Mura Masa | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Alexander George Edward Crossan [1] |
Born | Castel, Guernsey | 5 April 1996
Genres | |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 2013–present |
Labels |
|
Website | muramasa |
Alexander George Edward Crossan [1] (born 5 April 1996), better known by his stage name Mura Masa, is a Guernsey-born electronic music producer and songwriter. [3] [4] Crossan is best known for his 2016 song "Lovesick" (featuring ASAP Rocky), which reached number one on the Spotify Viral charts in the United Kingdom and the United States. [5] In 2022, he produced the single "Boy's a Liar" by PinkPantheress, which peaked at number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Crossan's self-titled debut album (2017) was nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album and Best Recording Package at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. [6] His remix of Haim's "Walking Away" won Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. [7]
Crossan was born and raised in Guernsey. [8] After playing guitar, bass, drums and singing in local punk, hardcore, deathcore, and gospel bands, Crossan started self-producing at the age of 15, "searching for samples on YouTube and other corners of the internet". [9] He entered the electronic music scene after learning about Hudson Mohawke [10] and streamed music via YouTube, where he discovered James Blake, Cashmere Cat, and Sbtrkt. Crossan's influences, including Gorillaz and the Smiths, inspired him to write music and learn to play different instruments. [11] At 16, Crossan started to make electronic songs using Ableton Live, and uploaded them to SoundCloud the following year under the alias Mura Masa, [12] taken from Japanese swordsmith Muramasa Sengo. [13] He adopted the alias as he grew up with Japanese anime and Nintendo games, which led to his interest in the myth of Muramasa. [14] His early work incorporated elements of hip hop music, East Asian music (such as Shakuhachi flutes and thumb pianos), and glitchy electronica. [13] [14]
At 17, Crossan uploaded his first tracks, remixes and bootlegs to SoundCloud. The track "Lotus Eater" was picked up by BBC Radio 1 with Zane Lowe, Annie Mac, Huw Stephens, and Phil Taggart all playing the song on their shows. After leaving Guernsey to study English literature at University of Sussex in Brighton, Crossan began playing his music live, with sold-out shows at the Green Door Store in Brighton [15] and Electrowerkz [16] in London. Crossan started his career by posting a mixtape called Soundtrack to a Death to SoundCloud in 2014. The mixtape was subsequently distributed globally by German label Jakarta Records. [17]
Crossan signed to his own label Anchor Point Records in 2015, in partnership with Polydor Records and Interscope Records who distribute in the UK and in North America respectively. As well as Mura Masa records, the label has released music by Dublin artist Bonzai [18] and post-music duo Jadu Heart. [19]
In April 2015, he released his debut EP Someday Somewhere, with lead track "Firefly" being chosen for the In New Music We Trust playlist at BBC Radio 1. [20] [21] Released via Anchor Point, the EP featured UK vocalists Nao, Denai Moore, and Jay Prince. [22] The track "Lovesick" from the EP reached number 1 on the Spotify Viral charts in the UK and US. [5] On 27 April 2015, he broadcast a 60-minute mix on the BBC Radio 1 show Diplo and Friends. [23] Crossan was long-listed for the BBC Sound of... 2016 in December 2015, and placed 5th overall in the shortlist in January 2016. [24] [25]
On 15 March 2016, he unveiled the second single "What If I Go?" from his upcoming album. [26] [27] [28] On 30 September 2016, he released his collaborative single titled "Lovesick" featuring American rapper ASAP Rocky via Anchor Point and Downtown Records and Interscope Records. [29] [30] The song is a newer version of Masa's 2015 single "Lovesick Fuck". [31] Crossan said he arranged a meeting to discuss the collaboration with Rocky when he happened to be in London for several days. [29] An official music video for the song was published on 3 November 2016 by Mura Masa's YouTube channel. [32] [33]
Crossan co-wrote the track "First Things First" on Stormzy's Gang Signs & Prayer , which entered the UK Albums Chart at number 1 on 3 March 2017. The track also entered the singles chart at number 25. On 17 March 2017, he released "1 Night", a collaboration with Charli XCX. [34] Speaking about the collaboration, he said "I think I just had that beat lying around for a while and we sent it to a couple of people. Then Charli just did her thing". [35] [36]
Crossan released his self-titled debut studio album, Mura Masa on 14 July 2017. [21] [35] It was released by Polydor, Interscope, Downtown, and Anchor Point Records. The album was produced and recorded from 2014 to 2016, and has guest features by A. K. Paul, ASAP Rocky, Bonzai, Charli XCX, Christine and the Queens, Damon Albarn, Desiigner, Jamie Lidell, Nao, and Tom Tripp. Upon release, it received positive reviews by critics, and debuted at number 19 on the UK Albums Chart and at 192 on the US Billboard 200. The album received nominations for Best Dance/Electronic Album and Best Recording Package [37] at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. [38]
In June, Crossan worked with Nile Rodgers-organised collective Chic on the band's comeback album, It's About Time . He was featured alongside Cosha and Vic Mensa on the comeback single "Till the World Falls", which was released on 22 June 2018. Before that, on 12 June 2018, the band also premiered another song from the album "Boogie All Night", which features Crossan, alongside working affiliate Nao. Crossan's remix of Haim's "Walking Away" won Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards on 10 February 2019. [39] [40]
Awards | Year | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grammy Awards | 2018 | Best Dance/Electronic Album | Mura Masa | Nominated | [41] [42] |
Best Recording Package | Nominated | ||||
2019 | Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical | "Walking Away (Mura Masa Remix)" | Won | ||
2022 | "Talks (Mura Masa Remix)" | Nominated | [43] | ||
Ivor Novello Awards | 2017 | Best Contemporary Song | "Lovesick" (featuring ASAP Rocky) | Nominated | [44] |
2022 | "Just for Me" (as songwriter) | Nominated | [45] | ||
UK Music Video Awards | 2016 | Best Dance Video – Newcomer | "What If I Go?" | Nominated | [46] |
2017 | Best Urban Video - UK | "Lovesick" (featuring ASAP Rocky) | Nominated | [47] | |
Best Live Session | "Blu (Live)" (featuring Damon Albarn) | Won | |||
2020 | Best Alternative Video - UK | "Teenage Headache Dreams" | Nominated | [48] | |
Best Dance/Electronic Video - UK | "Deal Wiv It" (with Slowthai) | Nominated | |||
2023 | Best Dance/Electronic Video - Newcomer | "Whenever I Want" | Won | [49] |
Rakim Athelaston Mayers, known professionally as ASAP Rocky, is an American rapper. Born and raised in Harlem, he embarked on his musical career as a member of the hip hop collective ASAP Mob, from which he adopted his moniker. In August 2011, Mayers' single "Peso" was leaked online and within weeks, began receiving radio airplay. He signed with Polo Grounds Music, an imprint of RCA Records in October of that year, and shortly after, released his debut mixtape, Live. Love. A$AP (2011) to widespread critical acclaim.
Charlotte Emma Aitchison, known professionally as Charli XCX, is an English singer and songwriter. Born in Cambridge and raised in Start Hill, Essex, she began posting songs on Myspace in 2008, which led to her discovery by a promoter who invited her to perform at warehouse raves. In 2010, she signed a recording contract with Asylum Records, releasing a series of singles and mixtapes throughout 2011 and 2012.
True Romance is the debut studio album by English singer Charli XCX. It was released on 12 April 2013 by Asylum and Atlantic Records. Originally scheduled for release in April 2012, the album's release was delayed for a full year and had been in the making since early 2010 when Charli met with producer Ariel Rechtshaid in Los Angeles. To promote the album's release, Charli embarked on a three-date UK promotional tour in April 2013.
English singer Charli XCX has released six studio albums, four mixtapes, three extended plays, one live album, one soundtrack album, two DJ mixes, 48 singles, and 13 promotional singles. In 2007, XCX began recording her debut album on a loan granted by her parents. Titled 14, after her age at the time, it received only a restricted public release. Two singles, "!Franchesckaar!" and double A-side "Emelline" / "Art Bitch", were released in late 2008 under Orgy Music. In June 2012, Charli XCX released her first mixtape, titled Heartbreaks and Earthquakes, a one-track file consisting of eight songs. A second mixtape, titled Super Ultra, was released in November of the same year. Charli XCX's major-label debut studio album, True Romance, was released in April 2013, and peaked at number 85 on the UK Albums Chart. While failing to appear on any main album charts internationally, the album reached number five on the Heatseekers Albums chart in the United States and number 11 on the ARIA Hitseekers chart in Australia. The album spawned five singles—"Stay Away", "Nuclear Seasons", "You're the One", "You " and "What I Like". In 2012, Charli XCX was featured on Icona Pop's song "I Love It", which peaked at number one in the UK and reached the top 10 in various countries including the US, Canada, Ireland and Germany.
"Fancy" is a song by Australian rapper Iggy Azalea featuring British singer Charli XCX, taken from the former's debut studio album, The New Classic (2014). It was released on 17 February 2014 by Def Jam Recordings as the fourth single from the album. "Fancy" was described as an electro-hop, electropop, and pop rap song. It was written by Azalea and XCX, composed and produced by production team the Invisible Men, alongside additional producers the Arcade. It was leaked under the title "Leave It" in December 2013.
"Break the Rules" is a song by English singer Charli XCX from her second studio album, Sucker (2014). It was released on 19 August 2014 as the album's second single. In a 2020 interview with Red Bull, XCX stated that she regrets recording the track.
Sucker is the second studio album by English singer Charli XCX, released on 15 December 2014 by Asylum and Atlantic Records. The album was met with positive reviews from critics, praising its throwback style, and ended up being included on many year-end lists for best albums of 2014. Sucker spawned the singles "Boom Clap", "Break the Rules", "Doing It" and "Famous".
Sophie Xeon, known mononymously as SOPHIE, was a British music producer, songwriter, and DJ from Scotland. Sophie's work is known for its brash take on pop music and is distinguished by experimental sound design, "sugary" synthesized textures, and incorporation of influences from underground dance styles. It would help pioneer the 2010s hyperpop microgenre.
Alexander Guy Cook is an English music producer and the head of the UK record label PC Music. Cook released his first solo singles in 2014. He has also collaborated with PC Music artists such as Hannah Diamond, GFOTY, EASYFUN, Danny L Harle and felicita. He formed the one-off project QT with musician Sophie and performance artist Hayden Dunham, producing the 2014 single "Hey QT".
"Doing It" is a song by English singer Charli XCX from her second studio album, Sucker (2014). An alternative version of the song featuring English singer Rita Ora was released on 3 February 2015 as the album's third single. The single peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart. "Doing It" was named "Best New Track" the week of its release by Pitchfork.
Neo Jessica Joshua, better known as Nao, is an English singer-songwriter and record producer from East London. Her sound has been described as soul combined with electronic music, funk and R&B. Nao coined the term "wonky funk" to describe her style. She released her debut album, For All We Know, in 2016, her second album, Saturn, in 2018, followed by her most recent album, And Then Life Was Beautiful, released in 2021.
Vroom Vroom is the second extended play (EP) by English singer Charli XCX, released on 26 February 2016 by Vroom Vroom Recordings. It features production work from Scottish producer Sophie.
Alma-Sofia Miettinen, known professionally as Alma, is a Finnish singer and songwriter. Beginning her career in 2013, she placed fifth in the seventh season of the Finnish version of Idol. Her breakthrough came in 2015 when she was featured on the single "Muuta ku mä" by Sini Sabotage, and was subsequently signed to Universal Music Group.
"Lovesick" is a single by Guernsey-born music producer Alex Crossan, under the alias Mura Masa, featuring vocals from ASAP Rocky. It was released on 30 September 2016, by Universal Music, Polydor and Anchor Point Records, as the second single for his self-titled debut album.
Mura Masa is the debut studio album by Guernsey-born music producer Alex Crossan, under his alias Mura Masa. It was released on 14 July 2017 by Polydor, Interscope, Downtown and Anchor Point Records. The album was produced and recorded by Crossan from 2014 to 2016, and has guest features by A. K. Paul, ASAP Rocky, Bonzai, Charli XCX, Christine and the Queens, Damon Albarn, Desiigner, Jamie Lidell, NAO and Tom Tripp. It received nominations for Best Dance/Electronic Album and Best Recording Package at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.
This is the discography of British producer Mura Masa.
Pop 2 is the fourth mixtape by British singer Charli XCX, released on 15 December 2017 by Asylum Records. Executively produced by A. G. Cook of PC Music, sessions for the mixtape began several months before its release and featured a wide variety of guest contributions. The mixtape was backed by its only single "Out of My Head" featuring Alma and Tove Lo, released exactly one week before its release.
Cassia O'Reilly is an Irish singer-songwriter and music producer.