Mason Ashley Live at Dosey Doe Big Barn

Releasing the Album ‘Into the Song’

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When I was twelve years old, I wrote a song about owning the stars and wanting to shine… Releasing my debut record, Into the Song, was the closest I’ve ever felt to shining. It is an interesting thing releasing songs you wrote, especially living in a small town where most people can figure out who those songs are about. It makes you vulnerable and open. and those are things I don’t usually like to be. But it is an indescribable feeling pouring all my stories and emotions into this album and sending it out into the world for others to hopefully relate to. Music is so powerful and it connects the world through emotions in ways that are almost impossible to understand, and I love to be a part of that beautiful, strange connection.

I want to thank my incredibly talented producers Jeffrey Armstreet and Matt Kidd for making this album everything I imagined it would be. I am honored to have worked with such amazing producers and musicians and I enjoyed every minute of the recording process. Thank you to Red Tree Recording Studio for being my second home during the recording process and to Magnolia Red for the time and work put into the album. I could not be more pleased with the way Into the Song turned out. Recording this record was such an inspirational learning experience for me and I grew as an artist throughout the process. It is an indescribable feeling to send my stories out into the world to be heard by others and these stories could not have been told in the beautiful way that they were without the creative minds that spent countless hours on the album.

Thank you to my incredible fans. I am amazed by the amount of messages from people all over the world. It is so inspiring to hear the kind words of strangers that have listened to my music. I also want to thank my family and friends for always believing in me and encouraging me in every aspect of my life and music. I am so excited to start my journey as an artist with this album and with the support of so many wonderful people. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

words

Words

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Words.
Words can heal.
Words can hurt.
Words destroy and words rebuild.
They can bring hope to the hopeless and love to the unloved.
They can inspire and impact.
Words, when put to music, can make you want to dance around the kitchen floor.
Words can deceive.
And disguise.
And demean.
Words can be fragile, vulnerable, breakable.
Or they can hold more strength than you ever imagined you had.
Words can pour out every feeling and emotion locked away inside of you in one moment of desperation.
Or they can stay hidden in the shadows unspoken.
Words can burn.
Words can leave scars that only fade with time.
Leaving a trail of regret and wishing you could take them back.
They can belittle.
And undermine.
They can be so pride-filled and thoughtless that they almost make you lose yourself.
Words are passionate.
Full of hope.
They paint nights of breathless moments and sweet, uncertain smiles.
Words can make you laugh until you cry.
Or make the world seem absolutely and enchantingly perfect for a moment.
Words can define.
Erasing lines that were once blurred.
Clearing the muddy waters.
They can confuse.
Blurring lines that were once clear.
Mudding clear waters.
Words can break hearts.
Leaving tear stains on the carpet and an emptiness in your stomach.
They can change everything in one unsettling sentence.
Words are powerful.

But they are just words.
Only we can decide how they are used and how they affect us.
We are the ones who hold that power.
Use it wisely.

peace & love

MR

lyrics that inspire

Lyrics that inspire me most

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Hey y’all.

So I had a pretty rough weekend last week..and the only way I really deal with rough times is (of course) with music.. So this blog isn’t really a normal blog.. Instead I’m just gonna share with you all some of my favorite lyrics that inspire me the most.

“I will raise my hand up into the night time sky and count the stars shining in your eyes. I’ll be satisfied not to read in between the lines.” – Van Morrison

“When the rain is blowing in your face and the whole world is on your case.. I would offer you a warm embrace.. To make you feel my love.” – Bob Dylan

“The tears come streaming down your face when you lose something you can’t replace.. When you love someone but it goes to waste.. Could it be worse? Lights will guide you home. And ignite your bones.. And I will try to fix you.” – Coldplay

“All of these lines across my face tell you the story of who I am.. So many stories of where I’ve been and how I got to where I am.. But these stories don’t mean anything if you’ve got no one to tell them to. It’s true.. I was made for you.” – Brandi Carlile

“It’s only half past the point of no return.. The tip of the iceberg, the sun before the burn.. The thunder before the lightning and the breath before the phrase. Have you ever felt this way?” – Pink

“If you could go anywhere, anywhere, what would you see? Take a step in any direction.. just make believe. If your mind is always moving it’s hard to get your heart up off the ground.. Yeah, your mind was always moving but your thoughts never made a sound.” – Tristan Prettyman

“There are days when I wake up and don’t know what I’m doing here.. I barely recognize the pair of eyes staring back at me in the mirror. But there was a day when I was free, not a care that I could see.. So good I barely could believe that it was happening. Oh take me back again.” – Ben Rector

“It’s crazy here without you.. We used to think this all was ours. We’d stay up late, debate on how we’d find our way.. You’d say it’s all up in the stars.” – Fun.

“I hope when you take that jump you don’t feel the fall. I hope when the water rises, you build a wall. I hope when the crowd screams out, they’re screaming your name. I hope if everybody runs, you choose to stay.” – OneRepublic

Well I know this post wasn’t very personal or inspiring.. But it’s just what I needed to write this week.

And you’ll just have to live with that.

So yeah.

Just kidding.

But really.

peace & love

MR

Hudsy.

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Today is a big day in the Reinke house.

My little brother is now a teenager.

I know… It’s terrifying.

I mean I knew he was growing up.. He’s a lot taller than me now and his voice is all deep and stuff.. But now he’s 13..and it’s crazy. So even though he doesn’t usually read my blog (cough jerk cough) I decided to write about him and give him a little advice about surviving teenage years.

Being only 2 and a half years apart, we’ve always had a love/hate relationship.. We disagree on a lot of subjects…especially taste in music..but I don’t know what I’d do without him. I tell him pretty much everything and sometimes he lets me give him girl advice… (I pretend like I know what I’m talking about). He is so talented.. His determination always inspires me so much more than he knows.

Well Hudson… (and any other newly 13 year old in the world) I have a few guidelines for you about surviving teen years. (Guidelines….not rules….teenagers hate rules.)

1. Don’t try too hard. You’re amazing as you are. Don’t change for other people… Don’t pretend to be something you’re not.

2. Don’t be cool. Listen… you’re a teenager now…coolness is part of the package! Do stupid things. Dance at parties. Laugh at dumb jokes. Don’t be afraid of embarrassment because what’s better…having fun? Or watching others have fun because you don’t want to be laughed at? Definitely numero uno.

3. Don’t fuss too much about your hair. Trust me, it looks fantastic.

4. Do what you love. If you love to sing, sing loud. If you love to play sports, play until you’re exhausted. And if you love to unicycle…then you be the best darn unicycler the world has ever known.

5. ALWAYS hug your mom goodnight. This is the most important.. If you want to survive years as a teenager, never be too cool to hug the woman who gave birth to you.

Hudson, I love you. I’m sorry if I’m being an embarrassing older sister…but I mean it. I can’t believe you’re a teenager..but for me you’ll always be the little boy with the lion bath towel and basketball pacifier.. The boy I acted out multiple scenes from High School Musical with in the living room. The spikey-haired kid with the raspy little voice. My best friend. I can’t wait to watch you grow more..(hopefully not in height because I can’t have people thinking I’m younger than you).. I can’t wait to help teach you how to drive one day.. Or intimidate the girl you bring to family dinner.. Believe it or not…I got sad earlier thinking about someday not sharing a bathroom with you.. I’ll miss arguing over my make up being on “your side” and brushing our teeth together.. I’ll miss listening to you sing Whitney Houston in the shower.. But right now I’m gonna finish watching your favorite movie with you… Lego: Adventures of Clutch Powers.. No. Not the Lego Movie… You’re way too hipster for that.. And today while you listen to Eminem in the car, I’ll remember that someday I won’t get to hear you singing…or….rapping..along from the back seat. Promise you’ll never lose your strange fascination in leprechauns. Or give up on your dream. And never EVER change your very detailed process of fixing your hair (no matter how much I mock it) because your hair is truly a work of art. Fo real.

I love you, Hudson. Thank you for being my best friend, for always making me laugh..and for being the best brother in the world. Oh….and happy birthday.

I wuv you Hudsy Wudsy bear..

(In case I haven’t embarrassed you enough.)

peace & love

MR

Unknowns.

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Ello my dears.

A few days ago I had a pretty important meeting at a studio involving my music and future and all that jazz.. And I was nervous. Really nervous. So while pulling at my clothes anxiously in the front seat of the car, my darling father (noticing my nerves) started trying to inspire me..He’s really cool like that.. He started talking about fear. Uncertainty. The moments completely out of our control.

The unknowns.

There are certain moments every once in awhile..where you just don’t know. When you’re standing at the beach on the edge of the water wondering if the wave will reach you this time. The moment when your hands are shaking and your heart is pounding just before you say the words you know could change everything. The deep breath before the lights come on and the curtain opens. Everything is up in the air. All the cards are on the table and anything could happen.

Unknowns.

Fear is something in all of us, something we face as little kids with shadows on our bedroom walls and those shadows of fear haunt us forever. I’ve always been afraid of uncertainty and not knowing what’s to come. But what I’ve realized is that being unsure is an adventure.. Like driving down a winding road without having any clue where it’s taking you. All you know is that you’re moving on. If we stay in the same place forever, with the same routine, wearing the same house shoes and reading the same book over and over, what do we learn? Yeah, we’re settled. And those house shoes are probably pretty comfortable.. And that’s a great book… But then what? We learn from experience. We fall down..then we get back up again. We make a mistake..we learn from it. We get our hearts broken…we eat lots of ice cream and write a hit song about it….okay…maybe not… But we do learn from that hurt..and when someone new and beautiful comes along, we might be a little more cautious..but we’ll also be surprised at how it feels to feel like that again. Everything is uncertain. Everything can change in one instant.

Well my dad probably said it better than I can… but unknowns are not bad. They’re scary. But they are an adventure. So I’ve decided to welcome the possibilities, good or bad, not run from them. When you run you might save yourself from hurt, but you might miss out on the chance to really live if you’re always hiding from what COULD go wrong.

I don’t know if you’ll like this post.. You might not like it.. I probably shouldn’t have posted it… What if you’re mocking me right now? What if a meteor is about to crash into earth and you won’t have a chance to get into an emergency evacuation spaceship because you’re busy reading this? This was a mistake… I’m gonna go cry in a dark corner for like 3 days…

peace & love

MR

Hollywood.

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Hi again.

Tonight I am writing to you from the great city of Los Angeles, California. I love this city. I feel like this place kinda gets a bad rep.. It’s always thought of as trashy and dirty.. Which it is…like most cities are..BUT there are places in this city that are just adorable. When my family travels somewhere, we always try to go to the unique places.. Places that aren’t as popular or seen…and there are soooo many hidden gems here.

Well a few nights ago were The Grammys.. My favorite award show (of course) because it is all about music. So every year I watch my tv intently with bright and excited eyes when they’re on. This year was different because I happened to be staying 8 miles down the road from The Staples Center where the awards are held… (Yes. I was extremely happy about that.) and I watched them on the screen in my hotel room. If you watched them, you know that they were very….interesting this year. And I can’t say I was happy about some of the things that happened on the award show that I look forward to all year.. I was a little disappointed.

But I’m not writing this to tell you all my disagreements with The Grammys..

You may not know this..I didn’t know until I came here last July and I was reminded yesterday when I saw it.. You know the Hollywood sign. Everyone has seen it. It sits above the city in bold white letters on a beautiful green hill. What you might not know is that there is a white cross placed on another hill near the sign. Crazy right? I think yes. If you don’t believe me, Google it… (Even though I obviously know way more than Google…. Duh.)

It’s beautiful…and hardly anyone ever knows it’s there. I was very moved when I saw it. And (of course) it really got me thinking… Sometimes everything is so focused on the fame. On the brightest lights and the fanciest clothes. On the tallest hill. The big white bold letters. But what we miss is the cross. We don’t see the beautiful white cross above all the red carpets, award shows, sparkles and parties. There it is. Right in front of the city. But who really sees it? Hears of it? It made me sad to think of all the people who overlook it.. Who only see the taller hill and the bigger sign. If only they knew that the greatest sign was right in front of them..

People come here to follow their dreams and “make it big”.. To find fame and glory. But there’s something much more powerful in these hills.. Just waiting to be known.

I hope I can show someone that hill with the cross.. And show them all the beauty and truth that comes with it. I hope I can smile at a stranger and maybe they’ll see the cross in me.. I hope someday someone will drive beneath those hills and understand the flawless meaning behind the small hill and the simple white cross it holds.

Well I better go..I have a few parties to attend and red carpets to walk…I’m pretty much a celebrity…. Sooo goodnight peasants.

That was just a little jokey joke…

I love you all.

peace & love

MR

Wildflower.

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“Beautiful things don’t ask for attention.” 

I heard that quote in a movie I watched recently.. And it’s been running through my mind since then.

Beautiful things. Well as a writer (and easily excited teenager) I try to find beauty in everything. I’ve always especially had a thing for wildflowers. If you asked me what my favorite flower is….I would most likely say dandelion (and if you say it’s a weed not a flower…..you are a dream crusher.) So when I think of that quote I can’t help but picture a little patch of wildflowers beneath a stop sign in shimmering sunlight. Peaceful. Hidden. Beautiful. Never demanding to be seen..just content. (Unlike roses…..I feel like roses are the stuck up obnoxious flowers that look down on all the other flowers like they’re nothing. How rude.)

But really..I find so much wonder in stars and wildflowers and things that are just simply beautiful. So why do I sometimes find myself getting caught up in trying to be the best? Society teaches us to be jealous. To crave attention. Don’t fall for that. You are beautiful as who you are. You have your own style. Your own talents and differences. You have dreams and passions that nobody else has. Because no one thinks or sees things the way you do. You don’t need even the brightest spotlight to know how special you are.

So be a wallflower. Be a leader. Be a trendsetter. Push your limits and keep pushing them because life is full of opportunity. Limitations and fear are your biggest weaknesses. Be as YOU as you can possibly be…just don’t do it only hoping that others will think you’re cool or that all eyes will be on you. Do it so that you can find yourself. Don’t beg for attention from others because you will probably end up disappointed. You might be surprised to find that a whole lot more eyes will be on you if you just don’t worry about living constantly in the spotlight..

I hope you have a fantastically lovely week. And that you never lose the things that make you you.

Don’t be a rose. Be a dandelion…… And I apologize..I’m clearly not very good at metaphors…..

peace & love

MR

 

Dad.

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Hello everyone.

I feel like there is something I need to share with y’all..

I’ve had a really special man in my life for quite sometime now…

He’s tall. He has dark hair. A nice smile. A great sense of humor. And he’s pretty much the most handsome guy I know.

And his name is…….(Drum roll please)……….. Travis. I even have a nickname for him.. “Dad.” I know, I know…It’s pretty original and I’m really proud of it.

Well, this awesome guy is turning 39 today. (I know he’s old.) So what else would I blog about than my main man?

He is hilarious…like…really funny. He has one of those personalities that can seem kinda quiet, but when you get to know him, he is really really crazy. He is also very caring and kind…he is definitely an introvert but he is the friendliest introvert I know. He gives like…the best hugs. That’s one of my favorite things about him. Oh and no one knows this..but if you ever give my dad a doubleshot espresso coffee…he will ride on a shopping cart all through Walmart while laughing like a kid and almost knocking over all the shampoo bottles on the hair aisle. His work ethic and determination is very inspiring and he never fails to teach me more everyday.

Well I just wanted to say thank you dad. Thank you for capturing every moment of my childhood on tape. Thank you for never killing my wild imagination and for never telling me I’m not really Snow White. Thank you for telling me bedtime stories and tucking me in every night. Thank you for teaching me songs from Vh1 and MTV instead of songs from Barney when I was a 3 year old with glasses and little bangs. Thank you for still calling me Princess before hugging me goodnight before I go to bed. Thank you for being patient with me when I drive your car. And for never failing to inspire me. For encouraging me to follow my dreams and for cheering me up when I’m having a bad day. I will always love the way you laugh…especially when it’s at something I say…it really makes me feel accomplished. Thank you for believing in me and for being the best dad ever.

I truly do love you to the moon and back..about 22 billion times…

And Happy Birthday Daddy.

peace & love

MR

Uninspired.

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So I’ve had really bad writer’s block for about a week now…and if you know me well, you know that I’m a pretty over-dramatic person when I have writer’s block..(even more dramatic than usual..)

Example: Today I explained it to my mom by telling her that having writer’s block is like there is an animal of ideas and emotions trapped inside me that just cant get out… Weird, right?

Well Monday I was feeling uninspired.. in my family we don’t say we’re “bored” or “have nothing to do”, instead we say “uninspired”. Usually I can just drink a good cup of coffee or buy a new journal to get my inspiration back.. But no. This was a serious case of Uninspired-itis…(yes. that is a real thing.) So after moaning and fidgeting in the passenger seat of my mom’s car (2 symptoms of Uninspired-itis), I had an idea.

But instead of telling you what I did to cure myself.. I’m going to kindly share with you how to get your moxie and inspiration back on boring days with these 7 natural remedies for Uninspired-itis:

1. Wave at random strangers on the street. Yes, you might get some weird looks…But you might be surprised at how many people actually wave back… And who cares if they secretly think you’re insane? That’s what makes it fun.

2. Go on a “Dumb Hippie Adventure”….(that’s what my brother calls going to World Market aaaand buying things for a scrapbook from a craft store)

3. Buy something. But not something typical like clothes or shoes.. Something really dumb and useless.. Like ugly knee-high socks with bright colored cats on them… (yes…I’ve done that…and I don’t even like cats that much.)

4. Listen to old cheesy rock music. You have to sing at the top of your lungs though..otherwise it won’t work. If you don’t know any horribly written 80’s songs, I recommend Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler..it’s pretty much the worst of all.

5. Try something new. Such as finger painting. Tennis. Interpretative dancing. Juggling. Yoga. Something that you’re proooobably not good at.. Because it will inspire you to stick with the thing you ARE good at.

6. Eat pizza. Because who isn’t inspired by pizza?

7. Get all dressed up for a casual occasion. If you’re going out to eat at Taco Bell…wear your best dress or suit. Because I’m sure the workers would really appreciate it and you’ll feel pretty darn shnazzy.

WARNING: Side-affects may include, but are not limited to: Laughing uncontrollably. Being laughed at. Eating too much pizza. Overflowing inspiration. And possibly nausea and/or dizziness.

Well this might not apply to anyone other than me… But if you’re ever having a boring day or a really bad case of Uninspired-itis… Just follow those simple and pointless steps. It really works.

I feel like someone on an infomercial.

Well I hope you have a very inspired week.

peace & love

MR

Moments.

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Hey there.

Happy New Year.
I hope you all had a great day. And a wonderful night last night full of fireworks, sparkling grape juice and resolutions that will probably be broken..

2013 was a great year for me.

I traveled to breathtaking places. Laughed a lot. Flew on an airplane for the first time. Was really brave and cut my hair off. Tried new things. Ate some weird food…(such as shark and snails… Shark was surprisingly amazing… Snail… Was not.)

Anyway..it was fantastic. And I want 2014 to be just as fantastical… Or even more if that’s possible.

Soooo I’ve decided to share with you all a list of 10 semi-realistic things I would like to do this year….(I know you probably don’t care… But no one forced you to read this soooooo deal with it.)

1. I would like to drink a ridiculous amount of hot tea….in fancy little cups. I don’t really like hot tea… But it’s a new year and I feel like drinking hot tea will make me classier.

2. I want to write a song on the top of a roof…because danger is my middle name. (Not really…it’s Ashley… But ya know, same thing.)

3. I’d like to buy even more skirts. I already have way too many in my closet. But there is no such thing as too many skirts.

4. Pet a baby panda. Because they’re cute. And probably soft.

5. I want to take pictures with random strangers in a foreign country. Preferably strangers that don’t speak English… Because they’d probably be very confused and that would make for a great picture.

6. Paint a portrait. But take about 2 weeks to finish it then put it in the back of my closet.. Because I procrastinate and I can’t paint.

7. Go to a LOT of concerts.

8. I’d like to sing cheesy 80’s songs loudly down the street and embarrass my friends… More. Because I already do that.

9. Laugh a lot. Because I like to laugh.

10. Make someone’s day. Every day of the year.

…………

But on a more serious note… that list became a little less significant to me when I woke up this morning to find out that a good friend of mine is in the hospital after being in a bad car wreck.

It definitely changed my perspective a little.

Yes I would still like to do those stupid things I listed. But I also have a new list.

1. Make
2. Every
3. Moment
4. Count
5. And
6. Never
7. Take
8. Them
9. For
10. Granted.

So my resolution is to make the moments count this year…and every year. And remember that I never know what the next minute will hold.

Happy New Year. Thanks for reading this post. I will most likely try to make your day..like..once this year.

peace & love

MR