Impressions, Mayer Hawthorne’s new covers EP (available as a free download from his website), is the first new material from the multi-talented Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter/arranger/producer/instrumentalist since his 2009 debut, A Strange Arrangement. While Hawthrone doesn’t like being labeled a retro-souler, if you’ve ever heard any part of that album, the Ann Arbor, Michigan native’s respect for the likes of Smokey Robinson, Isaac Hayes, and Curtis Mayfield cannot be denied, even as he says he counts many modern influences as well.

In that regard, Impressions can be heard as Hawthorne asserting his artistic purpose. Putting his musical inspiration on display, alongside covers of The Isley Brothers’ “Work To Do” and an obscure Northern Soul track from The Festivals (“You’ve Got The Makings Of A Lover”), he wrings out soul from surprising latter-day subjects, Chromeo (“Don’t Turn The Lights On”) and Jon Brion (“Little Person”). Hawthorne also covers Electric Light Orchestra’s “Mr. Blue Sky,” recording a super faithful re-do of the Volkswagen Beetle song, but perhaps that’s the point — Hawthorne would rather not be pigeonholed, part of a passing fad or filed under a particular genre. (After all, he occasionally performs hip-hop and DJs under the moniker Haircut.)

The cover of Chromeo’s “Don’t Turn The Lights On” (from last fall’s Business Casual ) is the cut on Impressions that got my attention. Hawthorne describes how it all went down:

“[It’s] my favorite track from Chromeo’s latest LP. On the surface, it’s an electro-funk, dance floor filler, but underneath is a brilliant love ballad with lyrics that reminded me of something from Tyrone Davis. Dave1 (of Chromeo) told me the song is about a guy who falls in love with a ghost, so I wanted my version to have an eerie, ghostly feel to it. Quincy McCrary played the creepy piano solo at the end.”

Hawthorne’s aim for an “eerie, ghostly feel” transforms the percolating funk of Chromeo’s original into slinky, come-hither soul by considerably slowing the tempo down and cranking the boudoir temperature up by several degrees. Hear here:

Free download of Mayer Hawthorne – “Don’t Turn The Lights On” (Chromeo cover) and the Impressions EP via Stones Throw Records. For a free download of Chromeo’s original track, head over to Stereogum.