We recently connected with Mason Douglas and have shared our conversation below.
Mason, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?
I had a deal with my parents that they’d support me on anything I wanted to pursue…as long as I finished college first. I loved college and I’m so glad I went and graduated. Little did I know, though, that the country music industry was about to be upended right when I was finishing up and getting ready to move to Nashville. Garth Brooks was about to retire and nobody was a clear-cut winner to fill his shoes. Napster was already devaluing music and the record labels didn’t know what to do with this crazy new technology or how to adapt to it. So because of all that uncertainty that I dropped into, I do kind of wish that I’d have come to Nashville a few years before, right in the middle of that heyday before it dried up for awhile waiting for Taylor Swift and Florida Georgia Line to come along. I wouldn’t have been able to go to college but man, that would have been pretty damn cool.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m one of those lucky crazy few who make a living in the Nashville music scene and it’s been such an amazing and wild ride. These days, I’m lucky enough to produce demos for songwriters, tracks for artists, work on my own songs, and write with the new generation of artists and writers. I’ve got a pretty cool vibe with my demo customers in that they trust me a lot with just handing over a worktape and letting me put my spin on it – that’s a big gift to me as a producer (and helps keep my cost down too)! I’ve also found that my experience so far allows me to bring my influences into the new sound of country with some crazy awesome artists that I work with. That makes for a distinct meshing of styles and sound that can’t be replicated.
I came from Tucson, AZ after graduating for U of A with MIS and Marketing degrees, worked some odd jobs selling computers, driving Doubletree hotel vans, doing logistics for prisoners transport vans (yep, it’s a thing). Then one day, after countless gigs, rounds, and miles, I got a little indie record deal and a publishing deal on Music Row and never looked back! The first part with the “odd jobs” took about 10 year and then the 2nd part has been 13 years since then in the making – so definitely not any sort of overnight success. In addition to producing and songwriting, I also act a little on the side as well as write books on Nashville pop culture. Oh, and try to raise a toddler which takes most of my time!
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
What drives me is two-fold: the first element is simply the pure love of music and creating it. I was one of those teenagers that was “grabbed by sound” or whatever the phrase is…once I heard the right voices singing the right words with the right music, I was hooked and somehow I knew that was what I was going to do. I lost my father when I was 16 and one of the last things I was doing when he died was working out the piano part to “All The Kings Men” by Tom Cochrane and I like to believe that he got to hear what I’d be doing for the rest of my life. Garth Brooks also told me one time “Just keep at it” so now I blame him that I can’t quit – I made a dang promise to Garth!!
The second element is that I’ve simply come too far to turn back now. I’ve learned so much in the music business and been through all the stages: dreamer, artist, label slave, staff writer, publisher, producer, hit writer. So I just don’t know what I’d do otherwise! I love to give my experiences to the dreamers and help them in their next steps, answer questions, give feedback – I do what’s called a “Song Dive” which covers all these bases and I’m always happy to help anyone needing some guidance.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
I’m constantly reading about everything, from music instruction and biographies to personal improvement to lame thrillers. A few non-fiction books always come back to me no matter what I’m mulling on in the studio or working through in my personal life, the first one being “Life As Sport” by Jonathan Fader. Holy Moses, that book brought so much clarity into the perspective of success and the process that drives us toward it. It gives some great insight into how legendary athletes deal with a heartbreaking loss but also in how they prepare to win and be clutch in the big moment. It’s all so clear when he lays it out in a way that makes so much sense – I highly recommend! I also absolutely love “The Daily Dad” by Ryan Holiday. As a new dad, it’s given me so much invaluable wisdom and nuggets of fatherhood that I’m not really sure what I’d do without now. It’s great for moms too, so it’s not just a dad-only thing. On the music side, there are countless volumes out there but the book that’s 100% necessary is “Everything You Need To Know About The Music Business” by Donald Passman. The title says it all and it should be on every musicians nightstand, bookshelf, bathroom, you name it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.MasonDouglasMusic.com
- Instagram: @masondouglasmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/masondouglasmusic/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/masondouglas/
- Twitter: @masondouglas
- Youtube: @masondouglasmusic
Image Credits
Emma-Lee Photography Allen Clark Sean Smith Clarence Jay