Conversations with Garland Mason

Today we’d like to introduce you to Garland Mason

Hi Garland, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
As a native North Carolinian, I am very proud to be able to perform my music across this great state! I am from Fuquay-Varina, a (formerly) small town outside of Raleigh. I began playing guitar around the age of 12; taking lessons to learn the basics, I eventually outgrew my lessons. Having the most supportive parents anyone could ask for, they continued to push me to pursue my newly found passion. I naturally felt the urge to take the next step in high school, and began learning how to use my voice through the Chorus program. As I grew into my ability with the help of a couple fantastic and encouraging teachers, I began exploring songwriting in high school. I played in a hardcore band, and also wrote and performed acoustic songs at local coffee shops and talent showcases.

I eventually found my love of the blues and formed my first band, cleverly called Garland Mason Band, GMB for short (an homage to Dave Matthews Band, who were a very heavy influence in my high school years) and really dug into writing. We made a record that is lost to the archives, as it was before the streaming era took off, but I know my parents and some friends still have some CD copies floating around. We played gigs at all the major Raleigh/Durham venues, restaurants, bars, breweries, house parties etc., which is where I really began to hone my craft as a performer. That band eventually fell apart, but I was lucky enough to be able to maintain my long standing partnership with my guitarist and closest friend, David Healy. He and I continued on playing shows together as a duo at bars and restaurants while we formulated more songs. Through David’s connections, we formed Four Founders in 2013 featuring Sean Steigerwald and Chris Ruggero. We all became fast friends and vibed together musically so well, that we quickly began work on an EP. That EP, Whiskey Days, debuted in 2014 and is our only recorded work, still on all streaming platforms. We played countless shows all over the Triangle area, and continue to do so to this day. Although we haven’t recorded more material, we still write and perform our original material. These days, we mainly play festivals and big events, but we still love a good rowdy bar show!

In the past 3 years, I have reignited my spark for my original material, and have been lucky enough to be given a platform to trial these songs with some great musicians and friends. I host the Eastside Open Mic every Wednesday at Bond Brothers Eastside in Cary, which has been an absolute gift and blessing. The open mic has blossomed a wonderful community of musicians and friends that all support and encourage one another, and I couldn’t be happier with it. I have been writing new material and performing with my good friends Steve Duncan, Bob Helbert, David Healy, and Ben Hogue. We are currently working on recording my first original music release under my name, and I am so excited for this project!

Throughout all of this, I’ve been performing as a solo act. I usually gig at least once a week at various venues, bars, and breweries in the triangle. Catch me out at a venue soon!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The path to where I am now has not been an easy ride. Everyone dreams of their name in lights when they first set out, but not many people really understand how difficult that is to achieve. The amount of dedication and work ethic needed to chase a dream is often unspoken. I have had many bouts of problems through my career, most of them my own doing. But all you can do is get back up when you stumble, learn from it, and move forward. Music doesn’t earn you a lot of money, especially when you are first setting out, so finding the balance of working to pay the bills and still having the time to pursue the passion is a challenging balance to strike. I have been very fortunate to have a supportive family that helped keep me afloat when I was young and blinded to the reality of finding that balance. My parents have always been so supportive of me and always there to help me out if I needed a hand. I am also extremely blessed to have the support and understanding of my loving and beautiful wife, Jessica, who has endured my late nights and loud rehearsals through our 7 years of marriage. And without her, I wouldn’t be where or who I am today. She’s an amazing person and a constant source of inspiration.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
During my many years of performing music here in the Raleigh area, I have accumulated some accolades that I am very proud of. In 2019, I won the Music One Eighty and 93.9 songwriting contest, and was sent to Nashville to record a single. Unfortunately, that recording session happened in early February of 2020, and the following month, as momentum was building, the world came to a screeching halt during the pandemic. Even still, I am very happy to have won the contest and the experience itself was fantastic and unforgettable. In 2022, I won the WRAL Voter’s Choice Awards Artist of the Year. It was amazing to be recognized by the community I have watched grow and change so much through my time performing here, and I am very proud of this honor.

I believe what sets me apart from others that do what I do in the area is my professionalism, musical range, and vocal ability. I have worked very hard to have the voice that I have, and practice/train all the time. I also feel that my songs are very honest and genuine, and that my cover song selection fit my voice very well. I choose my songs carefully, and don’t often cover the ‘basics.’ I also strive to always put my own twist into any song that I cover at bar gigs. It’s my own way to put my thumbprint on the music and not just sound like a recitation.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
My parents deserve so much credit for my success. They watched me flounder as a teenager searching for myself, and once I found music, they understood that this was what I wanted, and supported my choice to not go to school. My Dad’s amazing work ethic inspired my song Carolina Hills, and my Mom’s honesty and openness taught me how to find that in myself and share it.

My wife Jessica deserves tons of credit. She has stuck with me through some really hard times that many others would have deserted. She is a beautiful soul and has taught me so much about myself and how to be true to me. She has sat and listened to the same songs for years, and that has to be hard to do! She is a daily inspiration to me and is always there for me when I am in need. I am so lucky to have her!

David Healy, my closest friend and long time guitar player, has stuck with me through some rough patches too. He is an incredible player and inspires me musically, as well as an awesome guy and great friend. Him, along with Sean Steigerwald and Chris Ruggero (Four Founders) are the best group of guys anyone could ever ask to get to share the stage with, and I am thankful for all of them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.garlandmason.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garlandmason12/
• Facebook: Garland Mason
• Youtube: Garland Mason Music
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/garland-mason