Country music sensation Leah Marie Mason has been carving the vibe of her debut EP Honeydew & Hennessy through hot song releases, “Trust Fund Cowboy,” “Holy Water,” and “Me Or My Hometown,” teasing her latest music while creating a substantial amount of buzz with each new dynamic she unveiled of her songwriting prowess. Her efforts culminated this weekend with the official release of the EP to rave reviews, and we had the incredible chance to catch up with her and discuss this exciting next chapter, what each song ahead of the EP represented to the overall picture, which songs she’s most excited for her fans to hear, and much much more!

(Interview by: Jeffrey Kurtis) 

1) You’ll be opening your next chapter when you release your debut EP Honeydew & Hennessy on April 14, 2023. What can we expect from it when we hit play?                                                                          

This project is the most “me” thing I have ever put out and I was very meticulous about the order and how to best make this record sound sonically cohesive while also being diverse. Putting together a body of work is so much different than putting out a single because there’s a lot of thought put into how the songs sound together as a whole. I’m really proud of this EP and I just hope it takes people to another place and acts as some form of escapism as these songs were for me when I was writing them.

2) You’ve used several songs as teasers ahead of the official release with “Trust Fund Cowboy” being the first. Why did you feel that was the best song to first tease your new music with?                         

I felt like it best bridged the gap between what I was doing and where I am heading as an artist. I think it eases people into this new era of music that I’ve been creating and where my songwriting has evolved to.        

3) You followed it with “Holy Water,” a darker, moodier side than we’ve heard from you previously. Where did that lyric come from? How much did the vibe of the melody change in the studio to give it that perfect accompaniment? Etc.

I was tired of hearing the same hypocritical story over and over again, so it was really important to me to write this song, not only for myself but for everyone that has had to endure the gaslighting and judgment of a hypocrite. I remember feeling so angry when we were tracking, the chorus melody just came so easily because I was essentially just yelling (hahaha). It was one of those songs that sort of just fell out which is a really special thing.       

4) The last song that you released ahead of the EP is “Me Or My Hometown,” which takes us on an autobiographical unfulfilling trip back to your hometown. How much did that specific trip that inspired the song not only impact you negatively, but also in what ways did it motivate you to push even harder to strive for the next level success with your music?                                 

That trip back to my hometown that I describe in the song was the first time I had truly realized home wasn’t ever going to be what it once was to me. It was so emotionally draining, and it was hard to come to terms with what I was feeling. I’m not sure motivated is exactly the right word, but it opened my eyes to what music meant to me and how much I had given up to make it work. It’s what makes my life worth living and dreams don’t come without sacrifice.               

5) Those are just three of the songs on the EP, but there’s also 3 that we haven’t heard yet. Tell us a bit more about those 3 songs?             

I wrote “Honeydew & Hennessy” in the summer of 2021, during a time of self reflection & self discovery. I feel like this song was pivotal for me in discovering myself as an artist and being able to freely write lyrics that are unapologetically me. I've always gone back to this one because of how it made me feel when I wrote it, & I think it's the perfect entrance into the little world I've been creating over the past few months.

When it comes to “Red Ruby Boots,” for context, I do actually, in real life, own a pair of red boots that are known amongst my friends and I as my ‘bad decision making shoes. I randomly wore them to my writing session sometime over the summer, which I never do (more of a cozy sweats & converse kinda girl when I write) but I was feelin’ fancy on this day for some reason. They immediately became the topic of conversation and after the 3rd ridiculous story I had told about them we unanimously decided the song must be about these boots, thus red ruby boots was born. This one is so fun and makes me wanna slow dance in a dive bar.       

“Montana Fantasy” closes out the EP. I often fantasize about what it would be like if I just erased myself from the internet and moved away to an isolated town in Montana and never had to worry about my like count or who’s commenting on my Instagram posts ever again. It can be so overwhelming, being overloaded with thousands of other people's thoughts & opinions. It brings me a little bit of peace to think about a simpler life sometimes, so this is the place I go to when I need a little break from reality, which we all need every once in a while.

6) Which of these 3 songs are you most excited for your fans to hear? 

It’s so hard to pick, I genuinely love them all so much but if I have to choose, I’d have to say “Honeydew & Hennessy'' because it's the title track and it just sets the vibe of the whole EP so well.                                                                            

7) If we make you choose only one, which song out of the 6 from the EP stands out as your personal favorite and why?    

Omg you guys are really asking the tough ones! I still stand by the title track just because it encapsulates everything I want this project to feel like. I can’t express how much I love this song, I’m so excited for everyone to hear it.       

8) Dropping back to where it all began, “Far Boy” quickly propelled your career with millions of streams. Were you expecting that out the gate with this song, and in what ways did that success shape your next steps to get you where you are today?       

I’m so proud of what that song did for me and the audience it allowed me to build. It was an important steppingstone, but I’m truly passionate about the music I’ve been making the past year. I entered the music industry so abruptly that I didn't have time to discover myself as an artist fully and it was honestly very hard to navigate having so much attention on me for the first time in my life. In all honesty I’m not even sure I was ready for it, but I am grateful it happened because it’s led me to where I am now. I’m writing the best songs I've ever written and working with people I never thought would know my name because of everything that’s happened the past two years, so even though I’ve evolved so much since “Far Boy” was released, I’ll always be able to appreciate it and where that got me.                          

9) Other songs that helped pave the way since then include “Tears Into Diamonds,” “Habit,” and “I Miss Us Then.” In what way do you feel your fans will hear some similarities between those songs when compared to the new EP? But also, what differences will they hear?                                                          

I think the songwriting is something I've cared about from day one and even though it’s evolved, it’s something I feel is noticeable throughout all of my releases. My sound has become much more unique and authentic to me which is something I’m very proud of and the production is just insane courtesy of Jason Reeves. People can listen to my new music and undoubtedly know it's me.                 

10) What one piece of advice can you offer to someone who is just starting out and trying to break into the music industry?

I know it sounds so corny but be yourself. You are one of one. Stop trying to chase what someone else has! It already exists. Be comfortable with who you are and what you have to offer.

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