Scott J Mason's music from 'The Great Depression'
Ōtepōti based musician Scott J Mason has just released a 5 track EP entitled ‘The Great Depression’; a collection of songs recorded during a particularly challenging time in Mason’s life.
“These songs were all written and recorded between 2011 - 2013. I was living in a grotty small bedroom in a flat in Auckland, after a failed attempt to establish myself in Melbourne. I hadn't managed to find a job and returned home broke and depressed. I had left 4 months earlier after a complicated relationship and band breakdown. I had no assets or belongings so I had to beg and borrow. I managed to scrounge up a bed, a busted up old computer, and found an old acoustic guitar on freecycle. I had no job or relationship, so I spent my time singing, writing and recording demos. I slowly put together a band of sorts with some friends. We called it 'Muscle Man' and we started playing my songs. We only ever played 2 shows though as there were many issues with the band, including my broken mind and confidence. The band did not last and I eventually managed to pull myself out of that situation and move on.”
These songs remain as a testament to that time. Mason never released them as they were a reminder of a time he would rather forget.
“Part of me thought they were terrible, cheesy, over-emotional, immature and would never be accepted or liked in NZ. I thought my musician friends would laugh at them and they would further cement me as a musical leper. It was most likely a symptom of my mental state.”
It’s 2022 and Mason is in a different mental realm altogether.
“I now no longer think one way or another about these tracks but for the sake of closure, I am putting them out there”.
Mason is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and singer-songwriter.
With 30 years of touring and recording throughout NZ, playing in bands Gasoline Cowboy (Akl), Slim (ChCh, Wildside), Mulholland (Akl) and Gareth Thomas (Akl, Goodshirt), he has supported/toured with some the biggest names in music, including Shihad, Salmonella Dub, Neil & Tim Finn, HLAH, Tool, Korn, Live and Creed.
Scott has been building a reputation as a composer with soundtracks for the international series Orangutan Jungle School (2 seasons), and tracks featured on Celebrity Treasure Island. His next project is a full Netflix docuseries.
Listen to ‘The Great Depression’ here. To hear more from Scott J Mason, head over to the Songbroker Search Engine.
