Rob Mayes grew up listening to country music with his father in Cleveland, Ohio. After years of learning piano and guitar, the singer/actor began writing songs at a young age. He credits early songwriting encouragement from a grade schoolteacher for helping him to discover that passion, as she would often ask Mayes to play his newest song for the class.
Eventually, Mayes would go on to pursue a career as an actor, where he garnered roles on the ABC series Mistresses and the cult-classic sci-fi comedy film John Dies at the End, as well as the CW’s Frequency and 90210, among others. While his day job may be on the big screen, his love for music never left him. In fact, the idea for Mayes’ latest single, “Kiss the Night,” which Billboard premieres exclusively below, was actually inspired while on a set for another role. The singer/actor later teamed up with Smith Curry, who produced the track.
“The inspiration for this song came as sun was starting to set,” Mayes tells Billboard. “I was sitting in my trailer in Utah waiting to shoot a scene for a movie I was working on. I looked out the screen door at the expanse of grass and meadow with horses and mountains in the distance. I saw the golden hour light and spectacular sky above the peaks, and I realized that’s my favorite time of day: When the sun starts to set, and the evening is just around the corner and the night is just a sunset away. That feeling on a Friday night is better than pretty much anything.”
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The uplifting tune has Mayes’ booming vocals at the forefront with warm pop-country production. A steady drumbeat and soaring guitar parts bring a lighthearted feel to the track. Meanwhile, Mayes’ vivid lyrics put the listener at a bar downtown on a Friday night as he tries to persuade a girl to spend some time with him.
“Kiss the Night” is one of several tracks Mayes has released ahead of his debut EP, expected in September.
“There’s always been a story trying to come out of me in one shape or another. So I suppose it’s no wonder I found my way to country music,” adds Mayes.