Every now and again one of those records comes around that defies being pigeon holed and given a label. Mason burst onto the dance scene with their groundbreaking tune ‘Exceeder’ back in 2006. The record swiftly went from destroying dance floors to tearing it up the World’s charts and laying the foundations for more forward thinking music. This record, along with most of what Mason produced since falls into the same category. It’s not about making records for a particular set of Djs or scene but just good honest music! As a result Mason’s tunes are played by a huge array of decksman from Pete Tong and Zane Lowe (BBC Radio 1) to Fat Boy Slim, Eric Prydz and Carl Cox. Using Iason’s classical violin training coupled with a love of diverse music and a hi-tech apprenticeship in a ring tone sweatshop, together with his studio and live partner Coen – a man fixated with ancient synths, playing in rock bands and a mean vocalist to boot – the Mason boys are now forging their own unique path. The duo have the musical arsenal required to make everything from filthy late night dance club bombs to daytime radio anthems. These Dutchmen are unpredictable in both what is played in the club and what is created in the studio. The Mason sound takes a great understanding of melody and fuses it with technological know-how sheer musicianship and dance floor savvy. It is dance music for the thinking man, but not so clever to be alienating and dull. A debut artist album is taking shape at the moment and features some interesting styles and flavours as well as guests such as NYC rapping legends ( Run) DMC and Kurtis Blow, Grammy nominated and UK No. 1 album artist Sam Sparro, renowned singer songwriter Matt Hales (aka Aqualung), Massive Attack collaborator Debbie Clare and the frontman from cult Belgian act dEUS, Tom Barman.
With a Worldwide hit record under their belt for Data/Ministry Of Sound as well as numerous releases and remixes for labels like Great Stuff, Skint, Pickadoll and Brique Rouge Mason continue to garner respect from above as well as under ground. Mason has recently lent his sound to remix on numerous artists including Moby, Gabriella Cilmi, Hadouken and Robyn. 2009 also sees the launch of Mason’s label, Animal Language and a regular party under the same name in Amsterdam. The imprint is already making fans of the likes of Carl Cox, Nic Fancuilli and Mylo.
Humour is a long forgotten part of music and something Mason is keen to re-introduce as a key ingredient. Anyone listening to his “de-mix” of Exceeder being replayed by a brass band will know the boys aren’t taking things too seriously. Forthcoming album track titles such as ‘Who Killed Trance’ and ‘Bigboy Exercises’ are also refreshingly tongue-in-cheek and every track on his Animal Language label will carry a ‘re-furb’ ; a re-interpretation in a totally different musical style, be it speed metal, Mariachi or Balkan!
Behind the decks, or CDJ’s at least, Iason, the dj-ing face of ‘Mason’, has honed his craft for over fourteen years since falling for the grooves of early hip hop and spinning in his local clubs. Things progressed to warming up for Global mega star Tiësto at his gigs around the World where Mason also jammed violin to his own and his compatriot’s sets. The fiddle has since been rested, but Mason continues to rock crowds wherever he plays. He has headlined at some of the World’s finest clubs and festivals including headlining the massively opulent ‘Sensation White’ parties around the world as well as appearing with top billing acts at Dance Valley in Holland and at Creamfields in the UK.
Mason is currently resident at trailblazing club night ‘Electronation’. The uber cool Dutch based event also had Mason compile and mix their five-year anniversary album this year. Speaking of mixes, there’s ‘The Amsterdam Tapes’, Mason’s very own mix album series in collaboration with hand held DJ gadget ‘Pacemaker’ released in Autumn 2008 to much critical acclaim. The first album was Mixmag’s compilation of the Month. The Dutch maestro also just broadcast a very well received Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1.
2009 is set to be a big one for Mason both as a production team and as a DJ. If sheer talent and karma have anything to do with it then expect to be hearing this name a lot in the future. http://www.myspace.com/musicofmason
