Socastee grad from here to Nashville, and beyond | Music Notes

Like countless others before him (and more then a few from the Grand Strand), singer/songwriter Mike Mason, 26, is making a life in the Music City — Nashville, Tenn. — with hopes and aspirations to turn his passion for music into a full-time livelihood.

Mason, who graduated from Socastee High School in 2008, moved to Murfreesboro, Tenn., just outside of Nashville, to attend Middle Tennessee State University, renowned for its undergrad and graduate music programs. Mason has been returning to the Grand Strand for a part of each summer to play a heavy schedule of shows, including this year’s last show in town, 6:30 p.m., July 8 at The Burger Stop in Pawleys Island.

“This time around I’m going solo,” said Mason. “I’ll miss my friend Ryan [Crowley] who has played with me before, but we’re going to team up to perform back in Nashville when I get back. We’re still good friends and we write together.”

Unlike the Grand Strand, Nashville can be a miserable place to perform music as an unsigned hopeful artist because of the shear numbers of excellent players all looking for gigs. “There are a few places that aren’t technically “pay to play,” in Nashville, but it ends up working that way, because the cover charge goes to pay the [house] sound man, and you get what might be left over, but if you don’t cover his costs, then you have to pay out of your own pocket.” Take that, whining Grand Strand musicians…

Mason has performed at Nashville’s world famous Bluebird Café on a few occasions and has another gig lined up upon his return. Mason’s local Burger Stop show will feature Mason performing all originals in a style he describes as “modern, acoustic pop; Jason Mraz with a dash of Led Zeppelin.”

Regarding Mason’s short term plan he says he’ll keep writing, and performing as much as he can. He says he loves his job at The Music Stop, a well-known Murfreesboro music store, and for now that pays the bills. “I’m 26, about to turn 27, and in Nashville, as far as becoming an artist, that’s like turning 100. A lot of the producers and labels are looking for 15 and 16-year-olds for development deals, so…it’s kind of sad. But I understand.” Still, Mason remains optimistic. “If you’re willing to go independent, sell your own records, establish yourself in music your own way, then 27 is still a baby.”

This story was originally published July 5, 2016 at 3:41 PM with the headline "Socastee grad from here to Nashville, and beyond | Music Notes."