Mura Masa has confirmed details of new single ‘What If I Go?,’ out today on Interscope and available on all digital retails. This
follows a breakout start to 2016 for the nineteen year-old, who has
already placed at #5 in the BBC’s Sound of 2016 shortlist, been named a
One to Watch for the year by the likes of Spotify and Apple, as well as
winning the Blog Sound of 2016.
Having
recently surpassed 20-million streams on Soundcloud, Mura Masa’s debut
US tour – a co-headline trek with Nao – sold out in less than 24 hours
this month. He’ll also play a sold-out run of UK headline dates in
April, including a label showcase for his own imprint, Anchor Point, on
April 7th alongside Bonzai and new signings Jadu Heart and
Tyra. A number of festival slots are additionally already confirmed for
the summer, such as Great Escape, Field Day, Parklife, and Wildlife.
‘What
If I Go?’ is a joyous, dizzying mix of global acoustics (steel drums,
delicate harps) and forward-thinking electronics. Featuring a soulful
turn from Bonzai on vocals, the track is, he says, “the next
development of the sound. It’s not necessarily about trying to make pop
music, but I do want to bring more of an accessibility to weird
electronica.”
The
story of Mura Masa is one to remind people that there's still room for
optimism about the internet generation. Alex grew up on the
everybody-knows-everybody island of Guernsey, where his Mum’s Joni
Mitchell records and his Dad’s years spent playing in hard rock bands
around Scotland offered a dual influence of classic and experimental
songwriting. With the nearest gig hotspot a 5-hour ferry journey away in
Southampton, culture tended to be DIY out of necessity. But at the age
of 15, Mura Masa “heard Hudson Mohawke's 'Thunder Bay' and discovered
that electronic music was a thing,” before stumbling into James Blake
taught him “just how far you can go with it.” Then, the digging began.
Inhaling entire discographies across Youtube and Soundcloud of
songwriters and beatmakers in these circles, he became immersed not just
in the subcultures of electronic music but saw the bigger picture
through which bedroom producers could shake the world.
Just two years ago Mura Masa began uploading early recordings to the internet and started building a
fan-base which soon stretched far beyond the confines of his Channel
Islands bedroom. He can’t quite remember when he clicked on the name
Mura Masa, but its origins (a 15th century Japanese
sword-smith) fitted a fascination with Asian sounds and images: it also
happened to be a track title off one of Alex’s favourite Metal albums.
Quickly finessing his sound, collaborations with Nao, Shura and Jay
Prince formed a series of early releases, and fed into
rapturously-received early shows at the likes of Village Underground.
Currently writing and recording his debut album, Mura Masa has already
shown how an appetite for knowledge, however isolated your upbringing,
can make full use of having the world at your fingertips. From the
restless bedroom-producer to a bold new voice in Pop, wherever Mura Masa
goes next, you sense many will follow.
Friday 26th February – Stockholm – Sonar Stockholm
Tuesday 5th April - Manchester - Deaf Institute **Sold Out**
Wednesday 6th April - Bristol - The Exchange **Sold Out**
Thursday 7th April - London - Oval Space (Anchor Point Records showcase) **Sold Out**
Friday 8th April - Nottingham - Bodega Social Club **Sold Out**
Tuesday 12th April – Berlin – PBHFCLUB **Sold Out**
Thursday 14th April – Brussels – Botanique **Sold Out**
Wednesday 13th April – Amsterday – Bitterzoet **Sold Out**
Friday April 15th – Paris – Café de la Danse
Friday 6th May – Toronto – Mod Club (w/ Nao) **Sold Out**
Saturday 7th May – New York – Bowery Ballroom (w/ Nao) **Sold Out**
Sunday 9th May – Chicago – Schubas (w/ Nao) **Sold Out**
Thursday 12th May – San Francisco – Independent (w/ Nao) **Sold Out**
Friday 13th May – Los Angeles – Roxy (w/ Nao) ** Sold Out**
Thursday 19th May – Brighton – Great Escape Festival
Saturday 28th May – Wales – Love Saves the Day
Saturday 11th June – Brighton – Wildlife Festival
Saturday 11th June – London – Field Day
Sunday 12th June – Manchester - Parklife
June 24th – 26th – Netherlands – Down The Rabbit Hole
July 15th – 17th – Germany – Melt Festival
“What If I Go?”
iTunes - http://smarturl.it/WhatIfIGo
Spotify: http://smarturl.it/WhatIfIGoSP
Mura Masa
Facebook.com/
Twitter: @mura_masa_
source: Interscope Records