Mason Via: A Music Man

Life In the Carolina's Podcast

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl sits down with singer-songwriter Mason Via.

Mason grew up in a musical household. Both his mom and dad supported his affinity for music growing up: His mother regularly took him to festivals and his father, a well-known bluegrass musician in his own right, introduced him to the genre via fiddler conventions which Mason likes to call his “stomping ground” for learning how to play bluegrass music in his youth. He wrote his first song when he was 12 years old called “Jack O’Boy, a ripoff made up of other children’s rhymes”.

Mason loves the stage. Using words such as captivating and contagious, he relishes in the reality of having an audience in the palm of your hand, and that it is completely up to you (and your band members) to mold their experience with your music. Music clearly came naturally to Mason from the start, and this calling allowed him to develop his own style that helped him to establish a brand apart from that of his famous father.

Music, of course, is also a collaborative art. Mason enjoys co-writing when putting together a new song. It is an experience that he believes gives the piece a new dimension, and a guarantee that someone other than him can resonate with the piece. Co-writing, to Mason, gives him more confidence that if at least two people like the song, then it is probably worthy of performance to a crowd of people.

For new or aspiring musicians, Mason suggests investing in a home studio if you have the budget for it. If COVID-19 taught him anything, it is that livestreams and other digital solutions are pivotal to staying top-of-mind with your listeners (and potential listeners). Having a home studio that you can comfortably record or at least perform for the camera is the best way to adapt to the new normal brought about by the crisis.

What is equally important is to stay in touch with other musicians, bandmates, and co-writers and do things that get your creative juices flowing, whether that is creating new music, sharing inspiring videos, or just jamming virtually.

Keep up with Mason’s latest gigs and albums on masonvia.com

MORE FROM LIFE IN THE CAROLINAS:

Award Winning Segments — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas

Brown Mountain Lights — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas

Car Culture in the Carolinas — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas

Carolina Theater Trail — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas

Christmas in the Carolinas — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas

Taste of the Carolinas — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas

Honoring Veterans — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas

On Route 74 — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas

The Outdoors — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas

The Outer Banks — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas

Video Podcasts — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas

Carl's Syndicated Columns — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas