Joelton Mayfield – “Speechwriter” [Video]

Joelton Mayfield Pens His Own Truth on “Speechwriter” — First Glimpse at Debut LP

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Joelton Mayfield just dropped “Speechwriter,” a searing first single and video from his debut album Crowd Pleaser, out October 24 via Bloodshot Records. The track opens with a pulse and builds toward something raw, honest, and cathartic—a meditation on the lies we’re spoon-fed, the systems we grow up believing, and the personal fallout of learning how little of it holds up.

Written in the emotional wreckage of a breakup, “Speechwriter” feels like Mayfield grabbing the mic with both hands, channeling every ounce of confusion and clarity into the song’s jagged alt-country edges. It’s both pointed and poetic: “How can I convince you anything I’ve ever felt is worth grieving?” he asks, and you feel it.

The upcoming LP, Crowd Pleaser, was tracked in a makeshift barn studio near Mobile Bay with a rotating crew of trusted collaborators. The result is an album that bridges early-aughts indie rock and Southern alt-country grit—think Yankee Hotel Foxtrot meets Harvest with flashes of Slanted and Enchanted. It’s the story of a Texas church-kid unraveling, rebuilding, and figuring out what the hell matters.

Watch the “Speechwriter” video now and mark your calendar for October 24. Pre-order Crowd Pleaser

Joelton Mayfield Tour Dates

Headline Shows:
Wed. July 23 – Los Angeles, CA @ Permanent Records Roadhouse
Thu. July 24 – Colusa, CA @ Levitt AMP Colusa Music Series
Fri. July 25 – Stinson Beach, CA @ Backyard by the Beach

With Steve Earle *
Wed. July 30 – Stateline, NV @ Harrah’s Lake Tahoe
Sat. Aug. 2 – Monterey, CA @ Golden State Theatre
Mon. Aug. 4 – Grass Valley, CA @ Center for the Arts
Tue. Aug. 5 – Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern

With Jack Van Cleaf ^
Tue. Aug. 12 – Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge
Thu. Aug. 14 – Ft. Collins, CO @ The Coast
Fri. Aug. 15 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
Sat. Aug. 16 – Boise, ID @ Shrine Social Club
Mon. Aug. 18 – Spokane, WA @ District Bar
Tue. Aug. 19 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza
Wed. Aug. 20 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
Fri. Aug. 22 – San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord
Sat. Aug. 23 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
Sun. Aug. 24 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
Sun. Sept. 14 – Atlanta, GA @ Smith’s Olde Bar
Tue. Sept. 16 – Charlotte, NC @ The Evening Muse
Wed. Sept. 17 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
Fri. Sept. 19 – Washington, DC @ Pearl Street Warehouse
Sat. Sept. 20 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
Sun. Sept. 21 – Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Upstairs
Mon. Sept. 22 – Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right
Wed. Sept. 24 – Toronto, ON @ Velvet Underground
Fri. Sept. 26 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Stache at The Intersection
Sat. Sept. 27 – Urbana, IL @ The Canopy Club – Red Room
Sun. Sept. 28 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry