Biography
Originally hailing from Kansas, Major Matt Mason USA—real name Matt Roth—displays scant overlap with the heartland rockers commonly tied to that Midwestern locale. His stage name originates from a well-known Mattel action figure of the 1950s. Following a college period spent in math rock, post-punk, and noise rock groups, he shifted to New York City in 1993 and recast himself as an authority on contemporary urban folk while earning praise for incisive, perceptive songwriting. Inspired by Daniel Johnston’s independent methods of recording and issuing material, Mason launched Olive Juice Records in 1999 and began overseeing releases by little-known anti-folk performers from New York City’s Lower East Side. His first effort, the 2000 album Me Me Me, highlights distinctive lyrical craft and acoustic skill, shaped by author Raymond Carver, earlier relationships, and fellow figures in the anti-folk world. Pausing his solo acoustic work, he joined forces with acquaintance Nan Turner on the cuisine-themed lo-fi pop of Schwervon!. Momentum created by acts such as the Moldy Peaches in 2002 supplied the anti-folk scene its strongest advance since Beck’s mainstream arrival, enabling Mason to tour Europe before receptive audiences. Issued the same year, Call It What You Want, This Is Antifolk gathered standout performances from the expanding movement while also featuring his own contributions.
Albums
