Peter Mayer

Singer-songwriter Peter Mayer’s songs are like an old pair of gloves—they’re comfortable and they just seem to fit perfectly. Balancing an open-minded sense of wonder about the world with an amusing take on everyday subjects and some tasty guitar playing, Mayer has become a nationally beloved troubadour of everyday spirituality. His voice, a soothing cross between James Taylor and David Wilcox, is as mellow as a cup of hot chocolate, but it is also disarmingly impish and funny at times. His solo concert at the Cedar on April 19 is one of only two he’ll be playing in town this year.

GREW UP: Maplewood

LIVES IN: Stillwater

PLAYING LOCALLY: In the past few years, my routine has been to do a solo show in spring and a show with backup musicians in the fall. The one in fall is the hard one because I usually play solo and pulling together a concert like that—with rehearsals and schedules and everything else—is thrilling, but it’s only one show. And one of the reasons I am even able to make a living at this is that I don’t usually have to pay musicians.

MAKING A LIVING: For some reason, I’m able to draw enough people to make a living singing and playing the guitar. I’m not sure why. There are lots of reasons I shouldn’t be able to do this. I like to think it’s the song writing. Sure, you have to be able to play and sing, but that’s not the main thing. It’s people connecting with the songs in their own way.

SONG WRITING: Lots of people would think I’m fortunate to be able to travel the country singing my songs. But you know, I really work hard on these songs. I want them to be meaningful and moving and elegant in their construction—and that takes time. I might work on a song for months, and I think part of the “talent” I have, if I have any, is the willingness to be persistent and dogged about getting it right and making it perfect.

FINDING INSPIRATION: When I was young, I would often feel frustrated by a lack of content in lyrics. As a guy who is interested in the more profound aspects of life, I’ve always just wanted to make a four-minute song that brings a listener to a quiet place without being preachy or contrived.

THAT MAGIC “TINGLE”: The funny songs come quicker, but every time I write a serious song, I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing. I want to find that tingle, but I don’t quite know how until it happens. My song writing is really based on knowing what I don’t like and spending enough time to stumble on something I do like. Sometimes I can get halfway through a song and I still haven’t figured out what I’m trying to say. It feels like a walk in the dark almost every time.

WHAT HE’S LISTENING TO NOW: I’m not as good a listener as I could be, and I don’t listen to other singer-songwriters because I don’t want to rip anyone off. It’s a caution thing. I don’t want them rattling around in my head. I listen to a lot of instrumental music and jazz. I’m into Madeleine Peyroux right now; she’s a great jazz singer. I’m also a big fan of NorthSide records; its got a lot of traditional music that has a contemporary feel.

THAT OTHER PETER MAYER: The other Peter Mayer plays with Jimmy Buffett, so whenever gangs of people in Hawaiian shirts end up at one of my shows, I know they’re thinking I’m him. I try not to disappoint them too badly.

NEXT PROJECT: I’m about halfway to another record. Right now I’m just writing songs and casting around for new ideas.

CATCH HIS ACT: April 19. The Cedar, 416 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls., 612-338-2674