An artist of the contemporary neo-soul and jazz scene, whose expression pushes the boundaries of traditional vocal performance and improvisation, Mayo was born in Los Angeles in 1992 into a family of professional musicians rooted in jazz, R&B, and gospel traditions. This rich heritage shaped his unique musical approach early on, using the voice not merely as an instrument, but as a full spectrum of tones, textures, and emotions.
He received his formal musical education at prestigious institutions, graduating from the New England Conservatory of Music, and later becoming only the third vocalist ever admitted to the renowned Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance (now the Herbie Hancock Institute), where he studied under legendary mentors such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Dianne Reeves.
Following a tour with Herbie Hancock, Mayo found the inspiration for his debut album Bones (2021), which received widespread critical acclaim for its originality, layered vocal harmonies, and emotional depth. His sophomore album Fly (2024) further confirmed his status as one of the most compelling new voices in jazz-influenced music. At the 68th Grammy Awards, Fly was nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album, while the track “Four” received a nomination for Best Jazz Performance.
With Fly, Mayo explores improvisation, instinct, and creative freedom through innovative vocal techniques, beatboxing, layering, and harmonies that transcend genre boundaries.
In 2025, Mayo performed his own NPR Tiny Desk Concert, featuring songs from both Bones and Fly.
- You often use your voice as a harmonic instrument rather than a traditional lead vocal. When did you realize your voice doesn’t have to behave like a “typical singing voice”?
Honestly, I think it comes from not separating musical ideas into “vocal” and “instrumental.” I just try to express whatever musical idea comes to me in the moment. Sometimes it’s simple, sometimes more complex. But I’ve always experienced my voice as a singing voice. - Is there a sound you’re still chasing, something you hear internally but haven’t fully reached yet?
I think I’m always chasing a kind of transparency between what I hear inside and what actually comes out. There are moments when it aligns perfectly, but they’re fleeting. I don’t know if you ever truly “arrive,” but that pursuit is what drives me.
-You grew up surrounded by professional musicians, how long did it take you to find your own voice?
Honestly, I don’t think it ever fully separated. Of course, I have my own musical language, but I see it as part of a continuum, a natural extension of everything I’ve inherited.
You’ve lived and worked in different musical environments. Do cities shape your sound, or do you shape the space you perform in?
I think it’s both. Every place has its own rhythm and energy, and that inevitably influences how you play. But at the same time, you bring your own language into that space. Ideally, there’s a dialogue between the two.
-This is your first time in Serbia, do you approach a new audience differently?
I’m really excited to come to Serbia! When I perform somewhere new, I try to learn something about the culture, language, and food. It helps me connect with something real, rather than just performing for people I can’t see behind the lights.
-If the audience takes away just one feeling from your concert, what would you want it to be?
I’d love for people to leave feeling connected to something real and human. To appreciate that they stepped out of their homes and experienced something live, with real people.
Do you believe music can say what language hides?
Absolutely. Language can be precise, but also limiting. Music can carry emotions that don’t have a clear definition. Sometimes it speaks more directly than words.
Through performances at international festivals and intimate club venues, Mayo has built a reputation as an artist who captivates audiences with technical virtuosity, emotional immediacy, and genuine artistic presence.
“As a performer, I try to follow my first instinct, it leads to a place where words and notes become truth. Music, for me, is a conversation, and every performance is a new story we create together with the audience.”
Expect an evening of intimate music, from delicate vocal harmonies to high-energy improvisation, where every chord and phrase speaks the language of honesty and inspiration.
Tickets: https://tickets.rs/event/michael_mayo_24810
Date: April 28, 2026
Doors open: 20:30
Musicology Showcase by Lenovo: 21:00
Michael Mayo: 22:00