The first Movin’ On performer this Friday night will be taking the stage and bringing a folk-rock vibe to students and community members.
Or, as David Mayfield himself describes his music: “simple” and “American music.”
According to Bryn Gelaro (senior-psychology), Movin’ On executive director, Mayfield will be taking the smaller side stage after Battle of the Band winners DJ Keegan Tawa and The Wondershop Showdown perform, with Mayfield beginning his performance at 4 p.m.
Along with the relaxed music genre, students can expect a visual and entertainment-based show from The David Mayfield Parade, Mayfield said.
“We go a lot further than just standing around and playing songs,” he said. “We focus on entertaining as opposed to singing and playing.”
His long journey into the music industry began when he was a child. Mayfield grew up with parents that were musicians, and he started learning how to play the bass when his parents were in need of a bass player for their band. At the time, he wasn’t familiar with playing the instrument, but he made a deal with his parents that if they bought him a bass, he would learn to play it.
It didn’t take long before he received the bass, learned to play it and would begin his long career involvement with music.
Since then, he has been featured in the band “Cadillac Sky,” played in his sister’s band as the bassist and has even written and performed his own music. On top of all that, he has produced music for other artists, which lead him to receive his first ever Grammy nomination.
“Recording has always been a huge passion of mine and something that I really love doing,” Mayfield said. “So I never did it with the thought of any kind of praise or award, let alone from the Grammys.”
Mayfield jokes that while the nomination came as a complete shock, it’s something that looks really great on a resume.
Eventually, Mayfield would find him recording his own music, with the help and urge from his friends, The Avett Brothers, the headlining act for Movin’ On.
Mayfield said it was validating that someone wanted to hear what he was working on and was happy to know that they wanted to help him out.
Since working with the Avett Brothers, he has recorded his solo album and is currently working on his next album, which Mayfield said he is aiming to release at the end of this coming summer.
He said he has been recording and collaborating recently with a lot of fun guests that he has worked with in the past.
With final exams around the corner and events that occurred at Penn State within the past year, Mayfield hopes that he can provide a little bit of relief for students Friday night.
“I just hope that I can provide some kind of entertainment and be a part of this moment that will inspire good vibes,” Mayfield said. “It’ll be a fun event and good to take everybody’s minds off of their troubles and thoughts for an evening.”
Collegian staff reporter Alyse Horn contributed to this story.
