Tears for Fears

Tears for Fears are a British pop band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, which emerged after the dissolution of their first band the mod influenced Graduate. They were initially associated with new wave and the New Romantic movements, but quickly branched out into mainstream chart success.

Curt Smith 1990s

Smith relocated to New York City and took several years to recover from the spotlight. In 1993 he recorded a "Soul on Board." Although Smith's loyal fans enjoyed the album, Smith has said on numerous occasions that he despised it. In 1995 he met local songwriter and producer Charlton Pettus. The two formed a self-described "organic" partnership, writing simple, melody-based songs and recording them at home on vintage analog equipment.

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From 1996 to 1998 their band, Mayfield, performed occasional sets in clubs throughout Greenwich Village and SoHo including Brownie's, the Mercury Lounge, and CBGB. As a live band, Mayfield performed with minimal production and no commercial obligations, and Smith's sense of musicianship was rekindled for the first time since his teenage years.

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Eschewing major record labels, Smith formed his own label, Zerodisc, to release Mayfield's music, and was an early advocate of using the internet to share and distribute music outside the mainstream industry. A second album, Aeroplane, was released in 1998, showcasing the songs written during Mayfield's club days. Smith also took on the management or co-management of several independent bands and musicians.

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