Mason Ramsey was only 11-years-old when he was catapulted to fame thanks to a video of him singing Hank Williams’ ‘Lovesick Blues’ going viral. His natural charisma and impressive yodel paved the way for TV appearances and a record deal, and since finding fame he’s released three EPs. Now 17, Ramsey is ready to really get started as an artist with the release of his long-awaited debut album “I’ll See You In My Dreams”.
A bold statement of where he sees his music and career going, “I’ll See You In My Dreams” is a million miles away from what you’ve heard from Ramsey before. There’s no attempt to cash-in on the sound that made his famous, and he’s not interested in chasing trends either. Ramsey is an artist who grew up on the legends like Roy Orbison, Ricky Nelson and Elvis Presley, and through his work with producer Dan Fernandez, he’s found a way to honour them while making a sound that’s uniquely his own.
Co-writing every single track on the record, Ramsey has really found his footing as an artist on his debut album. The album opens with the title track and it’s a dreamy, 60s-tinged gem that immediately brings Orbison to mind. That being said, it’s not dated – it’s classic. Ramsey’s voice has matured nicely and he has a depth that wasn’t there before. A lot of the record focuses on falling in love and heartbreak, and it’s so sumptuously put together, that it demands you stop what you’re doing and give it your undivided attention.
In my recent interview with him, Ramsey highlighted ‘Blue Over You’ as one of his favourite tracks and it’s not hard to see why. The reverb on his voice brings out its warm quality as Ramsey sings with sparse instrumentation accompanying him. Imagine slow-dancing under a discoball in a honky tonk, and this would be the perfect soundtrack. At 14 songs in length, it’s impossible to do justice to each song in this review but I’ll pick out some of the (many) highlights.
The Latin-tinged ‘The Woman From Havana’ is one of the songs that stands out the most to me. It’s a gear change in terms of tempo, with seductive rhythms backing Ramsey’s nuanced vocal delivery. You also get to hear Ramsey’s range on this song (and he sings in Spanish), showcasing what a gift he has as a vocalist. The funky ‘Lies, Lies, Lies’ is a fusion of Country and soul for a feel-good few minutes as Ramsey calls someone out, ‘Cowboys Always Come Home’ is a swoonsome reflective song about returning home, and ‘Trouble Is’ is a slice of pure unadulterated rock’n’roll that Elvis would have been proud of.
The album comes to a close with one of the starkest moments, ‘All I See Is You’. Accompanied by piano, Ramsey’s voice shines spectacularly. He gives a vocal performance well beyond his years and it’s one of the strongest moments on the whole record.
Forget everything you thought you knew about Mason Ramsey because “I’ll See You In My Dreams” will defy all your expectations. It’s incredible to think that at 17, he’s managed to craft an album with this level of maturity and sophistication. Ramsey is intent on carving out his own nice and this album sets his stall out perfectly. Forget all the hype around the yodelling and get ready to meet the real Ramsey. I like him and I can’t wait to see what he does in the years to come.
Track list: 1. I’ll See You In My Dreams 2. Blue Over You 3. All The Way To Memphis 4. Come Pick Me Up 5. Joy 6. The Woman From Havana 7. Lies, Lies, Lies 8. How Do I Know If I’m In Love 9. Something You Can Hold 10. Cowboys Always Come Home 11. Prettiest Girl At The Dance 12. Trouble Is 13. Family Pictures 14. All I See Is You Record label: Atlantic Records Release date: 20th September 2024 Buy “I’ll See You In My Dreams” now
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