Recorded 2014-15 Length 3:44 | Genre Pop Label Social Family Records | |
Released 27 March 2015 (2015-03-27) Writer(s) Ben Rodgers
Jean-Paul Fung
Reece Mastin | ||
"Rebel and the Reason" is a song by British-Australian recording artist Reece Mastin. "Rebel and the Reason" was released on 27 March 2015 as the lead single from Mastin's first extended play of the same name and peaked at number fifty-one on the ARIA Singles Chart, becoming Mastin’s eighth Top 100 chart entry.
Contents
Background and release
Mastin won the third season of The X Factor Australia in 2011 and subsequently signed with Sony Music Australia. Mastin released two albums and four of top twenty singles with Sony. In February 2015, it was announced that Mastin had parted ways with Sony Music Australia and signed with independent label Social Family Records.
In March 2015, Mastin announced a new single, a new EP and Australian east coast tour.
Music video
The music video was directed by Jonathan Vasallo and premiered on 29 April 2015. The video depicts the traumas and repercussions of domestic violence in families. It coincided with the announcement that Reece is the newest White Ribbon ambassador.
Mastin cited the influence of videos such as Ed Sheeran’s "The A-Team" and Hozier’s "Take Me to Church" as helping to steer his decision to address the scourge of domestic violence and take on a greater role as a White Ribbon ambassador.
Rebel and the Reason EP
Rebel and the Reason is the first extended play (EP) by Mastin, released through Social Family Records on 1 May 2015. The five-track EP contains the single of the same name and four new tracks. The EP was described as ‘an edgier, rock-laden new sound’ lying dormant in Reece. Mastin said, "I can definitely say that this is completely 100% me and I couldn't be happier with how it's turned out."
Release and reception
The EP was then released both digitally and physically on 1 May 2015.
Aneta Grulichova of TheMusic.com.au awarded Rebel and the Reason three-and-a-half stars out of five and said "Aussie rocker Reece Mastin is back and better than ever… replacing his chatty pop songs with a more mature indie-rock sound".