Music: Jeff Hemmings

Steve Mason – Former Beta Band man is now Brighton-based, as he tells Jeff Hemmings

I moved down here in May 2014,” says Steve. “I was living in the woods in Fife. I don’t know if you have ever lived on your own in the woods in Fife… it’s great for a bit, but then it gets a bit long. I had enough. As the album title says, I wanted to meet the humans, re-introduce myself into polite society,” he laughs.
Indeed he has. The new album ‘Meet The Humans’ is once again being released on the highly regarded Domino label, home to Arctic Monkeys, Villagers, Robert Wyatt, Anna Calvi, Hot Chip et al. While his previous album, ‘Monkey Minds in The Devil’s Time’ was a more overtly political and angry affair, ‘Meet The Humans’ sounds more like a sigh of relief, with Mason in a better frame of mind than for many years. “It’s things that people who live in towns and cities take for granted, things I haven’t experienced for a long time; walking to a pub, or walking to a record shop, or walking to see a mate. Little things like that. For me, it’s a bit like coming out of jail, you take the time to do the simple things again… I’m really enjoying having a social life. Brighton has been a very welcoming place, very relaxed. There’s a lot of people doing **** all here, but there’s a lot of people doing some great stuff. A lot of interesting characters, and I like that. I certainly feel a hell of a lot more positive than I have done for many many years. I enjoy being able to say I feel happy.”
As well as the album, and a date at Concorde 2 this month, you can see him DJ at Cooper’s Cask in Hove, one a month. “I have a guest every month, play records and have a good time! It’s whatever the hell you feel like playing at any given time. At Cooper’s, from midnight to one is the mad hour, when everyone goes mental. Dancing, screaming…”
Concorde 2, Thurs 11 Feb, 7.30pm, £16