Kenny Mason – Pup Pack: 3rd Shift [EP]

Kenny Mason has been treating the “Pup Pack” series like a proving ground—three-song drops that feel less like leftovers and more like focused bursts of whatever mode he’s locked into at the moment.

“Pup Pack: 3rd Shift” keeps that blueprint tight: three tracks, just under nine minutes, no padding, no detours—the kind of EP you run back immediately because it ends before your brain’s done processing the first pass.

The sequencing does a lot with very little. “Moonlight” opens with a hazy tone but forward-moving, like he’s letting melody and mood do some of the talking before the sharper edges come out. “RaceTrac” flips the energy into something more urgent—it’s the EP’s most kinetic moment, and it’s explicitly credited as produced by COUP (you can feel that late-night momentum in how it drives). And then “Levitate” closes the set with a lift that feels earned rather than thrown on for contrast—not a victory lap, more like a final exhale after the run.

What makes Pup Pack: 3rd Shift stick is how efficient Kenny Mason is at switching textures without losing identity. Even in this short format, he’s bouncing between melody, grit, and that slightly left-of-center phrasing that’s become his signature—like he’s allergic to obvious choices, even when he’s keeping things accessible. It also helps that this EP lands as the third piece of the “Shift” run (after “Pup Pack: 1st Shift” and “Pup Pack: 2nd Shift”), so it plays like a continuation of a very specific pace: quick hits, clean exits, and just enough range to remind you he’s not boxed into one lane.

Bottom line: “Pup Pack: 3rd Shift” is a compact listen that still feels complete—three scenes, three angles, no wasted motion. If you’ve been following the series, it’s another strong chapter. If you’re new, it’s a perfect entry point precisely because it doesn’t overstay its welcome.