MASTIN DELIVERS NEW SOUND FOR NEW SINGLE AND OZ TOUR

The teenage bad-boy Reece Mastin, who stole hearts across the country back in 2011, is no longer.  In his place stands Mastin, a full-grown man; someone contemplative, and earnest – a man who has already lived a lifetime of peaks and pitfalls, caused in part by the ruthless nature of a career in the commercial music industry.  Now 23 years old, Mastin is ready to show the world who he really is – and what better way to do that than with a brand new sound that is guaranteed to surprise and impress.  Releasing his first single as Mastin today, Not The Man For You is a rock ‘n roll belter and completely unlike anything fans have heard from him before.  To add to the excitement, the debut EP, Suitcase of Stories follows in its wake, a release that truly solidifies Mastin as one of Australia’s most exciting new voices in rock ‘n roll.  To celebrate, Mastin will be taking his band on the road for a sweeping tour of Australia, kicking off in Sydney, then moving through regional and metropolitan cities right around the country and stopping in for two Vic shows on May 25 & 27.

Not The Man For You is evocative of the most classic of rock – with Mastin’s vocals having been compared to Australian rock royalty Jimmy Barnes, amongst other greats.  There’s no denying that voice – and when it’s paired with an absolute shredder of a band, spilling over with palpable energy, it’s impossible to resist.  “Not everyone will love this record, and I’m very okay with that,” offers Mastin. “But for those who share the same taste as I do for the grand and world-changing genre of rock n roll, I wanted to make something special and long-lasting.  I wanted to make something that can change your day, change your mindset, and make you feel like you can take on the world.”

The EP Suitcase of Stories could not be further removed from Reece’s previous releases.  Electrified, rumbling and exhilarating, Suitcase of Stories will take the listener on a ride, all right – riff-driven, technically skilfull, and surprisingly diverse for such a rock record.  For all the rowdy guitar and drums though, it is Mastin’s spectacular voice that takes precendence here.  At times soft, but often pushed to the limits, it’s the voice that gives Mastin away: this is who he really is – the five songs that appear on Suitcase of Stories exemplify the most real body of work he’s ever produced.

This new sound has been a long time coming.  From the outside, it might look like he’s already achieved it all – he won X Factor Australia in 2011, released two Platinum #1 albums with three consecutive chart-topping singles.  He continues to travel around the country and the world, performing to thousands of adoring fans every year.  But while Reece is deeply humbled and grateful for his early success in this business, he admits that it came at a cost.  “Giving a 16-year-old kid the opportunity to travel the country and play to thousands of screaming fans is obviously a dream come true,” he reflects.  “But, as I learnt, it’s not the reality of this industry.  I was kept at an arm’s length from all decisions made in my career at that time, and to be honest, I wasn’t thinking about it in the slightest.  I was being a kid and living out my fantasy. When I left behind the big labels and went out by myself, I started to realise the damage that my neglect had done.  I felt utterly exhausted by it all…which has made where I am now all that much sweeter.  I’ve worked my ass off getting back up.  Now I love having the confidence that I know exactly how to run my business.  I’m getting to be really comfortable with the man I have become.”

Going through adolescence, learning about yourself, and becoming who you are not things that are easily achieved, and much less so when it’s all happening on a global platform.  Mastin has taken it all in his stride, taking mistakes as lessons and continuing to chase his one true passion, his calling, that thing that started it all – music.  “In my opinion, the closest things we have to magic in this world are music and love.” says Mastin.  “Taking the path through music that I have has made it hard to let people know the real me.  But, I know that this new record explains who I am as an artist, and where I’m heading.  Music has always been for me, anyway, and it’s as much about how the music makes you feel as the words that accompany it affect you too.  Marrying the right sound to the stories I have is crucial!”

So what happens next?  Mastin is thrilled to announce the new single and record, and is grateful for his loyal fans for their patience, saying “I can’t wait for people to hear the new music – for my fans that have been waiting so patiently, and music lovers that I’d love to meet through this record.  I can happily say it has been the most enjoyable record I’ve made and it was really nice that through the process I’ll get to introduce the real me.  I believe this is the beginning of something – I’m not sure where the road will lead, but I know for sure that I am dedicated to walk down it.  I’m not going anywhere anytime soon, rock n roll is not dead, and I’m here to prove it.”

Mastin ‘Suitcase Of Stories’ Tour circles the country over the next few months however local fans can catch one of two Vic shows at Grand Hotel in Mornington on Friday May 25 or Max Watts in Melbourne on Sunday May 27.  Tickets for both shows are on sale now via Oztix and for more details visit reecemastinofficial.com