Exclusive video premiere of ‘Plastered’ by Mason Lowe, taken from the upcoming album, ‘Morning People,’ out June 23rd, 2023 via Killroom Records.

Mason Lowe has been a drummer in the Seattle music scene for years, most recently with classic rock power-pop band Bread & Butter. Unfortunately their excellent 2020 follow-up got swallowed up by the pandemic, and opportunities to promote the album were quashed by restrictions. Lowe considered the break from his primary musical outlet and explained, “I missed playing with the dudes on this record, but it was also a little intoxicating to follow every musical idea as fast they came up and as far as they would go.” Lowe’s creativity and dedication to songcraft is present in all of the numbers on this album, and his drive to pursue this new project is ongoing. The next record is more than halfway written and a live band featuring current and former bandmates, camping pals, and new friends is being formed to play Morning People release shows.

In order to complete the album, Lowe descended into his home studio: one of the dankest basements in the Pacific Northwest. Lowe’s debut solo effort, Morning People, seeks to combine the sounds of glam rock, 60’s girl groups, and grunge. The result is an open-hearted, sunny record that is a nostalgic sweet pop album that is hopeful and utterly sentimental. Nods to Big Star, The Shangri-Las and The Beach Boys are present throughout. ‘Morning People’ was recorded by Lowe during the height of the pandemic while he was struggling to keep the doors open at a Seattle human services nonprofit. But these are not 12 songs of loneliness and exhaustion. This is a dozen songs about hot crushes, friendship, and love. Mason dragged his weary buns into the basement with 6-packs of Rainier tallboys to record heavy riffs, light harmonies, and tight arrangements. How tight? None of the songs on this album make it to the three-minute mark. Where did this burst of positive energy come from? “I have no idea,” Mason says. “Work was really tough. I had a lot on my mind. But I dived into music in a way I never have before. This was a super serious time, but the songs that came out are really poppy and fun. I don’t know why. I’m not a sunshiny person.”

Discussing his philosophy on what makes a good song Lowe had to say, “When I’m listening to music, I love it when a song takes me out of myself. Maybe it’s just one part that makes me go ‘What just happened? Was that even real?’ It makes me think of the scene in Christmas Vacation where the dude is talking about having a metal plate in his head and whenever the microwave is on, he pees his pants and forgets his name. I want every song on this record to have something – an arrangement, a texture, a moment that zaps you and pulls you out of your day. And maybe make you pee your pants.” This all informs Lowe’s tremendously playful style of songwriting and lyrics. ‘Morning People’ is chock full of “microwave moments” and the multitude of hooks both heavy and mellow will please even the most discerning music fans.

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