What is your name?
Mason Summit
What is your genre of music?
I’m not really sure… I call it indie or alternative because those labels don’t have anything to do with the actual sound. I like to draw from a lot of different genres.
Give us a little bio about you.
I was born & raised in Santa Monica, California by two very artistic & creative parents. I’m now 21 & currently studying at the USC Thornton School of Music.
Tell us more about your music.
Music has been a/the defining part of my life for as long as I can remember. I always went through really obsessive phases with different artists & albums, and eventually got into writing songs and playing guitar through my dad.
You released your new album Summer Cold, tell us more about it.
It’s the fourth album I’ve done — I’ve been putting out records since I was 15. I like to think it’s kind of a departure sonically. The approach was definitely different.
What was the writing process like?
Super undisciplined. I wrote most of the songs during an emotional rough patch a couple of years ago, & I was taking a gap year between high school and college, so I had a lot of time on my hands to write & record.
What was the recording process like?
It happened pretty on & off. My goal was to capture the songs as soon as they were written, so that the performances had the energy and focus of something new. So I would record a song or two a month. Later, when I decided that I wanted to release what I had been thinking of as demos, I went back & redid some parts & spent more time on mixing. Two & a half songs were recorded at Grooveolater Studios in Echo Park with my band, Jeff Frantom & Jarren Heidelberg.
Describe each track in two words.
Will you be releasing a music video for the track?
I put out a video for “Catch & Release” a few weeks ago, and am premiering one for “7th & Santa Fe” soon.
Do you have any gigs or a tour coming up?
I just finished a tour last month, but I have some local shows coming up.
If so where will you be heading?
I’m also heading up to San Francisco in February with my band for a gig at Hotel Utah Saloon.
Are you signed?
Not yet!
Who are your influences?
Elliott Smith, Wilco, Elvis Costello, Jon Brion, Joe Pernice, Hank Williams, Neil Young, Buddy Holly, The Band, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Big Star, etc. etc.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Hopefully doing what I’m doing now, but on a much larger scale — getting more press, opening for artists I admire, playing bigger places, etc. And I’ll probably have a couple more albums by then!
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
Mostly hang out and watch movies with my girlfriend, camp/eat/go to shows with friends
Where would your dream venue to play in your hometown?
The Wiltern.
Would you be up for collaborating with an unsigned artist or band? If so how can they contact you?
Of course! Contact for all musical matters is mason@masonsummit.com
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
I’m not sure if there was one single scene, but the first song I ever played in public was “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash.
Where is your dream festival to perform?
I’ve actually never been to a music festival! So it’s hard to say. Coachella is run by some bad people, so that’s out. Maybe South by Southwest to start.
What made you go in to music?
I don’t think I ever made a conscious decision about it, just kept doing it until it became the only thing I wanted to do.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
I ran into my hero Jon Brion at a restaurant and told him that I loved his album Meaningless, but it’s so hard to find anywhere. He replied, “Scarcity is a commodity these days.”
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not just about the industry also just as an artist/band?
Set deadlines. It’s so easy to endlessly tinker on stuff, but at a certain point you just have to let it go and put it out into the world.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
“David here it is, my philosophy is basically this, and this is something that I live by, and I always have, and I always will: Don’t ever, for any reason, do anything, to anyone, for any reason, ever, no matter what, no matter where, or who, or who you are with, or where you are going, or where you’ve been, ever, for any reason whatsoever.” -Michael Scott, The Office S5E11
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Cables, setlist, guitar, amp, & drink tickets.
You come off Tour
1/ Where is the first place you go?
Home!
2/Who is the first person you see?
My mom & my girlfriend
3/What is the first thing you eat.
French dip sandwich at Philippe’s.
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
