Music Review – Massai – Safety

I fell for this track immediately, the very precise manner in which every sound and sample steps forward into the limelight is stunning. The production is superb, so much so that it is ready and waiting for any sound system, any volume, and is of course included in what has come to be known as headphone heaven. There’s a whole lot about this track that is fresh, brand new, experimental as hell yet firmly grounded in it’s intention and it’s expression. The builds ups and the insane heaviness intermittently add an amazing contrast with the prettier, gentler sections. It’s that addictive kind of climax, whereby there is no particular or single thing to cling on to, no solo part to eagerly await, just this epic culmination of sound and storminess that winds itself around your body and your mind and forces you to grit your teeth and either dance or fight hard to hold back the urge.

It’s great, every moment is interesting, fascinating even, you can turn it up and forget the world, or you can listen intently, time and time again, carefully awaiting those little moments of bliss and unexpectedness that you hadn’t previously noticed. This track is loaded with moments, without straying too far from it’s essential pathway, and that’s a wonderful quality. Listening at home is somewhat disappointing after a couple of run throughs – you need that live system, that crowd, that sunset, those lights, that energy and atmosphere. I’d not think twice about running from one side of the festival to the other to catch this one in action. Really nice work, creative as anything and structured in such a way that it never ceases to hold your attention, and even surprise you once or twice or more. The leading riff that drives those intense moments fell from my mind quite quickly after the first listen, but it’s not the sort of track where this kind of thing really matters – you’re bound to listen again, and as soon as you hear it you know it by now and it starts to sink in. There’s so much else going on that a melody or single hook is not hugely relevant. I wouldn’t change any of it, the effects and the loudness to quietness and back is a hook intself, a much more original take on the idea.

By Rebecca Cullen

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

MASSAI: I grew up in Oxfordshire U.K surrounded by my fantastic family who enjoy all different artists and genres from Metal, blues, Rap, reggae the whole lot. My mum loved putting on 70s and 80s vinyls and cds, so I was brought up with this huge appreciation for music and always wanted to be part of it.

 

When I went to school I used to drive everyone crazy drumming on the tables and singing at the top of my lungs, I used to get in so much trouble for it but I didn’t care because it’s what I wanted to do and nothing was going to stop me and I think my family realised this. I became obsessed with learning and playing different instruments for hours and hours in a day which again drove everyone insane. That’s when I got my first bit of software which was Mix craft, and ever since I realised I could make what I liked through VST’s and MIDI, I knew it was what I wanted to do 100%.

Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

MASSAI: I have always enjoyed different cultures and have spent a lot of time with different families from different cultures who found my look to be interesting, as I’m quite a large man. I am 6ft 1”, I had 42-gauge stretcher’s in my ears, piercings everywhere and tattoos covering most of my body and they always feared me until I opened my mouth. I am a very polite and respectful person and it’s interesting to see people judge you so hard on your looks and then completely change their perspective of you because they realise how kind you are.

 

The reason I’m saying all this is because on many occasion I have been referred to being like a member of the Maasai tribe I may look different and so strange to you but underneath I am a very kind and genuine person. Which for me is exactly what I want people to think, but I did change the spelling because it didn’t feel right to take the exact name.

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

MASSAI: I agree with online music sharing as long as the artist is okay with sharing his music this way, I have known artists in the past who have never done a gig or shows, they keep themselves online and are now doing really well for themselves.

 

Before I was making the music I make today I was in a metal band and an orchestral score team and this was when we first started making music with professional intention. Of course nobody knew who we were, so we decided to make every bit of music or musical score completely free and yes there was a chance that we would get no royalties but the thought of people listening to our music through the struggles and happiness of their everyday lives was enough for us; and hearing people who I know don’t have the money to spend on our music and have problems everyday singing our songs in the street is a feeling I could never describe.

Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

MASSAI: If your dream is to go on stage and blow peoples minds with your incredible talent whatever it may be, Don’t stop and Don’t second guess yourself. The second you stop and think anything negative towards your own material or yourself, or a venue it’s really hard to pick yourself back up I know this very well.

The best advice I can give you is make friends with the artists and venues and enjoy every small experience you have whilst doing so, what people forget as well is when someone makes a song. It’s a really personal experience and you need to share that on stage, it’s the energy you put out on stage and in your music that grabs people’s attention and makes them feel what your expressing.

Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

MASSAI: I am proud to say that I’m a giant nerd, I enjoy horror, science, comics, anime and mostly love weird and wonderful stuff. In my studio I have nothing but creative inspiration plastered everywhere, it doesn’t take much for me to get in a musical mood to be completely honest but if I’m ever not feeling down for being creative I tend to watch movies that consist of incredible audio tone like Godzilla , Transformers etc, and it usually gets me back into the swing of things; if not then I will just listen to my main inspirations Skrillex, Getter and Apex twins, if that doesn’t work then there must be something seriously wrong.

 

My process of song writing may be quite strange I usually get a groove in my head and I will transfer that to Ableton live 9+ through my voice so I don’t forget it, I will put it to the right bpm and then build my track around it. Starting with the drop then building the drums around the shell of my voice and usually by the point the drums are finished I know exactly what I want to make.

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

MASSAI: At this point in time I am only on sound cloud and share on twitter and Facebook, it’s amazing how helpful social media is with music and meeting other musicians.

I am currently building a website that will be full of merchandise and new material it will also give people the option to have me work with them on collaboration tracks.

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

MASSAI: I would buy a giant house somewhere, sunny, near a beach and take my fiancé, my family, and all my friends and spend every day doing something new and exciting, but in all honesty a quarter of that half a million will go on musical equipment……. okay maybe half.

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

MASSAI: Unfortunately, there isn’t a system to this if there was we would have a lot more artists around, the way that I see it is however you can promote yourself do it. When you were 4 years old and you made a picture of your favourite superhero and you were shoving it in everyone’s face, do the same thing with your music if any site or building allows you to put stuff out just do it, someone will see it and someone will see your potential.

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

 

MASSAI: I have my first album coming out June 2016 #REKT it’s taken me a long time to put my new music out so I am really excited for this.

 

I also got my good friends featuring on my album as well which will be fantastic, so expect some insane new material because they’re fun and crazy as well.

The main thing for me this year is to collaborate with as many artists as I can to learn more styles, but to also make some incredible tracks with some incredible musicians.

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

MASSAI: I have always enjoyed doing my own artwork, similar styles to H.R Giger really dark and intricate work, so hopefully something in that field.

 

This may sound really cliché but if being an artist wouldn’t work out I would really enjoy a job that really involves helping people as well, I take everybody’s situations really seriously and enjoy making peoples life’s better even if I got no money for it. I would cherish all the memories of helping these people and that would be enough for me.

Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?

MASSAI: My whole life consists of music and my fiancé, who is so helpful she takes care of me and I try my hardest do the same back, she is really supportive and basically makes it possible for me to make music 40% of the day.

I am always trying my hardest to make things better for us financially and lifestyle wise whilst working on my music, so it is hard and stressful at times. But having a really awesome, understanding and optimistic fan as your fiancé is just incredible, I honestly can say if I didn’t have her I probably wouldn’t be able to do or create anything.

 

So here is a shout out to my beautiful fiancé Samantha Bushnell, I hope other artists out there are as lucky as me to have such a supportive relationship.

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?

MASSAI: Album #REKT June 2016, the Website should hopefully be up this year.

Gigs, U.K only unfortunately, tons of Merchandise T-shirts, hoodies, hats etc.

And on my website you can contact me personally and make a track with me or I can make a track with you or for you, once the website is up and running.

A lot of collaboration tracks with some amazing artists.