John Mayer Says His New CD Has Timelessness; Announces Tour
Guitarist and vocalist John Mayer says his new CD Battle Studies, released today, November 17, is a “return to music.” The CD is the follow-up to Mayer’s 2006 release, Continuum, which has sold almost 2.5 million copies and offered the worldwide hit and smooth jazz single “Waiting on the World to Change.”
“This record is as different a record from the last one as I am as different a person as I was from the last one,” Mayer tells Billboard.com. “It sort of takes into account everything from my life without focusing on the media. It’s an absolute return to music. … I approach music like a director doing a period piece. Where Continuum was R&B and soul, Battle Studies was written with the timelessness of Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac and Neil Young in mind. The melodies and message are concise and from-the-gut with the efficiency of simplicity.”
Joining Mayer on the project is Taylor Swift, who duets with him on the song “Half of My Heart.” Previous Mayer collaborations, which have ranged from rock to blues to hip-hop to jazz, include performances and/or recordings with Herbie Hancock, Eric Clapton, BB King, Dixie Chicks, Jay Z and Alicia Keys.
Mayer has now announced a full tour to support Battle Studies. He will be performing in North America through the rest of the year, resuming in February after some shows in the U.K. in January.