A few things you may not know about 2011 X-Factor Australia winner Reece Mastin. He likes zombie movies. He’s planning a Game of Thrones-themed party for his 18th birthday. And he and Home and Away actress girlfriend Rhiannon Fish are quite fond of hickeys. How retro!
“They’ve had to write hickeys into the script because of it” says Reece shyly.
Arguably one of the most successful reality television exports Australia has seen since his own X-Factor mentor, Guy Sebastian, in a short space of time Reece has clocked up two #1 singles, two top 5 albums and a legion of dedicated fans he’s dubbed ‘Lil’ Rockers’. Moving from X-Factor covers to his own original material, Reece’s ‘proper’ debut album Beautiful Nightmare features 15 tracks, all written or co-written by Mastin.
“It was so vital that it was… perfect,” says Reece.
“I started writing music when I was 12, I wasn’t very good though. I’ll probably release the first song I ever wrote as a laugh and people will think ‘God, this is sh*t’ [laughs]”
“I taught myself how to play guitar and how to sing, so I kind of developed my own way of writing music. I’ve got an original idea in my head of how I want my writing to sound. I didn’t want to be pumped into necessarily writing pop music or rock music, I’ve just done whatever I’ve felt like I wanted to. It’s sweet! It’s a big thing for me to have written the material on the album. I didn’t want to sing anyone else’s songs on my first studio album.”
Taking in tow two musicians, Marcus Catanzaro and David Jenkins, from his former X-Factor house band, the atypical ‘machine’ behind Mastin seems to be non-existent. Perhaps giving him so much creative freedom is the reason behind his success?
“When you get signed to a major label, usually you get this A&R person and this stylist and this PR person assigned to you,” says David. “With Reece, his parents are still so involved with what he does. Marcus and I have our input with Reece’s musical direction. His friends are involved too. He’s got a good team around him. He’s 17, I mean if I was in his position, I’d probably be on some serious drugs [laughs]”
“The best thing about going on tour is being with people you can have fun with and put up with [laughs]” Reece says.
Our chat coming just days after Reece hit the X-Factor stage to perform his latest single ‘Rockstar’, he admits to having reservations returning to the show that made him a star.
“I was kind of waiting to be judged afterwards… it was weird.”
“I definitely got nervous beforehand though, but at the same time, going back there and not having to worry about being judged or votes made it so much more fun. These guys [Marcus and David] got to play onstage with me too. And actually play their instruments [laughs]”
“A lot of the time we have to play to a backing track,” says Marcus. “There are only so many times you can play Mariah Carey before it kills you.”
“Mariah Carey?! Who plays Mariah Carey on X-Factor?” says Reece.
“You get what I’m saying, it’s just an example of a sh*t song!” says Marcus
“Like ‘All By Myself’?” asks Reece, cheekily referring to the song that sent him to the bottom two during X-Factor last year.
“It’s funny how many people come out of the woodwork now and ask for CDs and tickets though,” Reece adds.
“How many people came up to you today saying that they knew you Reece?” They swore they knew you!” says band mate David.
“During the show, a whole of bullies from school, well, not bullies, more so just dickheads, came up to me and asked if I wanted to hangout with them when I was back in Adelaide. It’s kind of funny. I was never popular at school, I used to just sit in the music block and keep to myself.”
“I’m not used to having people act like that towards me and I probably never will be, but I’ve got a good head on me and good people around me. That’s what matters, really.”
Reece’s album Beautiful Nightmare is in stores now. His Beautiful Nightmare Tour, featuring Justice Crew and The Janoskians comes to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on December 4. Tickets available through Ticketek.
Photos by Brent Leideritz, taken at Mr. Kim’s, Crippen Place, Adelaide.
More News
