After Hours: Mason Jennings

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“In The Ever”, the title of Mason Jennings’ new album, is a phrase used by his son to describe the state of being unborn. It’s a fitting introduction to the soft-focus Americana of the album, on which Jennings talks about his spirituality, amongst other things, in the lightest way imaginable. In The Ever comes off like a pastoral East coast ‘Transformer’ on tranquilizers, all typically relaxed in the sunny Brushfire Records style, but with some outstanding songwriting and a keen ear for pop hooks, as heard on the single ‘Fighter Girl’.

We caught up with the man himself to talk about what music, books and films have been keeping him busy lately..

Who’s your favourite new band at the moment? Tell us a bit about them.
She and Him. Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward’s new band. I love her voice and the production and the songwriting is top notch.

What’s been the best album you’ve heard in the last 12 months?
Johnny Cash’s ‘A Hundred Highways’.

What was the last book you read? Would you recommend it?
‘The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay’ by Michael Chabon. I loved it. It made me fall in love with comic books again. Can’t wait to read more of his books.

What was the last film your saw in the cinema and was it any good?
I went to a movie called ‘Beautiful Losers’ in New York about an art scene that started there including Harmony Korine, whose films I love, and my friend Shepard Fairey who is the guy who came up with the OBEY art and who did the cover for Boneclouds. I liked hearing about how they work.

If push came to shove, what’s your all-time favourite song and why?
Um, maybe Tangled Up In Blue by Bob Dylan. I love that one.

What’s the best TV show you’re currently following?
I don’t follow any.

What one piece of criticism has stuck in your mind and was it justified?
None come to mind. i try to let that stuff fall away.

What one thing has caused you to waste your free time in the past 6 months?
I don’t think there is such a thing as wasting time. I like shooting hoops a lot.

Do you follow any type of sport? If so, who’s your “home team”?
I did when i was growing up. i loved the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not so much anymore. I liked seeing my friend Aaron Piersol swim the backstroke in the Olympics. That was rad.

What’s your poison?
The internet.

We’d like you to make us a mix-tape. Pick five tracks with a theme of your choice.
5 songs about Death
1. ‘Danny Boy’ by Johnny Cash
2. ‘The Evening Train’ by Hank Williams
3. ‘Death Letter’ by Son House
4. ‘In My Time Of Dying’ by Led Zeppelin
5. ‘You Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond’ by Blind Willie Johnson

Mason Jennings on MySpace