John Mayer Returns to Solo Music With Mercury Records Debut 'Tom and Jerry'
John Mayer released 'Tom and Jerry' on Friday, his first solo single in more than five years and his first release for Mercury Records. The midtempo song uses brushed drums and a repeating guitar riff while Mayer sings about a complicated attraction. Contributors include Blake Slatkin, Pino Palladino, Aaron Sterling, Lenny Castro and Larry Goldings.
Mayer’s new track arrived Friday, Oct. 23, marking his first solo material since 2021’s Sob Rock and his initial release via Mercury Records for his Sob Rock Records imprint. Sob Rock reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and was his last Columbia Records album.
The song pairs a repeating guitar figure with brushed percussion as Mayer describes a tangled attraction. Blake Slatkin co-wrote and co-produced; Pino Palladino played bass, Aaron Sterling drums, Lenny Castro percussion and Larry Goldings piano. Mayer handled guitars, keyboards, synths and programming.
The release may mainly affect Mayer’s existing fans and rock/pop listeners, giving them a new solo track after a long gap and a preview of his Mercury/Sob Rock era. It could also draw attention to his Sphere residency and to the session players involved, potentially boosting their visibility. Because it is a single rather than a full album, its broader cultural impact may be limited, though it could help sustain interest in adult alternative music.