“Fire Escape”
By Matthew Mayfield and John Paul White
Interview by American Songwriter
Videos by American Songwriter
Matthew Mayfield is the American Songwriter Songs That Sync Contest Promotion winner for his song “Fire Escape.” American Songwriter caught up with Matthew to get the story behind his song.
How long have you been songwriting?
I started writing songs (mostly really terrible ones) when I was 10 or 11. Thankfully I stuck with it and have been fortunate to write a few that have resonated in people’s hearts.
Why did you enter American Songwriter’s Songs That Sync Promotion?
I just stumbled upon it via email and thought I’d give it a shot. I’ve always known “Fire Escape” was a special song that has always haunted/helped me. 50/50. I want people to know they’re not alone on those steep stairs outside in the cold at 3am.
What was the inspiration behind your song, “Fire Escape”?
I wrote the melody on my friend Bear Rinehart’’s (NEEDTOBREATHE) piano. It was an off day in Charleston at his house. I knew I had a chorus that felt right, but the verses just weren’t quite there. I wasn’t doing well at the time…I felt completely abandoned by the love of my life at the time. Songs have a way of finding us. And when they find me…it’s the most powerful /overwhelming experience. I can’t put the feeling into words, but I try for the sake of the song.
Who are your all-time favorite songwriters and why?
Man…that’s a tough one because every single songwriter has a different effect on me. I’ll rattle off a few:
Johnny Cash – very few people on this planet have that kind of authenticity that can rattle your bones like he did / still does on a daily basis.
Bruce Springsteen – “Nebraska” is in my top 5 favorite records of all time. His ability to paint a picture with one guitar, one mic, and a melody is mesmerizing.
Neil Young – He never phones it in. You can hear the honesty in every line.
Eddie Vedder – I know most folks think of the first record with “Evenflow,” and “Alive” when they think of Pearl Jam. I heard him find his voice on “Vitalogy,” “No Code,” and “Yield.” The grit and the snarl in his upper range sends chills up my spine. He’s brilliant and kind…yes. But Ed’s intensity and tenderness are at the forefront of that band. “I wish I was the souvenir you kept your house key on…”
Patty Griffin – The most powerful/angelic performance I’ve ever witnessed. When she sings “May you dream you are dreaming in a warm soft bed…and may the voices inside you that fill you with dread make the sound of thousands angels instead…” It’s on another level.
Are you planning to release any new music this year?
I am. I made a record called “PRIZEFIGHTER” that was released in May of 2024. I had written 32 songs, but only had the budget to cut 12 of them at the time. I’d love to get a few more dialed in on 2” tape in 2025. There’s a warmth you can feel in your bones when you bypass the digital elements for certain songs. Much like “Fire Escape,” there are songs that can change the temperature in the room. That’s the power of this art form. We have to treat it with the respect it deserves.
What would you tell other artists who are considering entering the contest?
If you have a plan B, go do that. Be all in or all out.
If you truly believe that the songs are there, fight like hell to get them heard. The vulnerability that comes with that will teach you humility and gratitude. This isn’t a business, it’s a circus. Your guess is as good as mine…and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Listen to the winning song below:
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