A Quick Chat with Paul Mason

“The Other Guy” marks a new chapter in your solo journey—can you tell us about the inspiration behind the track and what it represents for you artistically?
The Other Guy was written over a few months during a pretty emotionally turbulent time. I’d just come out of a relationship and while it had to end for personal reasons, the impact of that ending really lingered. I ended up flying to New York—a bit of a “find myself” kind of trip. The song became a love letter, not just to her, but also to myself. It was about self-forgiveness, resilience, and choosing not to collapse under the weight of something painful. Artistically, it was a shift—less about showing my chops, more about clarity, honesty, and capturing that strange, bittersweet beauty that only comes from real heartbreak.

You’ve worked with some of Australia’s most iconic performers and bands—how has stepping into a solo role changed the way you write and perform music?
It’s been a complete perspective shift. As a sideman, your job is to amplify someone else’s voice, to find a way to serve the song and the artist without overshadowing them. But in a solo context, there’s nowhere to hide. Every lyric, every arrangement, every musical decision is mine—and it has to resonate with who I am. It’s a more vulnerable place to stand in, but it’s also more rewarding. There’s a purity to it, and the connection with the audience feels even more real.

From winning jazz scholarships to playing in heavy rock bands—your background is wide and deep. How do you think that technical versatility has influenced your sound today?
It’s the lens I see music through. I’ve had my hands in jazz, rock, theatre, R&B, prog—even metal. What that’s given me is a toolkit that allows me to draw from a massive palette of sounds, without being boxed in. These days I’m less interested in genre gymnastics and more interested in using that versatility to communicate more honestly as a musician. If a song needs space, I give it space. If it needs complexity, I know how to bring that too. It’s all in service of the song, its emotion, not my ego.

You’re about to headline the Melbourne Guitar Show and just played sold-out tribute shows to Jeff Beck. How do you approach interpreting another artist’s music compared to creating your own?
I really try to honour the spirit of whoever’s work I’m covering or recreating. My main aim is to honour that artist, and recreate their work in the most respectful way possible, while also imbuing the music with my own unique voice. When I’m creating my own work from scratch, it’s trickier because I have to embody that spirit from the inception of the piece. There’s no pre-existing blueprint—I have to build the house from scratch. But the fingerprint still has to be mine.

“The Other Guy” has a raw and soulful edge. What gear and recording approach did you use to capture that feel in the studio?
A lot of it came down to the guitar tones. I took a very artisanal approach—raw, clean tones in the verses, then pushing into light overdrive for the choruses to get that emotional lift without going full rock. It had to stay tasteful and intimate. Think more Michael Landau on a James Taylor record than a Marshall stack. Add to that the feel of Miles Thomas on drums, Bill Risby’s piano voicings, and Dan Willington’s work on bass and production—and it all came together as something honest and textured.

With 15+ years in the industry and a long list of high-profile collaborations, what keeps you creatively driven and passionate about making new music?
Music’s my craft and my compass. I’ve poured the best parts of myself into it—it’s how I process life, identity, grief, joy, all of it. I think the people I’ve worked with over the years recognise that spirit. What keeps me going is that I haven’t come close to saying everything I want to say yet. I’m compelled to keep showing up, keep chiselling away at it. And any time someone connects to something I’ve written—it’s fuel. That validation reminds me why I chose this life in the first place.

You're launching 'The Other Guy' with a live show at Petersham Bowlo on August 15—what can fans expect from the set, and how are you approaching this show as a solo artist?
It’s going to be a cross-section of my journey—a completely unique body of work, mostly original songs, with a few surprises in the mix. I think Petersham Bowlo is the perfect-sized venue for this kind of gig. It’s intimate but vibrant, and I’m in a place in my career where connection means more than spectacle. I’ve got Necko supporting, and they’re a fantastic band—our sounds are really complementary. The goal is to create a night that’s musically rich, emotionally charged, and just fun. People are going to feel something, completely forgetting about their day-to-day woes. That’s my mission for any performance.