New Voice in Folk Rock
Singer Mason Jennings Traffics in Love and Melancholy

Mason Jennings Photo: Jeff Wheeler

Jan. 1, 2002 -- Singer-songwriter Mason Jennings has a soft, soulful voice that belies his age. Just into his mid-20s, he sings songs filled with the vengeance of a man wronged as compellingly as his songs of true love.

The Minneapolis-based troubadour has released two CDs, with a third in the works, and critics are beginning to take notice of his haunting acoustic melodies.

Jennings recently made a visit to NPR's Studio 4A to talk with All Things Considered host Noah Adams about his influences, his family and how he writes his songs. From his father, says Jennings, he learned about the power of space in music: The feeling created when a breath ends or when a guitar stops for a moment, and silence lingers.

"In today's age you go into a studio and people always tell you to put all of these instruments into your record," says Jennings. "I just like to write with economy and try to set up an architecture in the song where I don't need to add anything."



Hear a sample of a new Mason Jennings song, recorded in NPR's Studio 4A:

"Sorry Signs on Cash Machines" will appear on Jennings' third album, Century Spring, to be released on Architect Records in
      March 2002.

Hear Mason Jennings songs from his first two albums:

"Duluth," performed by Mason Jennings in NPR's Studio 4A, is from his second album, Birds Flying Away.

"Ballad for My One True Love," from his second album, Birds Flying Away.

"Big Sur," from his first album, Mason Jennings.

"Darkness Between the Fireflies," from his first album, Mason Jennings.


Other Resources

• Visit Mason Jennings' Web site.