Ocean Motion shares their latest music video, ‘Your Own Way,’ taken from their latest EP, ‘Together Now’.

Cycles of regret and grief are nigh unavoidable in our modern age, almost becoming the status quo. Everyone faces hardship at various points along their life, but when and where these hardships appear can greatly influence how we are prepared to deal with them. It has become increasingly common these days to have friends go through struggles that we are not prepared to deal with and respond to ourselves, thus limiting our own capacities for helping our friends, and thereby repeating this cycle of grief as we ourselves struggle in response. These themes and more are bravely tackled by new artist Ocean Motion on his newest music video for his tune ‘Your Own Way’ off of the fresh EP, ‘Together Now’.

Mason Baker, aka Ocean Motion, has been cooking his first solo EP since 2018, slowly yet steadily piecing things together when the timing was right in-between other projects, such as January Man (formally known as Little Pink). The Toledo, Ohio-based musician has been largely known in the northwest Ohio region as a very capable drummer, but is ready to flex his songwriting chops with a collection of five tracks written, recorded, and produced by himself at his home and the local bastion for budding Toledo artistic talent, Collingwood Arts Center. Save for some help from fellow local musician Matt Cashin (keys & guitar) on two tracks, this debut EP is entirely self-contained from the ground up, serving as an artistic release for a myriad of pent-up feelings covering topics like relationships, death, loss, addiction, and ill-thought-out advice.

This music video is in support of the third single, ‘Your Own Way,’ dealing with the two latter subjects as it opens silently on our main character’s significant other suffering a fatal overdose. Juxtaposed with this somber imagery is an almost humorously upbeat synth pop intro with understated electronic keys and drums. What we witness next is that cycle of regret and grief as the widow falls into a pattern of abuse and depression while supposedly rebounding with another person who enables this self-destructive behavior. Ocean Motion provides poignant and direct lyrics sung with conviction over this theme, insisting that as much as he wants to help, he doesn’t have the answers for his own complicated personal struggles, so how can he effectively help? Rather, he has confidence that the other person–be it the person in the video, the real-life inspiration, or the listener–will be able to figure it out “[their] own way.” Indeed, by the end of the video, the main character is able to walk out of their situation under their own power, seemingly with a new lease on life. As the situation on screen unfolds, the music aptly follows–acoustic drums and additional harmonies flourish into a distorted electric guitar motif that leads into one final triumphant and life-affirming chorus.

Though only having just released the entire ‘Together Now’ EP on the 15th of December and this new music video on the 22nd, Ocean Motion has already set the stage for a continually busy 2024 with plans to continue working on more music for an eventual full LP release. In the meantime, enjoy the music as it is, and look for an announcement for a live performance done with a full backing band to support this effort. Even more is sure to come from this emerging songwriter.

“Done is better than perfect”

Your debut EP ‘Together Now’ was first started five years ago. How does it feel to finally have them out? You probably didn’t think it would take this long, did you?

I didn’t think it’d take this long, I wanted it to be out last year. With working “regular” jobs, my band January Man, and other musical projects, I think it’s fine it did take this long. It feels great that it’s out though. I’m proud of it, but also find it hard to listen to at times. I’m very much thinking about how I can improve the next release. These are literally some of the first songs I’ve ever written by myself. That’s why some parts of these songs go back to 2018 and 2019. Most of it was written in 2020. Then 2021 and 2022 was when it was recorded, and then it was mixed and mastered by July of 2023.

With your experiences in other bands such as January Man, what lessons or ideas have you incorporated into your own writing and recording process?

Seth and Matt have taught me so much (and will continue to teach me) that I can’t even begin to describe what I’ve learned with January Man. Listening to LOTS of different kinds of music helps too. Basically I know there’s gotta be drums, a nice bass line that follows the kick drum, chords from a synth or guitar, a melody from a synth or guitar, and some vocals with nice lyrics. I like doubling my voice and adding harmonies to em too. Write a verse and chorus, double it, little bridge in there, another chorus, then you’re done.

What’s the most recent thing you did in an act of self-care, whether for yourself or someone else?

For myself, I went back to therapy a couple weeks ago. For someone else, it’s Christmas and I’m actually able to afford to give back this year.

What albums and/or bands have you been really digging recently?

I’d say for 2023, my favorite album is the boygenius record. For an album not released in 2023, I’ll say I’ve recently been diving into LCD Soundsystem. And to shoutout Toledo, both Citizen and Equipment had phenomenal records this year.

What’s one piece of advice you can give for other creatives out there?

I’m curious as to what advice they could give me. (Laughs) I guess one piece of advice that’s stuck with me lately is “done is better than perfect.”

What’s next for you musically? Where can people see and/or hear you?

Definitely will be playing Ocean Motion stuff live with a full band next year, as well as putting out new music for the project. January Man has some things planned, and I’ve started to make some things with a friend of mine. Follow me on all socials and check out my music on all streamers.

Headline photo: Stephen Pollauf

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