The Music…

Tim “Timber” Masterson has been in and amongst Toronto, Canada’s music scene for as long as he can remember. His earliest memories come from listening to his mother play his family’s 100-year-old Steinway piano, an instrument that would later become central to his own songwriting, one that he still plays on occasion to compose his own songs. Without formal lessons, teaching himself to play piano and guitar by ear, Timber recalls other vivid memories of crafting melodies and accompanying vocalists during his days at the performing arts high school. These early partnerships and the excitement of crafting songs with others have always stayed with him. His journey is a portrait of an artist who has lived many lives within one.

Masterson immersed himself in the bohemian subcultures of major cities. Timber moved to Los Angeles early in his career to pursue acting, and during the Club Kid era, he resided in New York City, where he became immersed in a dark, late-night scene. His sometimes dangerous (albeit wildly entertaining!) lifestyle would catch up with him in later years, though he survived it all and wrote a book about his experiences living on the edge and ultimately recovering. 

Heavens So Dark was Masterson’s first full album, the result of his artistic and imaginative musical voyage, which has spanned a lifetime - from playing piano at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood to performing at The Viper Room in Los Angeles to organizing after-hours warehouse dance parties in Toronto and New York. As a young adult, Timber (a nickname given to him by a high school sweetheart) found himself at the forefront of Toronto's late-night arts scene. This playground became Tim’s launching pad for orchestrating social gatherings and spectacular events for both the literary and music scenes, events that echoed the DIY ethos, a period in his life that inspired him to produce his own music. For this new collection, Tim brought in talented singers Cassie Noble and Kate Suhr, known for their searing and fluid vocal stylings, as well as bassists extraordinaire Andrew Affleck and Marc Novoselec, both from the Peterborough region, to deliver a Jaco Pastorius kind of feel. Drummers Gary Craig and Adam Woodhouse rounded out the recording sessions and helped solidify the solid, silky soul groove style Masterson has become known for. Last year, Timber was handpicked to perform at a showcase at the famed Dakota Tavern in downtown Toronto and was also chosen to host a music show on 96.9 Humber Radio, featuring a selection of his back catalogue. “I love interspersing my talents into one; they often intertwine and blur into one another during the course of whatever project I’m involved with. The skills I learned putting together those events carry over when I host a music night somewhere, or when my writing work lends itself to the craft of acting, which has called to me for so long. I'm not sure what I would do if I weren’t an artist; I don’t have any other marketable skills!”

Timber’s lyrics are heartfelt and personal, revealing a longing that runs through his work. Tim has always been drawn to dark, heavy minor nine and suspended chords on the piano. “These days, I'm writing from a very different place - a place of hope…a huge change for which I'm grateful. It's great when the melodies pour out of you, connect, and resonate with authenticity, all inspired by the complex yet rewarding relationships I have and by my life’s ongoing adventures, which tend to resonate with listeners. I can’t stress enough how enlightening and magical it is when a muse inspires you, and even when that muse disappears from your life, the spirit always remains.”

Next Up… 

A new 14-song collection is being recorded for a 2026 release, plus there’ll be a CD for fans who still buy such things. As well, Masterson is piecing together a Southwestern Ontario tour with stops in Toronto, Montreal, Prince Edward County, and the Kawartha Lakes. The compilation is called THE LUSH STATE. A CD release party is scheduled for spring 2026 in Picton. Tim has also begun hosting and producing a weekly radio show, Wonderous Stories & Progressive Melodies, on 99.3 COUNTY FM, which features eclectic, thought-provoking music, diverse artists, interviews, and revealing literary performances for the evolved community and the curious citizens of Prince Edward County and beyond.