Showing off four cuts from his forthcoming album, Man About Town, Mayer Hawthorne took over KCRW’s ongoing Apogee Sessions in Santa Monica last night.

The in-studio performance, recorded for future broadcast and stream on the indie college station, opened with the throwback R&B singer and, soon after, his 200 invited guests singing the na-na-nas on “Back Seat Lover.” Backed by his quintet in sharp, matching suits, (the exception being the dazzling singer JimiJames in her backless black dress), and Hawthorne, himself, in a grey snakeskin-patterned button-down, the essence of smooth was not only in the wardrobe.

His ten-song set of funky lover’s soul was divided equally by a short interview with KCRW’s Jason Bentley, during which the Michigan native talked of his recent DJ set at SXSW and his excitement for the new record. A medley of Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way,” “The Walk” and Brenton Wood’s “Gimme Little Sign” closed the taut 45-minute appearance. The entire performance airs and streams on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic on April 8, the day of the album release.