Mask

"Mask" is the lead single from pianist/singer Victor Strong's debut solo album "Great Expectations". The single was due to be released on July 23rd, 2012, but was pushed forward a week to July 16th to take advantage of a relatively weak schedule that week. This is Victor's first solo single since he teamed up with Ben Johnston on the 2010 Christmas #1 hit "Another Year Goes By / The Catch", and his second platinum hit as a lead artist. It charted at #2 upon release, but due to Victor's featured role on that week's #1 single, "Ground Zero", Victor made history as the first artist to hold the top two chart positions simultaneously.

Background
"Mask" was written in 2012, during the sessions Victor had with Phoenix Rising beginning May 17th, 2012. The band had gotten together to work on material for their third studio album, but at the same time Victor was writing material for a solo album that would be released first, as he was eager to return to music before the band's proposed December comeback. Victor had previously been offered the chance to go solo back in 2009 after Phoenix Rising's US label was unsure of their future as a band, and believing that Victor would have more marketability as a solo act. Victor turned down the offer to go solo, and the band proved their industry power upon their 2010 comeback. In December 2010, Victor would go solo for the first time, teaming up with Ben Johnston for a double A-side single which they released on Christmas week. The single hit #1, but the success caused tension in the group who was not aware that Victor would be releasing the single. The band is now far more accepting of Victor's desire to properly launch a solo career, especially after the success James Moss has enjoyed as a solo star. "Mask" is about Victor's insecurities following the death of his father in 2010, his fears of losing the ability to connect to people, and his struggle to reconcile his faults with who he is as a person. Much like James' solo material, the song is a departure from Phoenix Rising's sound; while still highlighting Victor's skill as a pianist, it has elements of R'n'B and electropop. The song was produced by James Moss.

At the end of June, Victor's team made the decision to push forward the release date of "Mask", citing exceedingly strong competition on the originally-planned release date, and spotting a weakness on the preceding week. To go with the change of release date, Victor authorised a new set of artwork for the single, believing that the original artwork was too 'plain'. Copies of the physical CD single featuring the old artwork still exist, having been pressed early. This early batch has been considered a collectors' item, with a number of copies circulating on eBay. The promo disc was re-issued to radio stations featuring new artwork in line with the redesign. In September 2012, it was revealed Victor fought heavily with his UK label Blacklight Records, who wanted to remix "Mask" for radio after it got off to a sluggish start. Victor succeeded in preventing a radio remix when the original version finally caught on. Victor descibes the unreleased radio mix as a "dubsteppy monstrosity".

Reception
"Mask" premiered to great critical reception; critics praised the artistic direction of the song, lauding Victor for not falling to 'typical, boring' singer-songwriter territory, and instead creating something fresh and emotive. Critics also welcomed the personal nature of the song, considering Victor's performance to be moving and authentic. The public was also receptive to the song, with many describing the song as 'beautiful' and 'deep'. Radio's initial response was lukewarm, prompting Blacklight to issue a remix to jumpstart it on radio, but the song eventually caught on and became a large airplay hit with an extended chart run. Various digital-only releases hampered its digital performance, with the song having peaked low in the top 10 on the iTunes chart. Victor's fanbase from Phoenix Rising helped the single achieve a high placement on the singles chart, and a lengthy chart run to become another platinum hit for Victor.

Promo CD

 * 1) Mask (Album Version)
 * 2) Mask (Instrumental Version)

CD

 * 1) Mask (Album Version)
 * 2) Missing You (Live @ Live Lounge)
 * 3) Mask (Alex Ghenea Radio Edit)
 * 4) Mask (Acoustic Version)

Digital EP

 * 1) Mask (Album Version)
 * 2) No Way Out
 * 3) Mask (Dyro Remix)
 * 4) Mask (Chris Cox Club Mix)
 * 5) Mask (Monkman & Somerset Mix)
 * 6) Mask (Music Video)

Music Video
The video opens to a white, brightly-lit hallway. The music for "Mask" begins as Victor walks into frame in slow motion. The camera tracks his movements, closing in on him then panning up his body to his face. He is looking around at the walls as he mouths along to the words of the first verse. While the rest of him is still in slow motion, his mouth is in sync with the words. The screen goes white and fades in on a desert scene as the song transitions into the chorus. We follow a car driving along across the sand, not getting a good look at the person behind the wheel although we can assume this is also Victor. Sand is kicked up everywhere as Victor speeds across the desert plain, singing along to the radio.

As the camera follows the car, it kicks up a tonne of sand into the camera lens, whiting out the screen. It pans down back to the white hallway, where Victor is walking again in slow motion, but wearing a different outfit this time. He fiddles with his cuff and looks generally uncomfortable as he continues to sing along to the song. The white hallway scene transitions to a reflection in Victor’s iris as the camera pulls back to see him once again driving his car in the desert. Victor stops the car and gets out of it, slamming the door shut and leaning against the car. He turns back around and looks out into the desert. All through this he is still singing the song.

As Victor stands around in the middle of the desert singing and thinking, we return to the white hallway, which we find out is Victor’s mind. The Victor in the hallway is in a third outfit now, looking just as uncomfortable as before as he continues to move in slow motion while singing at regular speed. He is looking around the hallway for any kind of hidden door or otherwise any kind of exit. As the scene whites out again, the camera pans down to the desert, as sun-glare fades to show Victor stepping away from the car, arms stretched out as a warm breeze rolls over him. He sings the last chorus out to the empty space surrounding him, and as the song ends he turns his head behind him to the camera, removing his sunglasses and staring into the camera before the video fades to black.

Chart Performance
"Mask" would have faced a tough chart battle on its original July 23rd release date; moving it up to July 16th was a much favourable move for the song, with less competition to prevent it from a high peak. The song charted at #2 on the singles chart, behind his collaboration with Morris David Cat; while Victor's debut was a major achievement on its own, the combination of the two releases together gifted Victor with a much bigger achievement - making him the first artist to simultaneously inhabit the top two places on the chart. On the digital chart, "Mask" didn't have such a strong performance, only making it to #7. After a slow start "Mask" eventually hit the top 10 on the airplay chart, peaking at #6 after an extended run to become one of the year's bigger airplay hits.

Chart Run
TOTAL: 258,764
 * Week 1: #2 - 81,720
 * Week 2: #7 - 52,639
 * Week 3: #10 - 37,773
 * Week 4: #15 - 17,004
 * Week 5: #15 - 17,675
 * Week 6: #30 - 7,534
 * Week 7: #32 - 6,333
 * Week 8: #27 - 8,756
 * Week 9: #35 - 6,775
 * Week 10: #31 - 9,454
 * Week 11: #33 - 7,546
 * Week 12: #36 - 5,555