Electronic Pop Artist Mason Dies Takes the Stage

The LaHaye Event Space will be hosting a student concert Nov. 2, providing students with the perfect opportunity to take a break from classes to celebrate music.  

Mason Dies, a digital media major and electronic pop artist, will be performing a set of eleven songs. Additionally, fellow student musician Anna Belfi will be opening for Dies, playing a five-song set. 

Dies first began working with music during his sophomore year in high school when he used the app GarageBand to experiment with music production. 

“I started off with the production stuff,” Dies said. “I got into the music part of it by running production.” 

Shortly after, Dies learned how to start producing his own songs by mixing. 

“When I first started, I made a lot of hip-hop beats and did a lot of mixing stuff,” Dies said. “That’s how I got into music, by running sounds.” 

Dies plans to continue working with the digital side of music. 

“Before I’m a singer, I’m a producer. I would like to be a full-time producer, or a music artist to be able to support myself,” Dies said. 

Dies said he plays keys proficiently in the studio but needs more practice to play live. He also knows a modest amount of guitar and started singing a year and a half ago, taking vocal lessons from a teacher in Los Angeles. 

While lying a bit outside his particular creative sphere, folk music tops Dies’ list of creative influences as he draws inspiration from artists such as Jeremy Zucker.

“I just love the songwriting aspect of folk music. I like to listen to it even though I don’t make it,” Dies said.

Dies’s music is different, in his opinion, because it expresses a unique sense of energy.  

“There isn’t as much energy in the music from other artists here in the area,” Dies said. “It’s great music, but I like to hear a lot of energy and hype in my own music. I have slower songs, but for people that like high energy music, I think it offers something more to them. My music is not necessarily what you would hear on the radio.”

Dies considers his music to be a combination of pop with an electronic feeling. He also said that his song lyrics can have sad implications, but the high-energy music provides a contrast. 

“A lot of my music is written based on past experiences,” Dies said. “My music is like sad boy music, but with a savage feel to it.” 

Dies hopes students walk away from the concert inspired to pursue their dreams with passion, no matter how big they seem.

Fellow students will be playing instruments during the concert. 

The concert is free and begins at 8 p.m. in the LaHaye Event Space Nov. 2. 

Hynst is a feature writer. Follow her on Twitter.