"They say there's hope for you where the sun always shines."

With these words, singer-songwriter John Mason sets the tone for his beautifully nostalgic "California," a tune he penned about an uncertain time for his family.  Infused with equal parts wistfulness and hope, grief and love, "California" explores life's moments of transition and the difficulties of moving on.  In this episode, Emmeline and John discuss the ways in which John's flamenco background influences his songwriting, his use of suspensions to create a dreamscape for the audience, and his sparse percussion choices.  They also talk about John's musical journey, his time as an accompanist for a flamenco dancer in Los Angeles, the importance of live music, and the connections we find through art. John even gives a preview of his new song, "Miracles and Fate!"

To learn more about John Mason's music, or to follow his journey, visit his official ReverbNation page. For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow Emmeline on social media at @EmmelineMusic or visit the Journey of Series official page.

For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.