Cities Aviv

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Cities Aviv

| image = Cities Aviv at BNR10YR Miami - 3.28.2014.png

| image_size =

| landscape =

| alt =

| caption = Mays performing in 2014.

| birth_name = Wilbert Gavin Mays{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/915005542 |title=A MILLION SMILES |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=April 26, 2023}}

| alias =

| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1989}}

| birth_place =

| origin = Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.

| genre = {{hlist|Alternative hip hop{{cite web|url=http://pigeonsandplanes.com/in-depth/2014/06/alternative-experimental-hip-hop/cities-aviv|title=20 Alternative Hip-Hop Artists Who Are Making Things Interesting: Cities Aviv|website=Pigeons and Planes|date=June 12, 2014|access-date=February 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519053240/http://pigeonsandplanes.com/in-depth/2014/06/alternative-experimental-hip-hop/|archive-date=May 19, 2018}}|cloud rap{{cite web|url=http://www.highsnobiety.com/2015/06/25/cloud-rap-yung-lean-lil-b/|title=Cloud Rap: The Spacey, Cyber-Born Hip-Hop Subgenre|website=Highsnobiety|date=June 25, 2015|access-date=February 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521232334/http://www.highsnobiety.com/2015/06/25/cloud-rap-yung-lean-lil-b|archive-date=May 21, 2016}}}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|record producer}}

| instrument =

| years_active = 2008–present

| label = {{hlist|D.O.T./Total Works|Young One|Mishka NYC|Ormolycka|Collect|Fat Sandwich}}

| associated_acts = Copwatch

| website = {{URL|https://dot-audioarts.com/}}

}}

Wilbert Gavin Mays (born 1989), better known by his stage name Cities Aviv, is an American rapper and record producer from Memphis, Tennessee. He is also the

founder of the independent record label Total Works (also known as D.O.T.)

Early life

Gavin Mays was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. He attended Overton High School and Cordova High School. In middle school he started listening to Non Phixion and Necro but also At the Drive-In and Deadsy.{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/talking-about-rap-and-rapping-with-cities-aviv/|title=Talking About Rap And Rapping With Cities Aviv|author=Small, Colin|date=10 December 2012|access-date=2 June 2024|website=Vice}} At the age of 20, he dropped out of the University of Memphis,{{cite web|url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2012/06/tn-bandsdraft.html|title=12 Tennessee Bands You Should Listen to Now|work=Paste|first=Lane|last=Billings|date=June 13, 2012|access-date=June 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403041213/http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2012/06/tn-bandsdraft.html|archive-date=April 3, 2015}} where he studied journalism.{{cite web|url=https://memphismagazine.com/culture/that-modern-man-sound/|title=That Modern Man Sound|work=Memphis|first=Chris|last=Herrington|date=December 2, 2011|access-date=December 28, 2019}}

Career

Prior to his career as a rapper, Mays was the lead singer of a hardcore punk band, Copwatch, as well as a roadie for his friend's bands. During his involvement with the band, he began experimenting with hip hop music, eventually making the full leap into the genre.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/features/rising/8673-cities-aviv/|title=Rising: Cities Aviv|work=Pitchfork|first=Evan|last=Minsker|date=September 20, 2011|access-date=June 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727081845/http://pitchfork.com/features/rising/8673-cities-aviv/|archive-date=July 27, 2012}} In 2011, he released his debut mixtape, Digital Lows, which received positive reviews from music publications such as Pitchfork and Spin.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/cities-aviv-mn0002735087/biography|title=Cities Aviv - Biography|work=AllMusic|first=Jason|last=Lymangrover|access-date=June 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225220542/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/cities-aviv-mn0002735087/biography|archive-date=February 25, 2016}}

In 2012 he relocated to New York{{cite journal|url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/cities-aviv-black-pleasure|title=Cities Aviv, On the Map|author=Buyanovsky, Dan|date=23 January 2013|access-date=2 June 2024|journal=Interview Magazine}} and released his follow-up mixtape, Black Pleasure, through streetwear company Mishka NYC's record label before signing to Young One Records. Mays describes his initial intent behind the album as "trying to make a pop record" as well as being inspired by My Bloody Valentines 1991 album Loveless to bury his vocals in the mix.

After releasing the "URL IRL" single in 2013, he released his debut studio album, Come to Life, on Young One Records in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/16103-cities-aviv-url-irl/|title=Cities Aviv "URL IRL"|work=Pitchfork|first=Jonah|last=Bromwich|date=September 27, 2013|access-date=December 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617113143/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/16103-cities-aviv-url-irl/|archive-date=June 17, 2016}} Shortly thereafter the label ceased operations.{{cite journal |url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/cities-aviv-interview|title=Reinventing Cities Aviv|author=Gillespie, Blake|date=11 January 2023|access-date=2 June 2024|journal=Bandcamp}}

He subsequently released his sophomore album Your Discretion Is Trust on Collect Records in 2015. This same record was later given an official release by Ormolycka.

In 2018 he released Raised for a Better View, which forged his canonical outre punk approach together with a new solemn & angular sound .{{cite web|url=https://www.redbull.com/us-en/best-hip-hop-mix-tapes-february-2018|title=Hip-Hop Mixtapes of the Month: February 2018|work=Red Bull|first=Yu-Cheng|last=Lin|date=March 1, 2018|access-date=December 28, 2019}} This album was the 1st edition on Total Works (also known as D.O.T. [Division of Total]). Since then all of Cities Aviv's output as well as an eclectic array of other artist's projects has been distribuoted by the label.

Since 2019, Mays has also released music through a side project, entitled African-American Sound Recordings. The work under this project takes more of an experimental instrumental style, utilizing a variety of samples, including original field recordings. The style is a blend of hip-hop and more experimental genres such as noise and ambient.

Mays released three full-length albums (Accompanied by a Blazing Solo, Gum, and Immortal Flame) in 2020. These albums are commonly referred to as "The Triad". In a 2021 interview he states, these records were completely improvised in full. He mentions John Frusciante's album Smile from the Streets You Hold as a minimal inspiration on the recording atmosphere.{{cite web|url=http://post-trash.com/news/2021/11/16/cities-aviv-feature-interview|title=Cities Aviv "Just Wants to Put the Highest Emotion Out There" / Feature Interview|date=17 November 2021|access-date=1 June 2024|author=Lewis, Dash|website=post trash}}

In 2021 Mays released The Crashing Sound Of How It Goes via D.O.T. The album has been described as "an hour-long meditation". Compared to its predecessors, The Crashing Sound saw Mays focus more on writing again. A limited run of cassettes designed by Geng PTP was sold after the initial release.

In 2022, Mays put out both Man Plays The Horn and Working Title For The Album Secret Waters. Secret Waters was in large parts inspired by a four-day therapy retreat he attended in early 2022.

Musical style and influences

Cities Aviv is known for his eclectic production style. His songs merge varying stylistic decisions. His early influences partly include Boris, Jay Dee, Die Tödliche Doris, 8Ball & MJG, Black Moon, James Brown, Throbbing Gristle, and noise music.{{cite web|url=http://www.thevinyldistrict.com/memphis/2011/07/another-cup-of-coffee-with-cities-aviv/|title=Another Cup of Coffee with Cities Aviv|work=The Vinyl District|first=Chris|last=Milam|date=July 14, 2011|access-date=June 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701193142/http://www.thevinyldistrict.com/memphis/2011/07/another-cup-of-coffee-with-cities-aviv/|archive-date=July 1, 2015}} Critics also noted post-punk influences on his works,{{cite web|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1213552/mixtape-of-the-week-cities-aviv-black-pleasure/franchises/mixtape-of-the-week/|title=Mixtape Of The Week: Cities Aviv Black Pleasure|work=Stereogum|first=Tom|last=Breihan|date=December 5, 2012|access-date=June 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006071451/http://www.stereogum.com/1213552/mixtape-of-the-week-cities-aviv-black-pleasure/franchises/mixtape-of-the-week/|archive-date=October 6, 2014}} accompanied by lyrical references to Joy Division and Psychic TV.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17456-black-pleasure/|title=Cities Aviv: Black Pleasure|work=Pitchfork|first=Ian|last=Cohen|date=November 26, 2012|access-date=June 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523125256/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17456-black-pleasure|archive-date=May 23, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/blogs/rap-release-of-the-week-cities-avivs-black-pleasure/|title=Rap Release of the Week: Cities Aviv's 'Black Pleasure'|work=Spin|first=Brandon|last=Soderberg|date=November 14, 2012|access-date=June 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127013038/http://www.spin.com/blogs/rap-release-of-the-week-cities-avivs-black-pleasure|archive-date=November 27, 2012}}