Willy Mason

It seems fair to say that Willy Mason owes a lot to his family for his worldwide music success. The 22-year-old guitar-genius grew up in a household full of musicians. His parents Jemima James and Michael Mason are both folk singers and Mason claims they both influenced his music on some level. Mason explains: “I would sit on sessions that my parents would have at parties. My Dad taught me how to finger pick. It was nice to have musicians around to learn from; kind of like what you guys are doing.”

Mason was originally discovered by Sean Foley, associate of musician Conor Oberst, after he heard Mason’s music on a local radio station on the small island of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts where he grew up. Since then Mason has come a long way. After being signed to Oberts’ record label, Team Love in the US he has toured with the likes of Radiohead, Unbusted, Ben Kweller and Death Cab for Cutie.

In the summer of 2004 Mason decided it was time to hit the studio and so he travelled to the famous Old Studios in the Catskills New York where he recorded his debut album Where the Humans Eat. The album featured Mason on guitar and vocals, as well as his brother Sam on the drums. Not only was the album released in the US it was also picked up by Virgin Records in the UK. Before long the album hit the UK Singles and Albums Chart. Since then Mason has brought together a band and recorded a second album If The Ocean Gets Rough.

Despite his tender years Mason manages to express personal tales along with a socio- cultural commentary in his music. Mason explains: “I’m happy with the album and I get more and more happy with it. The first record I loved instantly because I was just so shocked that I was able to make a record.”