NEW YORK, NY. (Glacial Pace/Epic Records) - Minneapolis singer/songwriter
Mason Jennings has signed his first major label deal, becoming the first artist signed to Isaac Brock's (Modest Mouse) new label Glacial Pace/Epic Records. Mason's new album will mark the official launch of the label when it's released in early 2006.
There are well-respected artists that we all know that are musicians for the people. These are special musicians who do not consider themselves separate from their audience but as one with them. Each one writes lyrics that not only tell poignant stories but represent our universal plight. Mason Jennings is one of those artists.
Born in Honolulu and raised in Pittsburgh, Mason has made Minneapolis, Minnesota his home for the last 10 years. Since 1998, he has released 4 albums on his own label, Architect Records; selling more than 100,000 copies and has performed throughout the US and the rest of the world. Mason's voice and lyrics are undeniable: whether he is singing sweet, lilting love songs, ranting with embittered rage over societal injustices or pleading for understanding with a child-like innocence. His themes are universal and have played a major part in garnering Mason a large and loyal following around the world. On any given album, Mason will touch upon pain, love, loss, religion, joy, evil, politics and human frailty. Simply put: Mason writes and sings from the heart.
"Mason Jennings' songs are optimistic, with buoyant melodies that span folk-rock and country-rock." - New York Times
"In an age of mediocrity, the appearance of a flat-out superior talent is startling." - LA Weekly
Throughout his career, Mason has captured the hearts of some fellow musicians and producers who relate to his openness and honesty. Ben Kweller, Kings of Leon, Ben Harper, Eddie Vedder, Rick Rubin and of course, Isaac Brock are all Mason Jennings fans.
Mason Jennings on Isaac and Glacial Pace: "I met Isaac last February when he invited me to open a string of dates for Modest Mouse. He told me about Glacial Pace and asked me if I would be interested in signing with them. Up until then I had been very hesitant to jump to a major label. I had been working with the independent label Bar None Records and things had been going really well. But Isaac was the first person associated with a major label who I felt could relate to me as an artist and continue to let me make my music. No one understands better than Modest Mouse how to make the jump to a major without losing any artistic integrity."
Mason is currently recording his new album in Minnesota with producer Noah Georgeson (Joanna Newsom, Devendra Banhart). The sessions include Chris Morrissey on bass and Dave King (The Bad Plus, Happy Apple) on drums.
Glacial Pace's founder, Isaac Brock, on signing Mason Jennings:
I'm going to answer some simple questions that I am sure are going to come up about my initial interest in Mason Jennings. How do I know they're going to come up? It already did, I was given a list of questions and I'll do my damndest to relay the information without sounding like a guy answering a list of questions.
Like most scenarios which involve hearing a band for the first time, I heard about Mason in February 2005 from someone whose taste I trust and was passionate about his music and excited enough to play it for other people in hopes that they'd share the excitement with them. In this case I heard it from Naheed Simjee, who currently co-runs Glacial Pace with me. She had described Mason's music to me as best as possible, but descriptions aren't easy and fall short when it comes to music (this is one of the reasons I've long since abandoned reading reviews to make decisions on buying records). After a few attempts to find, and I apologize but I'm s*** when it comes to remembering titles, but it was the one that has the songs "Nothing" and "Godless" on it, a record that she felt was the definitive Mason Jennings c.d. We downloaded some of the songs, and before I get any s*** for it, don't worry, I paid for the songs I downloaded. I was completely blown away with Mason's unasham! ed and incredibly sincere voice and lyrics. I can be a real s*** head critic when it comes to music so I have to tell you how nice it felt to instantly want to compliment instead of criticize the music. Eventually I bought all his albums and shortly after I was on tour with Modest Mouse and decided while on the road that I would ask Mason and his band to play some of the tour with us. Despite the lack of advance notice, they were able to meet up for some shows. At about the same time I was touring with Mason, some Epic folks were speaking with me about starting my own label. It's pretty easy to fill in the blanks of the steps between being granted the label and signing an artist whose music I love, so I'll spare you the boring details.
Fast forward to September 2005. I just heard some of the new songs Mason is recording in Minnesota for Glacial Pace and am thinking that even if this was the only thing that Glacial Pace released, how I am just so goddamned proud to play a part in the release of this record. I hope that every time a record comes out on Glacial Pace I feel this good about it.
