LUGH!, electronic music DJ from Tacoma

Mason Mahoney, who goes by LUGH!, is an electronic music DJ born and raised in Tacoma. He fell in love with electronic music after attending festivals like Paradiso, Life in Color and Lucky, and wanted to recreate that feeling of connectivity and experience. Since then, he has performed at Crankdat’s Get Cranked Tour in Seattle, Gold Rush Music Festival in Arizona and BOO Seattle. LUGH! released his debut original track, “WATCH YO MOUTH!,” in August of 2024 and is working on releasing his debut EP.

Seattle Refined: How long have you been writing/performing?
LUGH!: I’ve been DJing and performing for nearly a decade, with the last three years focused on writing and producing my own original music. My journey started back in my college days, where I played underground, sticky fraternity basement sets and learned how to control a crowd.

After gaining some experience, I started performing at my family’s venue, Ozzie’s in Seattle (@ozziesseattle), a local nightlife staple that became my training ground. That’s where I really learned how to be a professional, read the room, and bring the energy every single night.

Those early years in Seattle’s nightlife scene built the foundation for who I am as an artist today. Eventually, my path led me to Arizona, where I’ve continued to grow as a resident DJ for several of the biggest clubs and as a performer at major festivals.

Now, with 10 years of live performance experience and three years of producing under my belt, I’m constantly evolving my sound — blending everything I learned from Seattle’s gritty nightlife with the bold, bass-driven energy that defines my sets today.

Tell us about the artistic process and the different stages that work into it.
My songwriting process has always mirrored the way I play my sets — full of energy, movement and emotion. When I sit down to make music, I try to capture the same feeling I get performing live. I always start by building the drop first; that’s where I can really gauge the energy of the track. Most of my songs begin around 145 BPM, and from there I’ll raise or lower it depending on the vibe I’m chasing. Once the drop feels right, I start searching for vocals that match the song’s energy. Then come the chords, build-ups, and melodies. I experiment with countless variations until one hits just right.

When it comes to songwriting, I like to think of a moment or place where I was emotionally moved by a song and try to recreate that feeling in my own way. But, I’ve learned that a huge part of being an artist isn’t just about making music — it’s about showing up for your community. Going to events, meeting people, supporting other local artists, and showing love are all part of the process. Most people won’t want to help you if you don’t help them first. Sometimes that means showing up to a friend’s first set, or being there for a local show just to cheer people on.

As a DJ with no prior connections, I’ve spent plenty of nights performing to empty rooms. I’ll never forget the few people who did show up to those 10-person gigs. That kind of love keeps you going. Day-to-day, this life isn’t easy. The schedule can be brutal. Growing up, my family has always been in the bar and nightclub scene, so I guess I’ve been trained for it since birth. I can have a 3 to 4 a.m. warehouse afters set, then be at another club the next morning at 10 a.m., and still DJ for 8 plus hours that weekend. It’s chaotic and exhausting, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything — because it’s exactly where I feel most alive.

Where does your inspiration come from? What artists have influenced you?
It’s that spark that takes over the crowd, the shared moment where everyone forgets everything else and just feels the music. That’s what keeps me going. I want to recreate that feeling every time I perform — to make people have fun, go crazy, and just be in the moment.

A lot of my inspiration also comes from the sense of family and community within this scene. Everyone looks out for each other, everyone belongs, and that bond is what makes this culture so special. I love being the person who helps bring that energy out of people to help them have the best time of their lives.

When it comes to influences, I’ve pulled inspiration from artists like NGHTMRE, Excision, Subtronics, Crankdat and SVDDEN DEATH. Each of them has their own way of blending emotion and chaos — and I try to capture that same power and connection in my own music and performances.

What kind of genre is your music? What kinds of things do you write about?
At the core, my music is about connection. I’d say my sound falls somewhere in the dubstep and bass realm. When I make music, it’s all about creating energy — something that makes people move and just feel alive. I started doing this for my homies, and that still drives me today. Bass music is what my friends have the most fun with, and it’s what I enjoy the most, too. The ability to play that music on a stage, or even just have them bump one of my songs on their phone, is what keeps me going. I don’t really overthink it; I just experiment and try to have fun.

Do you have one song that means more to you or is extremely special to you?
“Watch Yo Mouth!” will always mean the world to me.

It’s my debut single, the first song I ever put out on all platforms — and I dropped it on SoundCloud while I was at Bass Canyon with my brother (@mahoney_quinn). We were at The Gorge, the same place where I went to my first ever festival, the place that started everything for me.

My friend Carlos (@carlosdoeswhatever) — who ended up shooting photos at my latest show (BOO Seattle) — was the one who first brought me into this world of raving. Full-circle moments like that just hit differently.

That first day of Bass Canyon, my homie SKEISMIC (@skeismicdubs) dropped “Watch Yo Mouth!” on the Camp Stage the day it came out. Hearing my song blast through those big speakers, surrounded by my brother and my rave fam, while standing in the crowd myself, it didn’t even feel real. It was one of those moments where everything comes together — the music, the people, the memories — and you realize this is exactly where you’re meant to be. That’s why this song will always hold such a special place in my heart.

What experiences in your life have shaped your music?
So many experiences have shaped my music and the way I perform.

Back in my early days, playing at fraternity parties taught me how to move fast — how to jump between songs and genres, how to keep the energy alive no matter what. That chaos trained me to read a crowd on instinct.

Then I started DJing at my family’s spot in Seattle. That’s where I learned how to perform in a more professional setting — with all ages and all kinds of people in the room — and still find ways to connect and make everyone feel the music. Playing in a big city like that pushed me to grow as both an artist and a person.

When I moved to Scottsdale, everything leveled up. That’s where I learned how to own a stage — how to create that big club feeling, that rush people chase every weekend. And now, being fully immersed in the scene, I get to experience firsthand what the biggest DJs in the world are playing, what sounds are shaping festivals and clubs right now.

All those chapters — from frat basements to family bars to festival stages — have built the foundation of who I am today as an artist. Every crowd, every night, every transition taught me something new about connection, energy, and purpose.

If we want to hear more of your work, where should we go to find it? What about upcoming shows?
If you want to hear more of my music, you can find it on all major streaming platforms — my two originals are out everywhere, and my free unofficial remixes live over on SoundCloud for the real ones who dig deep.

I’ve got a couple of upcoming shows in the works that I can’t quite talk about yet — but keep your eyes on my socials and watch those festival posters for the name “LUGH!” You’ll know when it’s time.

• Spotify: LUGH!
• Apple Music: LUGH!
• Soudcloud: LUGH-WAV
• Instagram: LUGH.WAV
• Youtube: LUGHWAV

What is next for you? Anything you’re working on right now that you’re really excited about?
Right now, I’m in the final stretch of something I’ve been dreaming about for years — my debut EP.

I’ve dropped singles, bootlegs and edits before, but this project – this one feels different. It’s not just a collection of songs — it’s the story of everything that’s brought me here. The late nights. The crowds. The moments where I questioned it all, and the ones that reminded me why I’ll never stop.

This EP is the sound of LUGH! coming into focus — raw, unapologetic and alive. Every track carries a piece of my journey, every drop holds a memory, and together they paint the full picture of the artist I’ve become.

This is more than just music to me. It’s the start of something much bigger.

Lastly, how do you take your coffee? We ask everyone!
I like it black!

A message from LUGH!: Before I go, I want to take a moment to thank a few people who make everything I do possible. My family — their support means the world and keeps me going. My manager, Corbin Thomas, for believing in me and helping me transition when I moved down to Scottsdale. My roommates, Sushi, Connor and Griffin, for taking me in when I was finding my footing. My VJs, Grant Hickey and Tushar Mishra, for bringing my vision to life. My stylist, Ryan Sanchez with Common Hype, for keeping me sharp. And finally, my rave fam — Quinn, David, Vaughn, Sam, Jason, Jacob, Michael and Alex — you all make this worth it every single time.

About ‘Artist of the Week’: This city is packed with artists we love to feature weekly on Seattle Refined! If you have a local artist in mind that you would like to see featured, let us know at hello@seattlerefined.com. And if you’re wondering just what constitutes art, that’s the beauty of it; it’s up to you! See all of our past Artists of the Week in our dedicated section.