Canadian singer-songwriter Lucas Mason is stepping into a defining moment in his musical journey with the release of his self-titled debut album on November 13. The 11-track collection blends modern folk and country with touches of rock and bluegrass, offering an honest glimpse into the life of the 19-year-old St. Catharines, Ontario, native as he navigates young adulthood, relationships, family, and the pressures of a growing music career. Since his viral 2024 performance of Zach Bryan’s “Heading South” alongside the artist onstage in Toronto, Mason has experienced a rapid rise, earning millions of streams, playlist recognition, and opportunities to perform at festivals and share stages with established Canadian acts. With a hands-on role in writing and producing much of his debut, Mason is ready to share a deeply personal collection of songs that reflects not only where he is today, but also the artist he hopes to become.
Your self-titled debut album represents a significant milestone as you enter adulthood and continue developing your identity as an artist. Why did you decide to make this a self-titled record, and what does the name Lucas Mason represent to you at this stage of your life?
In making this album, I wanted to create something artistic that represented me right now as an artist and as a person.
I’m only 19 so I’m still new to the music industry and figuring myself out. On the album, the track “The Smell of August” is an example of this, in that it’s about different lives I could live and different places I could go.
I made the album self-titled because it’s my first one, and the songs are really personal to me. It’s kind of my artistic introduction to the world and also a window into my soul.
You’ve described the album as an honest reflection of where you are personally and musically. With songs exploring young love, family, loss, friendship, and mental health, was it challenging to turn such personal experiences into music and share them with the world?
I had to get really vulnerable with myself and with the people working with me in order to write and deliver the vocals on these songs, some more than others.
Getting in this mindset helps me to write better songs, and this is something I’ve learned through the process of making the album. I used to compare myself to other songwriters whom I admire and think that my life experiences weren’t as significant to write about, but I’ve learned that everyone has something to say, and the deeper you dig and open yourself up to the world, the better your songs will be.
The album opens with “Hurricane Ridge,” an instrumental inspired by a climb to beauty, before taking listeners through a variety of personal stories. What inspired the album’s overall direction, and how did you decide on the sequence of songs to tell your story?
“Hurricane Ridge” is a great metaphor for my experience so far as a young person trying to make it in the music industry. It was a really hard climb that my brother and I did up a mountain in Washington this summer. The trip forced me to be present with myself and to appreciate the beauty around me. When we got to the top, the gorgeous views made the gruelling hike well worth it.
The personal stories are all about the people and experiences that have shaped me up to this point in my life. The album is really a self-reflection of who I am, who I’m becoming, and how I got here.
In terms of the sequence of the songs, I wanted to take listeners on a journey and show my audience some lighter sides of me in addition to the emotional songs I tend to put out. I ended the album with the track “Light” because it represents me cherishing all the fleeting moments of beauty that I brought up in the other songs.
You wrote six tracks and co-wrote the remaining songs, while producing or co-producing ten of the eleven tracks. How important was it for you to have that level of creative control, and what did you discover about yourself as a songwriter and producer throughout the process?
To make this a really authentic representation of me, it was important to me to be as involved as I could.
There was a lot of self-discovery in bringing it to life and that really wouldn’t have happened if I had been influenced too much by others and gone in a specific direction from that. I’m grateful for the journey because the process taught me a lot and I’ve grown so much.
Even so, there were some extremely talented people involved with this album, as far as musicians, producers, and co-writers go. By choosing who to collaborate with on the album, I was more comfortable being vulnerable and I’ve come to learn that the best songwriting comes from allowing for vulnerability.
Your musical sound brings together modern folk and country with elements of rock and bluegrass. Which artists, experiences, or musical influences have helped shape your sound, and how do you balance those influences while developing a style that is distinctly your own?
I’m a huge fan of great songwriting. Some of my biggest influences are Zach Bryan, Tyler Childers, and Bob Dylan. They’ve really inspired me to push myself in the songwriting process to come up with something that is authentic to me and my experiences.
When I write a song, I don’t think about a particular genre or style. I just try to dig deep emotionally and let that flow out of me. In doing so, I think this is helping me to develop my own distinct style.
One of the biggest turning points in your career came in 2024, when Zach Bryan invited you onstage in Toronto to perform “Heading South.” The performance went viral, reaching approximately 15 million views online. How did that moment change your life, both personally and professionally, and what lessons have you taken from the whirlwind that followed?
It changed everything, really. I was a regular high school student who suddenly got pushed into the music industry. It was a whirlwind of excitement and stress, and it became impossible to concentrate on school or anything else.
Before that moment and the reaction to it, I never would have believed that I could have a career as an artist. I mean, I was 17 years old, and the morning after the concert, I had industry people from major labels connecting with me. It was wild.
When everyone who reached out wanted to hear my original music, it pushed me into songwriting because I didn’t really have anything of my own that was ready. Now, I have a huge passion for songwriting. For me, it’s very therapeutic because it’s a way to understand my own emotions and create something that can connect with others who might be feeling the same things as me.
Songs such as “Tethered” explore industry pressures and mental health, while other tracks highlight the importance of family and relationships. As your career continues to grow, how do you protect your mental well-being and stay connected to the people and experiences that keep you grounded?
I think it’s really important to know who and where you can turn to when you need to escape stress and feel grounded. These are themes that I write about in songs like “Tofino” and “Stay”, which were influenced by my trips to Vancouver and Norfolk, Ontario, respectively.
I’m really lucky to have a supportive family who has been there with me every step of the way. Because I was only 17 when it all started, they’ve looked out for me and have been involved in the business side of things. My brother Ethan has been in my band since the beginning, and I’m also in a long-term relationship with the same girl that I was with before this all happened.
I’m truly blessed to have all of the support that I do, and I try not to take this for granted.
You’ve already performed at festivals such as Big Valley Jamboree and North of Nowhere, supported established Canadian artists, and built an impressive streaming and playlist presence. With your debut album arriving November 13 and a series of Canadian shows planned, what do you hope listeners take away from this record, and what goals are you most excited to pursue next?
I was really vulnerable when writing these songs, and some are so deeply personal to me and the struggles I’ve gone through. So I hope listeners can feel like I’ve shared a piece of my heart with them and that they can connect with the lyrics and with me as an artist.
I love performing live, as it allows those connections to form. I’m really looking forward to meeting fans during the tour and hopefully belting out my songs with them.
I’m already looking forward to the next project after this. I’ve written a couple songs for an EP, and I’m planning a special cover or two for this as well.
I’m also looking forward to playing a lot more shows. I’m hoping to get out to Western Canada for sure, and recently, I’ve had a ton of people ask me to come to Australia! Would love for that to happen someday!
Social/streaming links:
Instagram:@LucasMason.Music
TikTok:@lucasmason.music
Spotify:sptfy.in/lucasmason
YouTube:@lucasmmason
