I DJ all the time, as much as I possibly can. I'll never stop. That's my security blanket, that's what I'm good at. I still consider myself a better DJ than a singer. I can DJ in my sleep.
Even when I was a hip-hop DJ I always kept it classy. The motto is always 'flashy but classy.' You've got to be original and stand out from the crowd and take some chances. But you've always got to keep it classy.
A lot of people think I live in a soul bubble.
Marvin Gaye was the ultimate ladies' man and a big part of that was the way he dressed. If you're having trouble getting ladies, step your suit game up and see the difference. Walk into a bar in a tailored suit and I guarantee every girl will check you out.
Nowhere on earth has more soul than Detroit.
I shopped at J. Crew in high school, I studied computer science. I was a nerd-nerd, now I'm a music-nerd.
My intentions with any of my music is to keep it futuristic and updated and be experimental and try new things.
I just want to make music as long as I can and reach as many people as I can.
A big part of the Motown formula was, they took music and turned it into this sort of automotive assembly line. They were cranking out 10 songs a day in that studio, or more.
I didn't appreciate Mick Jagger until I got older, and mainly because of the Mick Jagger swagger. He defined that for the world. He was bold and adventurous with it, too - just the ultimate rock star.
That's one of the most important things to me is that Detroit and Ann Arbor got my back. If you don't have hometown love, then what's the point?
Barry White is my musical hero. He was the guy who you danced to in the club and then when you took your lady home to the bedroom, you listened to him there, too! That's who I always wanted to be - the guy who was always there.
I try to make sure that I make music that can stand the test of time.
I think that what happens is that all of my modern influences blend together with the older soul influences and you get Mayer Hawthorne.
I think that Detroiters are some of the most resilient people in the world.
I never have, but I would love to pick R. Kelly's brain.
I don't think I've ever had more fun doing anything in my life than trading verses with Daryl Hall on 'Private Eyes.' That's as fun as it gets.
I don't want kids listening to my music thinking it's for their parents. I want them to feel it's theirs.
I grew up in Ann Arbor, about 25 miles west of Detroit. And when you grow up in that area, you get a healthy dose of Motown automatically.
I just want to have fun and party with everyone around the world. That's the only rule, to have fun.
I love doing things that people don't expect.
I make soul music for hip-hop heads. It's music I'd want to sample if I were a rapper.
I was really fortunate growing up to have a broad musical education. My parents listened to all kinds of music, rock, soul, Motown, jazz, Frank Sinatra, everything.
I was a hip-hop head. When I really found my own lane in music, it was hip-hop. I wanted to make hip-hop music. And I did, I made a lot of hip-hop music.
I'm trying to just drop so much music that people cannot ignore it.
