Leah Marie Mason
Leah Marie Mason debuts her first pop single titled “YOUR BOYFRIEND SUCKS”.
After releasing a bunch of country music, the singer/songwriter is now embracing her pop roots with this new single. Empowering and catchy, “YOUR BOYFRIEND SUCKS” is an anthem dedicated to women and their worthiness.
A new beginning for the Nashville-based artist who’s getting ready to release a brand new album, coming out very soon.
“YOUR BOYFRIEND SUCKS” is now available everywhere !
Photo credit: Preemo
Hi Leah, how are you? Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. What's your story?
Hi! I’m great and just happy to be here! My story is quite lengthy, so I’ll try my best to give you the condensed version, (laughs)! I’m originally from Cary, North Carolina and I’m now in Nashville, Tennessee. I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember. I come from a musical family — my dad and brother are both insane musicians and were my biggest influences as a kid. Fast forward, I ended up going to music school, starting at Berklee and eventually graduating from Belmont University with a degree in songwriting. I signed my first publishing and record deal while I was in my last year of school, and it’s been quite the journey since! I feel really lucky to be able to make music every day.
What did you grow up listening to? Do you remember specific records that had a huge impact in your life?
I honestly grew up listening to such a wide range of music, really a little lit of everything. My parents are music lovers, so they had stacks and stacks of vinyls of all genres in the house. Classic rock was definitely the genre I listened to most though. Since my dad was in a rock band throughout his high school and college days, we had a lot of classic rock records around the house and he was always playing it in the car too. I was actually in a 70s rock band with my brother from the ages of 10 to 13, so some of the first songs I ever sang on stage were Heart and Led Zeppelin songs! I think the lyricism and emotion of those songs really stuck with me. Even now, I just want to make music that makes you feel something.
When did you know you had to become an artist and release your original music? What/who gave you the confidence?
I think I always knew I had something to offer the world. I’ve been a creatively driven person since I was little. My parents were honestly my biggest supporters, they drove me to my voice lessons and every single performance I had, cheering me on even when there were only 10 people at my shows. They were there from the beginning and I love them so much for it!
"YOUR BOYFRIEND SUCKS" is your new single - what's the inspiration/story behind this song?
One of my best friends, who I love to death, had this boyfriend that she would complain about nonstop and I was fed up with her letting him treat her that way! She is so beautiful, smart, and funny, and it just made no sense to me. I think sometimes we choose people as a reflection of how we feel about ourselves, and I needed her to know that she was worth so much more than what this boy was giving her. Sometimes it takes tough love, and really friends tell you how it is!
When did you start working on "YOUR BOYFRIEND SUCKS"? Could you describe to us the songwriting/production process for this song?
I started creating the song when I went to Sweden in November 2023. This song actually started with the guitar lick you hear in the beginning. We initially thought it was going to be a ballad, which clearly is not the direction we ended up taking! My co-writer, Sara Bares, and I had been talking the night before about our friends’ terrible boyfriends, and the idea kind of just came to me naturally in the moment. It was so fun to write and we were laughing the entire time.
What did you feel when recording this song?
It honestly felt very freeing to write this one because I was able to say exactly how I felt and I didn’t hold back. I think so many people can relate to this song because it’s a far too common tale. I haven’t always had the best taste in boys, but I have since recovered, so there’s hope for everyone!
What's your favorite lyric on "YOUR BOYFRIEND SUCKS"?
My favorite lyric is probably, “he needs a taste of feminine rage,” just because it really describes my personality and it just feels sooooo good to say!
What message do you want to deliver through this song? What do you want people to feel when listening to it?
I want the girls to stop putting up with the boys that don’t deserve to even breathe the same air as them! I’m so tired of hearing these amazing girls complain about someone who isn’t even worth their time. I want people to feel empowered when they hear this and to know their worth!
What can you tell us about your upcoming album?
I am so extremely excited for my album to come out, you have no idea! I’ve never put out a full project before, so I’m very nervous but mostly just so happy for something I worked so hard on to be out for everyone to hear. It’s my most authentic music to date and I just hope people can relate their stories to my own.
In your opinion, what makes a good pop song?
I think what makes a good pop song is a great melody and hook with cool production, but what makes a GREAT pop song is when the lyrics are just as good. Lyricism is so important to me and I think my album as a whole really showcases that.
How's it like to be a woman in the music industry? What advice would you give to women out there?
Being a woman in the music industry is hard, but I do feel like we’ve started to see a shift in the industry over the last 5-ish years. We’re never taken as seriously or looked at with the same prestige as men are, but I think the amount of successful women who have emerged in the past few years have really changed a lot of people’s perspectives on women in music. The advice I would give is to be yourself and play to your strengths! There are a lot of talented people in this world, but if you stick to what makes you who you are, you will always stand out.
Photo credit: Preemo
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
I think the industry is definitely in a strange place currently. Social media has been ruling the game the past few years and I think it puts a lot of pressure on the artist to get things going on their own. I will say that while I know it’s a problem, I’m not sure what the solution is either. If there is one thing I could change, it might be how much TikTok and Instagram play into releases for an artist.
What biggest life lessons have you learned so far?
I think the biggest life lesson I’ve learned so far is how important it is to keep a circle of people around you that you can trust. This industry can be rough, and it’s important to have people who you know will support you through that, no matter what. It’s a long game and you just have to have people that see your vision and believe in it!
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
I think having a limit on social media would definitely make the world a better place. I think we’ve all got stuck just mindlessly scrolling and it’s so bad for our mental health. We need to go out more and live real life!
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