I stumbled across Willy Mason listening to radio 1. On hearing his potential single "Oxygen" I was intrigued enough to search out his website and listen to some samples of the few tracks he has released. I was suitably impressed and bought this self-titled EP on import from Amazon UK.
This 19-year-old from New York is one of a rare breed of new unknown singer/songwriters whose lyrics are that of someone with many more years behind them. Some would say an 'Old head on young shoulders' and Mason's lyrics are reflected in this. Sounding like a young Bob Dylan with the bittersweet sentiment of a Damien Rice this artist will not be pigeonholed.
Part folk, a little bit country and part indie this EP is impossible to categorise. The rawness of this singer is epitomised in the cardboard sleeve the five-track EP arrives in and the no frills design. Each track is accompanied by a short explanation of where, when and how it was written.
“Live It Up” has an echoing quality that sounds like it has been recorded in Mason's garage. There are no effects, no drums just Mason and his acoustic guitar. A bittersweet tale warning of the perils of "Living It Up" and striving for the pot of gold. Mason talks of remembering were we come from and the important things in life. It says something about this artist that he first performed this track in a war torn Lithuania for his friend. Mason's voice is full of emotion throughout and it is obvious his experiences are reflected in this track.
"Live it up We better turn this boat around If we keep on following the gold Someday we are gonna run aground"
"Hard Hand To Hold” in comparison allows Mason to change his rhetoric for that of remembering to enjoy the company of friends and let go of your inhibitions. Mason claims it is hard to enjoy anything if you trust nothing. He admits he himself is becoming more cynical of life as he gets older and as such tells himself to listen to his own advice. Mason's voice is much more melodic than in the previous track and the chorus (below) has a real singalong quality.
"It's a hard hand to hold That is looking for control It is tempting to fight When you know that you're right, It's hard to lie down When you don't trust the ground It's hard to hold on, It's hard to hold on."
"Waiter At The Station” is the only song not penned by Mason himself but is rather written by his mother and father about the frozen body of a homeless man they saw at a station. This song is told in story fashion and is melancholy to the extreme. Mason reflects in this short but to the point tale "Whose going to carry him down" and sounds thoroughly depressed as do I after listening to it.
"He's sleeping in the tunnel He's edging towards the vent He's a lonesome river swimmer Wondering where the river went. "
"Not Lie Down" was written when Mason had been bereft of company for a week. He seems to be arguing with himself throughout this track about fighting his inner demons and not succumbing. What I like about this track is we can all empathise with his plight be it not succumbing to the midnight munchies or that pointless drink while sat alone. Mason also examines the importance of company on such occasions and how often the important other person in your life is so often right.
"You know that you are right God damn you, you're always right Why the hell can't i remember that, each time we start to fight."
"Oxygen" is possibly the most rock lite and catchy track on this EP but in no way suffers for it. Mason admits he was stoned while writing this; told you he was like Dylan; and perhaps that is all good as you find this track digging into your brain and lodging itself their forever. This is as upbeat as Mason gets and has an addictive riff running throughout. It tells of hope and striving to be the best we can in this strange circle of life.
"I wanna be better than oxygen So you can breathe when you're drowning and weak in the knees I wanna speak louder than Ritalin For all the children who think that they've got a disease I wanna be cooler than t.v. For all the kids that are wondering what they are going to be We can be stronger than bombs If you're singing along and you know that you really believe"
So all in all an eclectic five track mix that has to be heard to be truly understood. Those who think they will wait for the single might want to rethink as it is not scheduled for release in Britain for at least a year. I thoroughly recommend you try this EP, you will not regret it and you can tell your friends you heard him before he went big. I guarantee he will.
For a quick listen to some sample copy and paste this into your browser.
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