By Jenna Greaves
Herald Correspondent
A new era is upon us.
The little boy who once yodeled is now 17-year-old Mason Ramsey, Country music star and he’s bringing his newly found blues country soul sound right here to Sanford.
On Friday, Sept. 27, indulge in Ramsey’s savory, smooth voice as he rocks the stage at Tuffy’s Music Box & Lounge in Sanford for the first time.
Ramsey is bringing a whole new look and sound to his Falls into Place Tour kicking off in Oxford, Mississippi on Sept. 19.
With his upcoming album “I’ll See You in My Dreams,” out on Sept. 20, he is giving fans a taste of an older, more grown up version of himself. Ramsey said fans can expect the official album announcement in late august when he releases his next single, “Come Pick Me Up.”
His latest single “Blue Over You” represents the sultry sound fans can expect on the album.
“The style, the sounds, just everything in general is just so much different than back then,” Ramsey said. “It kind of feels like its two different artists, younger me and older me.”
Ramsey’s career all began with a trip to Walmart. After a video of him yodeling in the middle of the aisle, his fame took off.
The entire saga took Ramsey and his family by surprise. Walmart is known to be a hub for almost any household need, but it’s not every day that you find your country music career waiting for you in the aisles.
“I sure did not see anything like that ever happening,” Ramsey said. “It was kind of like an out of the blue moment for me it just kind of happened and I was just doing what I love to do. If it wasn’t for my grandparents taking me to that Walmart, none of this would’ve ever happened for me,” Ramsey said.
Now, Ramsey has fully transformed himself from the Walmart yodeling kid to a classic Country artist, leaning into the 50’s and 60’s, Country, Rock ‘n Roll inspired by Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, Johnny Cash and Donny Hathaway.
“It really does feel like a fresh start to me and might I say a really good one,” Ramsey said. “A really good fresh start.”
Finding a sound that fit Ramsey’s style didn’t happen overnight.
“It only took me about six years, but it’s happening,” Ramsey joked.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, Ramsey took a much needed break from the hustle and bustle of the world. He spent the time reconnecting with his family and the one thing he loved the most, singing.
Throughout his downtime, he worked with his producer Dan Fernandez to create in image that felt natural to Ramsey.
“Rather than writing songs to try to fit in with the rest of country music, I’ve kind of stepped out to do my own sound,” Ramsey said.
Despite his viral yodeling image, Ramsey’s calm, humble, can-do attitude helped him to not overthink the transition too much.
“Of course, there’s going to be critics out there that don’t like everything that I do but as long as the majority of the people do like it, I guess I must be doing something right,” Ramsey said.
When searching for his new sound, he said everything fell into place and he just knew what felt right.
“If it doesn’t flow then it doesn’t go,” Ramsey said.
Regardless of the never ending changes and his sudden rise to fame, Ramsey said his greatest memories still lie with the time he spends with his family.
“They’re the ones who helped me get to where I’m at right now,” Ramsey said.
