Mason Jennings is one of the more talented and veteran musicians that has managed to (mostly) fly under the mainstream radar ever since he began putting out music. He is a truly gifted songwriter with a broad musical sensibility to match. He’ll be doing a two night run at Eddie’s Attic this coming May, which is sure to be two wonderfully intimate performances you won’t want to miss.
We got to ask Mason a few questions about his songwriting process, his panel at the Novel Peace Prize Forum last year, and what’s coming next for him. Read on below and be sure to snag tickets to his shows on May 14 & 15!
Your songs are very poetic in nature. Which were you attracted to first: writing or composing music?
I guess I was first interested in writing stories and storytelling. But then I also really liked playing drums. Songwriting was a fun way to put it all together.
When crafting songs, do you typically try to sit down and make time to create, or do you prefer inspiration to come in a more natural way?
Well, I just let it flow but I set up my life in such a way that the center of it is creative time. I keep my days open so that when I feel a song coming on I can give it my full attention. Half of songwriting is input though. So half of my work is watching what lights up for me in life and checking it out, following the magic trail of inspiration.
Who are some of your main influences in your music? Does it change from album to album?
Right now I quite like listening Mac Demarco, Sufjan Stevens and The Growlers. It’s always changing. Inspiration moves around.
Your song “Just Try” was featured in the final season of How I Met Your Mother last year. How did that come to be and how did it feel when you heard your song on the show?
I think someone at the show must have been a fan. I’m not sure. I was happy they wanted to use it.
What was it like speaking and performing at the Nobel Prize Peace Forum last year?
It was an honor. I just talked about how music has always been a place of peace for me, how creating art and channeling all the dark energies into art can be so useful.
Do you have any new music in the works that we can expect to see soon? If so, how will it be different from the last one?
Well, I’m always working on new music, yeah. My last album was called “Always Been”. It came out a couple years ago. I hope to have a new album out by next year. They are all different, like faces.
What is your favorite part of performing in front of a live audience?
I like the feeling of being present, like anything can happen, the immediacy of art. I feel the full splendor of it. It is a shared space of creation with the audience.
What can we expect to see from your show at Eddie’s Attic?
I’ll be solo, playing guitar and piano. I’ll play some new songs I’m working on as well as songs from most likely all my albums. I never quite know. I don’t write set lists. I’m looking forward to it!
Tickets are $30 advance, $36 at the door. Doors open at 6:30pm.
