Following superb reviews to his album, Meet The Humans ~ produced by Elbow’s Craig Potter ~ Steve Mason talks to Viva, ahead of his Manchester gig:

Your current album has been getting great reviews (& rightly so) ~ the musical chemistry between you & producer, Craig Potter is just perfect! How did you two get together?

I had a conversation with a friend about possible producers and his name came up. I thought about it for a couple of weeks and then called him. He was interested so I sent him some demos. We talked a lot on the phone but did not actually meet until the day I walked into the studio to start recording.

Any people who would you like to collaborate with in the future (in any capacity)?

Geoff Barrow, Tricky, Angus Young, All Saints, Martin Duffy, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Petula Clark, Viv Albertine, Joe Duddell, Shabazz Palaces, Vex Ruffin, Andrew Weatherall, Guy Called Gerald…

Which artist (or band) has had the most impact on you, growing up and discovering music.

At different points in my life these were the markers for me but not just artists it was movements/scenes as well which were portals to so much music. Adam and the Ants, Sex Pistols, Style Wars ( Hip Hop doc from 1982 ), the Mod scene, Stone Roses, House Music, Jungle, Dancehall. All these shaped my own music into what it is.

You’re back in Manchester this Sunday 24th at The Academy ~ if you have spare time on your hands in this city, where do you like to hang out?

I like to check the geese that hang out at Porcelanso Kitchens on the corner of Water Street and Dawson St.

Are there any particular Manchester musicians you have a connection with (aside from producer, Craig)?

Depends on what you mean by connection. There are plenty I admire. Martin Hannett, JCC, Guy Called Gerald, Stone Roses, Smiths, The Mothmen, Slaughter and the Dogs, The Hollies…but in terms of a physical connection I may have shaken Johnny Marr’s hand and borrowed a Laurel and Hardy DVD off Mani but despite the obvious sexual overtones to ‘borrowing a DVD’ off Nod it never went further than that.

What’s your most memorable gig or one that had the biggest impact on you?

AC/DC at Wembley around 1999. They are probably my favourite all time band. They make every single other ‘Rock Band’ on the planet look like they need to home to their mummys and daddies.

The Beta Band ~ when they first came on the scene ~ were regarded as being original, experimental and – some would say – off-the-wall ~ certainly very cool! Did you have a *plan* on how things would go, musically or have you just gone with the flow, in terms of writing and being productive?

The Beta Band were a Punk band and, yes, there was a plan to an extent. Get a load of money off a major label and turn it into Art for as long as it felt good. And that what we did, though I am not sure the others were aware of this plan!

The theme of the new album, seems to be very optimistic ~ full of hope. Is it easier to write music in brighter or darker days.

These are still very dark days for any Human living on planet earth, I feel better about myself and MY life but I am intensely aware of what is happening to my fellow earth dwellers and it is very worrying. I know that does not answer your question but here we are.

How do you hear about new music? Reviews/radio/online/friends’ recommendations?

Mainly friends, though I rarely listen to much new music at all. The Le Volume Courbe new album is great, as is The Girobabies album.

Your music would work so well in films. Would you ever be interested in writing a soundtrack for one?

Of course, its every musicians wet dream to do a soundtrack but no one has ever asked me. Which is surprising I think.

You have a lemon tattoo ~ any significance on this?

It has MADE OF STONE written around the top of it, so I will leave the significance of this to your imagination. It cost £15 and I got it done in Kirkcaldy in Fife in 1990. Best £15 I ever spent.

Follow on Twitter @SteveMasonKBT