| Willy Mason is the boy next door who plays guitar and sings
songs on the porch – and we’re talking America’s figurative porch here obviously,
rather than a frosted-glass fronted entrance hall in Amersham. Sometimes he probably
doesn’t shave for a few days in a row. We’re talking the fractionally cool side
of normal then, with just a dash of romanticism, but still fairly normal. But
that’s his appeal, his accessibility and simplicity, strumming through pretty
lyrical vignettes addressing life, sometimes with brilliant poetic license, like
you might not have noticed him otherwise. Apart from the odd inevitable wisecrack.
So ladies and gentlemen, meet the new New Dylan. As discovered by His Royal Indieness
Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes. Can you guess what he sounds like yet…
Where
are you now? What can you see?
In a big fancy room at Virgin Records in
a supposedly haunted building that has been exorcised. There are muffins on the
table and tea and coffee and crisps.
What was the last thing you ate?
A cappuccino muffin that sort of tasted of bananas
What was the last
album you bought?
Last record I bought was Nas – ‘Streets Disciple’.
First listen sounded kind of rough and not very planned out or well put together,
but as I’ve got more familiar with it, there’s a logic to the combination of personal
stories and politics that often gave me pins and needles.
What was
the last movie you saw?
Motorcycle Dairies – could relate to it very well
as it is about two guys going on a road trip and relying on the kindness of strangers.
What are you most looking forward to?
Getting my van back on March
2nd…the countdown begins!
What do you hate right now?
Doubt
– about the future or about the past – things I’ve done or gonna do.
What
was the last thing you liked that you saw on TV?
Episode of ‘Aqua Teen
Hunger Force’. It’s about a disposable soda cup, a meatball and a French fry -
who are detectives.
Where or how do you feel most comfortable?
Either on stage, sitting on the street or in my van.
What would you
class as your most defining moment?
When Conor (Oberst, Bright Eyes) called
me up on stage without warning for my first ever gig.
What are your
plans for tonight?
Going to watch ‘Ray’ at Shepherd’s Bush cinema. The
album ‘Where The Humans Eat’ was released on February 21. Relevant
Sites:
http://www.willymason.com
James Berry for Crud Magazine 2004©
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