You may know this guy from The Beta Band, or King Biscuit Time, or Black Affair, but right now, Steve Mason just wants to be known as Steve Mason. He’s cutting back on all the crap and instead, is plainly and honestly offering his solo debut, Boys Outside. On it, the sound is stripped back, his voice is intimate and as always, his songwriting is excellent - surely it’ll move some part of you. Here’s what Steve had to say about it when we last spoke…

Hello Steve, how are you keeping?
Well, I have a documentary crew filming this interview right now! I have a camera in my face and I feel like a superstar!

Wow, are you gonna come across as one?
I might come across as a real tyrant and bastard! (Laughs)

Oh, come on. We know you’re good, like your solo debut. Intentions for that?
I think I wanted to make a record that was much more than what I was known for and that had modern kind of elements. It’s a step forward from what I had done before, definitely more poppy and instant, but hopefully with a bit of depth and emotion in lyrics…

Why’s this one released under your own name? Is this the REAL Steve Mason we’re hearing?
Um… I think I just had enough of different kinds of names and projects and stuff. There was a time a couple years ago when I had a thousand MySpace accounts, different names and different styles… and I just had enough of that. It just confuses people and no one hears what you’re doing. I just wanted to be me and to do honest album.

It does sound really hopeful and uplifting…
Yeah, I think there are parts of it that are quite sad, but you still want people to go away from the record feeling uplifting.

How did Richard X end up producing for you? It seems like an odd combo.
I think I always wanted to work with a pop producer even from Beta Band days. I always try to put leftfield music together with pop elements. So instead of being 10 minutes long, a song could be three minutes long and loads of people would like it. And the music I make now isn’t as crazy and experimental, but I still like the idea of someone experimenting in a pop format. Also, the last two records were produced by myself and I don’t like to produce myself - I’d rather concentrate on the music.

And do you reckon your songwriting process has changed since The Beta Band?
I don’t really know. I think it must’ve done but I don’t really know how. I’m older now so I like to think that I’ve matured a bit. So maybe it’s just that I’m a bit more grey around the edges!

www.stevemasontheartist.com

Text: Min Chen
Image & interview courtesy of: Domino Records

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