Ted Mason
and
The Blue Mocking Birds
can be found at
www.MI5recordings.com
by Shauna Skye
Ted Mason is the former guitarist for Modern English. He is the cofounder of Mi5 Records and has worked with artists ranging from Art of Noise to Afrika Bambatta. He has had sales in the millions for Modern English and the artists he's produced. Some of his working relationships have included Ronnie Size, Portishead, Julian Lennon, Space and Spandal Ballet--to name a few. His new band is The Blue Mockingbirds.
I did this interview with Ted through the Internet; however, we spoke on the phone as well and I was impressed with what seemed a genuine enthusiasm for music. When Ted talked about music he was excited and even put the phone near a speaker so that I could hear the new music he was working on. I found his attitude refreshing and his enthusiasm catching. His charming English accent didn't hurt either! I'd like to thank Ted for being so accommodating for this interview, sending MP3 files, photos, and CDs. Also, it was Ted who set me up to interview Mike Edwards of Jesus Jones which you can also read here. (Thanks Ted!)
The following is our interview...
SHAUNA: Somehow I always work this question into an interview. I usually save it for the middle of the interview, but with you I feel like asking it first. It must be those harmonies in the Blue Mockingbird MP3 you sent! Ted, who is your favorite Beatle?
TED: Ha Ha!!!! Favorite Beatle. John of course. He was the leader of the band. But I like all of them because they formed a cohesive intelligent and funny group of people. George was very experimental and intelligent. Paul under the Beatles was the most sane and wrote great pop melodies; however Paul was only great in the Beatles. It was the other four that kept him in check. As soon as he left the Beatles his music went to rubbish. And Ringo was the beat and compassion of the band.
SHAUNA: Modern English was known for inspiring a generation to sing "I'll stop the world and melt with you!" That is the song most people are familiar with, but what is your favorite Modern English song?
TED: My favorite Modern English song is "Heaven" on the "Everything's Mad" album (1996, Imago Records). My second favorite is "Hands Across the Sea." I think those songs are great! And they are more in the direction I went with for the Blue Mockingbirds.
SHAUNA: Out of all the musicians you've had a chance to work with, who are
some of your favorites?
TED: The Percussion section (Chepito Areas, Armana Peraza, Michael Carabello) and drummer (Michael Shreive) of the original Santana band. They were great. I am not a fan of Led Zeppelin type rhythm sections; I much prefer jazz and Latin percussion. The original Santana was heavy, funky and rocked when they needed to. Peter Gabriel was quite creative and MC LYTE (hip hop) was very interesting, great with the words and putting everything to the groove.
SHAUNA: How would you describe the Blue Mockingbirds?
TED: The Blue Mockingbirds is a culmination of all the work my brother and I (and Milan) have participating in the last 20 years. Many different influences mesh into a British Pop Art band. All the R&B/Hip Hop/Santana grooves I learned producing are incorporated into our drum beats--though all of it is live drumming. Harmonies that sound like the Beatles emanate really from jazz singers like the Mills Brothers. Melody lines are influenced from Debussy, Ravel and chord progressions from all the Jazz we used to play. We mash it all together and we get a British hybrid of melodic, artsy rock and roll. And then the most important element is added. We are very political! Liberal not politically correct. We want to use the Blue Mockingbirds as a vehicle to comment on aspects of society and ourselves.
SHAUNA: I visited the site for your new label, Mi5 Records. I was impressed with the vision and the types of bands you have. Would you tell us about Mi5 Records? What niche do you hope to fill?
TED: Mi5 is an extension of the Blue Mockingbirds vision and Mercyside. Mercyside is Jennifer Brunetti. She is part owner of Mi5 and a film maker. Mi5 is a political vehicle for Art and our personal experiences. We want to share this with people that have similar visions. People like Midge Ure, Jesus Jones and Jan Sawka the Polish Artist that painted the Solidarity posters. These are the Mi5 Artists. I will have to quote the vision I wrote for our website. I am sorry it is a bit long:
Mi5 Recordings is an exchange of British Musicians, American musicians and artists dedicated to a new pop/art movement "A-rticulate R-evolutionize T-hought." Reminiscent of the swinging London scene but for a new millennium, Mi5 Recordings is a safe house for art, literature, music and anyone on the fringes of society that has an articulate vision, thought or contribution to culture!
We do not engage in the racial profiling that the conglomerates proliferate. We do not subscribe to class based manipulations that "is" a by-product of the entertainment industry. We did not want our ART compromised or cheapened to contemporary ethos of today’s music and popular culture. We think, we are complex, we express, and we create! This is not about product, this is not about image, this is about culture!
The entertainment industry thrives on the same marketing values that have perpetuated great success in other major industrial giants. To create product that is simple, homogenized, and devoid of true innovation. Based on the lowest common denominator, instant cash return and continuous returns for the future. Unfortunately this is all perpetuated by the public’s willingness to accept what is handed to them. We are the public. If we cannot see the restrictions we are imposing on ourselves, we will be doomed to forever hold the sidelines of society while very few will spoon feed our beliefs for the sake of a few good pennies.
At Mi5, we as artists have refused to succumb to the lowest common denominator of the common culture. Revolution materializes with change of one mind! It is the courage to question! In the end we need your support. Lay down your arms and resist or forever hold your peace! We invite you in to envision an A-rticulate R-evolutionized T-hought.
TED: Well...something like. A bit preachy, but its cool!
SHAUNA: Aside from music, what interests or hobbies do you have?
TED: My interests and hobbies are Music, Art, Literature and History. I am obsessed by creative culture . . . I love thought, discussion and creativity.
SHAUNA: I read the Blue Mockingbirds story and feel I know you better after reading it. You include a bit of personal information and not just the typical "I did this and that musically." How does being in the Blue Mockingbirds feel different from the other bands you've played with?
TED: A Blue Mockingbird is a personal lifestyle. We are tight. My brother and Milan and anyone who works with us. We might not get the notoriety that I got from the past Modern English and Producing, but we are committed to creating a forum musically that discusses change, love, unhappiness, cruelty whether on our part or others. We are out to discover life and express it. A Blue Mockingbird is a personal thing. Each one of us understands what we are singing about. There is no explaining.
SHAUNA: How many instruments do you play?
TED: I can't remember. My main instrument is Guitar (classical, Rock, Bebop). Bass, drums, keyboards, piano, congas, timbales. Something like that.
SHAUNA: Aside from your own band, what music have you been listening to lately?
TED: Rai music! African and Arabic music like Kaled and Chub Muma, Salif Kata. These guys are huge in France and they rock. Live instruments, soul. Americans don't know this music too much. It is not spoiled by consumer culture--yet! Of course all the other stuff, Beatles, Stravinsky, Charlie Parker, OutKast.
SHAUNA: What do you think of the current state of popular music in America? How about Europe and other places in the world?
TED: I think Europe is a bit more healthy in the separation of entertainment and art, except in the case of Bebop where it still exists in New York City. You might have boy or girl bands in Europe, but you do have other elements like Rai music, and Midge Ure that couldn't give a toss about what is popular. In the U.S. everything is dominated by making it. Winner take all. Unless you are Eminem, Puff Daddy or Metallica you are not even on the map. But for all the money that is generated from acts like Eminem, Puff and Metallica, they are very conservative in their vision. Nothing courageous musically, they give the people what they want to hear instead of taking the people to a new world (which quite a bit harder to do) and they are draped in arrogant delusions of success.
SHAUNA: As far as gigging, where in the world do you enjoy yourself the most?
TED: Well I have to say the U.S. for all the difficulties is great. Believe it or not, there are a lot of people out there that do not look like Jennifer Lopez and actually like reading. These people love what we are doing and we have a great reception here in the states.
SHAUNA: On a personal note, are you married and do you have children?
TED: I have no children not married but I do go out with Jennifer of Mercyside.
SHAUNA: Describe a typical Blue Mockingbird show, if there is such a thing.
TED: One or two Modern English songs for posterity are thrown in. There is no typical BMB show. We wing it. Great live band. Our individual personalities come out, my Brother Monty is quite witty, and Milan our drummer is hilarious. Two lead guitarists, my brother and I. In addition we have a back up keyboardist Chris Renquist and Muzz Skillings formerly Living Colour Bass player round off our sound so we can get the groove and the 4 way harmonie/chimmy piano organ parts happening. We are pretty energetic. But all this I can say because it is personal to me. I love this band. But I suppose one would have to come and judge for themselves. May 5th we are playing with Jesus Jones, Midge Ure, Mercyside at Arlene Grocery, 95 Stanton Street in New York city. That is the real test for people. Not me telling the public how great we are, that is advertisement, but the public judging for themselves.
SHAUNA: Where can we get hold of your music?
TED: Our music will be released through KOCH/ Mi5 Recordings in Fall. All the regular outlets (HMV etc.) and if anyone has any problems go to the website www.mi5recordings.com
SHAUNA: Is there anything you'd like to talk about that I failed to ask? If so, the floor is yours. Feel free to promote anything you like.
TED: Boy I think I have done that. I hope I haven't bored anyone. Apologizes if I have.
SHAUNA: I'm certainly not bored. It's been a pleasure talking to you!
For more information on Ted Mason, The Blue Mockingbirds and Mi-5 Recordings
see http://www.auralisland.com/Mi5/mi5.html
-SHAUNA SKYE
http://www.mp3.com/shaunaskye