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Pop producer extraordinaire Richard X is behind the controls and his polished sheen can be heard throughout, with hooks a-plenty and melodies you'll find yourself humming for days after one listen. Mason's vocals fit perfectly with the mixture of acoustic guitar and electronics and the whole album has a melancholy feel. We caught up with Steve to find out more:

Your new album has lots of catchy choruses and hooks, how do you go about writing your material, what's your process?

I get asked this a lot and its a hard question. There is no formula. It mainly all comes from messing about with a guitar, piano or a beat. Or sometimes i get some lyric and a vocal melody in my head and start from there. I try not to analyze these things to much, it removes the beauty.

With a few festival dates in the pipeline - what can people expect from the live show?

I will be at Glastonbury, Greenman, Bestival and Electric Picnic. With a few secret warm up shows before each one. I will have a band and will have a set list concentrating on the new album Boys Outside with a few older tracks from my back catalogue thrown in. Probably.

What was the first record you ever bought - and the last one?

First was Adam and the Ants, Stand and Deliver. The last was Am I Black Enough for You by Billy Paul.

If you could pick one song that's had the most influence on you, what would it be?

I couldn't pick one, its emotion that inspires and influences me. Sadness and love. Sound wise i always wanted to create my own sound. Lead, not follow.

Watch the video for first single "Lost and Found" below to give you a taster of what to expect:

Read some more in-depth reviews of the album at ´óÏó´«Ã½ Music, , , and .