Recipient of a prestigious British Citizen Award for contribution to the arts, named “a songwriting expert” by BBC Radio Four’s Today Programme and a Recording Academy voting member, Rachel Walker Mason is a multi-award-winning musician currently writing songs with Grammy, Emmy and Ivor Novello award winners, The Voice UK and American Idol alumni, Oscar nominees, MOBO and BRIT Award nominees, AMA UK and Independent Country Music Association Awards winners.
Rachel is also a mentor for The GRAMMYs, Help Musicians and the Ivor Novello Academy.
She is also a featured artist for Columbia University’s Songcraft Anthology and an executive member of The Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Named a Woman Of The Year 2020, the only British musician to be inducted into the Indie Music Hall Of Fame, and hailed “an inspiration” by Prince Harry, Rachel is the youngest person to be made a Fellow of the London College of Music by Professional Achievement and is one of the British representatives for the World Choir Council.
Rachel took a moment from her busy schedule to answer a few of our questions.
1) How did you get into music?
Ever since I was a little girl I’ve had music in my head. I wrote my own songs and learned to sing what I heard on the radio.
Music was always my passion and it felt natural to pursue it through education and into a career.
It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do and I love it!
2) How long have you been releasing your own music?
Since 2008. I had written songs long before that but didn’t feel ready to release my own music until then.
My first release was an EP and it felt like a big step for me as before this I’d mostly performed as a classical singer and sung other people’s songs in public.
3) Which pop stars have you written songs for?
Many from completely different genres!
Last year alone I co-wrote 150 songs, some of whom were for GRAMMY winners, American Idol alumni, EMMY winners, winners of The Voice UK and many others.
Some are big household names and others are huge in their respective genre but to me they’re all amazing and I learn so much from each write.
4) How did you become a judge for the various music contests?
I began judging singing contests in 2007 in my local area and when my musical director skills became renowned for my work with a top British Show Choir I was invited to judge in Canada, America, Ireland and Scotland.
Since then I’ve been judging for contests all over the world, both virtually and in-person for a Cappella festivals, show choir contests, song writing competitions and many other events.
Having experience writing songs, arranging songs, running choirs, directing show choirs and being part of an a Cappella group I have lots of experiences to help judge the contests.
5) What was it like getting inducted into the Indie Music Hall of Fame and how did that come about?
It was an amazing honour! I became a member of the Indie Music Channel a few years ago and was made a member of their Artist Council in 2020.
Evidently they were impressed with my work and my career and made me the first British Musician to be inducted in the Indie Music Hall of Fame.
I was so delighted to represent my country and be inducted in the same year as my GRAMMY-winning friend Kitt Wakeley.
6) Are you able to tell us about your role as a mental health ambassador and also your book ‘Not The Only One?
I’ve struggled with my mental health for many years but it got really bad when I gave birth to my children and I was diagnosed with postnatal depression.
When I began to come through the worst of it I decided to write a book about mine and other mums and dads’ experiences of postnatal depression as I met some amazing people online who had similarly struggled.
I called the book Not The Only One because most of us feel we are alone in our mental health issues but we’re not.
When I started speaking publicly about my mental health I wanted to help others feel less alone so became an ambassador.
I was also honoured to be made the patron of Vine Counselling Services who are the organisation who saved my life when I went through a difficult time years ago.
7) What’s your favourite genre of music?
I love writing all styles of music but my favourite genre of music to listen to is 90s grunge and metal.
8) What’s next for you musically?
I’ve written a musical called The Circle which is currently being workshopped to see if it works as a concept.
It’s exciting but scary as this is the first musical I’ve written!
9) What are your strengths and weaknesses?
I’m good at networking and getting to know people. That really helps as a co-writer in the music industry.
I think one of my weaknesses is over-scheduling myself.
I love to say yes to everything even when I’ve already got too many projects on.
10) What is your guilty pleasure?
Watching The Office: An American Workplace on repeat!
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