majority of my songs i’m telling a story a lot of them are crazy but 100 percent true haha. On Sunday after i’ve turned down i sit in my room and get my concept the together, get the name of the song and find a beat to it. First, i start with the first verse, then i write the hook and then i write the final 2 verses and there ya go!

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

Mayor: Yes, my official website is www.goodvibesgoodspirits.com. I use YouTube, SoundCloud, iTunes, Google Play and Spotify to share my music and videos.

Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?

Mayor: I can’t lie a fan of Soulja Boy, there’s alot of his music on my iphone haha i’m not ashamed though!

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

Mayor: Quit my second job, i would get some beats from Syk Sense, Devin Cruise, Sonny Digitial and Mike Will Made It. Make an album with the beats they give me, do a song with Bryson Tiller, Dizzy Wright, Logic and Big Sean and use the rest for promotion and videos.

Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?

Mayor: No not right now, im pretty satisfied with the sound i’m getting with what my engineer has.

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

Mayor: getting promotion through websites such as exposed vocals, hulkshare, viewhiphop.comboon615.com and other sites they all have really helped me out in a major way.

Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Mayor: Awww man, that’s a tough one… i’ve been to a lot of shows but i have to say i would love to perform with Funk Volume. I went to their show in Nashville a couple years back it was turnt up to the max! They all have an amazing stage presence, like Hopsin crowd surfs and hangs off of light fixtures at the venues he performs at… it’s crazy. I’ve seen a lot of artists perform but Funk Volume definitely puts on the best show so i would love to perform with them in like LA or somewhere on the West Coast.

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

Mayor: I got a lot going on right now, my album: “Good Vibes, Good Spirits” will be released sometime this fall. It’s a 20 track project so you’ll definitely get your money’s worth, it’s gonna be available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Xbox Music, Tidal and more! I worked really hard on this project and i’m sure all the fans will enjoy it!

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

Mayor: When i was in college i majored in Mass Communication, i wanted to be a color commentator for ESPN or CBS, so if i had not fallen in love with music i would most likely still be pursuing that.

Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?

Mayor: The first album i remember buying was Crime Mob’s “Hated On Mostly” i really liked the production on that album and it had a lot of great material. I had it on replay for months!

Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Mayor: Man, it’s so hard i work a 8-5, 6-10 and occasionally do uber. I really don’t have time for anything, but i’ve got a dream and i’ve got to make it happen, nothing is life is for free you have to earn it. Like i said in my latest song Money Team, “On weekdays, i punch time and write rhymes on my lunch time.” You gotta do what you gotta do to make it, the industry isn’t going to wait on you, you have stay on course and be 2 steps ahead. People make time for the things that are important to them and if they don’t make time for them then it’s really not important and music is important to me.

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2015?

Mayor: A lot of great material! Like i said before, my album will be released sometime this fall and i know all my fans will enjoy it! But besides that, i’m taking things to a new level. Season 2 of my webseries: “The Campaign Trail” will back in July. Me and Tweety Productions worked extremely hard on it and you’ll get to see a side of me that you’ve never seen. Also, i’m working with a lot of artist such as Devin Cruise and W.I.T. just to name a few so expect alot from me this year!