âItâs pretty wild. Weâve got passionate fans all over the world, which is really cool.â
Midnight Til Morning is bringing back the band!
After months on the road performing to thousands across the globe, Mason Watts has returned to Australia with a renewed appreciation for home and a career that continues to gain momentum.
âItâs really nice,â Watts said of being back. âYou donât realise how good Australia is until you go overseas and you come back⊠itâs nice being home around Australians and family.â
A TGS Old Boy who graduated in 2016, Wattsâ journey from school performances to international touring has been anything but ordinary.
One of the defining moments of his career came when he appeared on a Netflix music show, a breakthrough opportunity that placed him alongside global heavyweights from the Backstreet Boys, One Direction and the Pussycat Dolls.
âThat was a pretty big deal,â he said. âWorking with world-class people⊠making some really good connections.â
That experience also led to the formation of his band Midnight Til Morning and the release of their first album, Afterglow, a group he now describes as âlike my brothers,â and with whom he travels the world performing predominantly pop music to an ever-growing fanbase. Behind much of Wattsâ success is his manager, Andrew Stone (Manager and CEO/Co-Founder of the bandâs record label, Chugg Music), another TGS Old Boy (1997-2001), whom he credits as instrumental to his career. The pairâs connection came about by chance.
âI was playing a festival in Brisbane when I was about 20,â Watts said. âHe just happened to be there listening, came up afterwards and asked about my story.â
The conversation soon revealed a shared connection to TGS, strengthening the bond. âWe were like, âno way,ââ Watts recalled. âHe was in the Grammarphones and choir as well, so we connected through that.â Watts describes Stone as one of the most successful managers in the country and says his guidance has been pivotal. âI wouldnât be where I am without him.â
Despite the whirlwind of international success, Watts remains grounded in his roots.
His time at TGS, he says, played a crucial role in shaping his path.
âI was part of pretty much every ensemble they had going,â he said, recalling long hours spent in the Baynes Centre and performances ranging from speech days to school productions, âlots of gigs, lots of memories.â
He credits several mentors at the School for nurturing his talent and confidence, including music staff who believed in him and helped him develop his stage presence.
Wattsâ career today is a far cry from those early school performances, but the discipline required remains much the same. Touring life, he explains, involves long days filled with interviews, rehearsals and fan engagements, all before stepping on stage.
That perspective has stayed with him, particularly during recent tours in South America, where crowds of devoted fans waited for hours, even days, just to catch a glimpse of the band.
Behind the scenes, Watts and his band continue to refine their sound. Their creative process often begins with a simple idea before evolving collaboratively in the studio.
âIt all depends on the song,â he said. âWe jam, build it up, and if itâs a good one, by the end of the day youâve got something really solid.â
Drawing inspiration from real-life experiences, Watts believes authenticity is key to connecting with audiences. âI think people always connect with real stories,â he said.
While his career has taken him far from Toowoomba, Watts hasnât forgotten the challenges of starting out in a regional city. Now, he is helping the next generation by mentoring aspiring musician and Year 12 student Ruben Kruger. âItâs a really competitive industry,â he said. âYouâve got to go all in⊠and donât worry about what anyone else thinks.â
Looking ahead, there is no slowing down. Midnight Til Morning is preparing for a major international schedule, including a festival performance in Japan expected to draw a crowd of 60,000, their largest audience yet, alongside a European tour and ongoing studio work.
For Watts, the journey from TGS stages to global tours has been remarkable, but he remains focused on the road ahead.
âI wouldnât change anything. It all turned out pretty good.ââ Mason Watts, TGS Old Boy
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