Masha

Masha has a country heart, a rock soul, an independent mind, and an untamed voice that can enchant or shock you. She can purr, but she’d rather growl and tell you the truth you’ve always known, but tried to hide from yourself. Masha is a rippling stream, an unexpected riptide, a woman who can go with the flow or create her own tsunami. She can illuminate the stage with the force of her personality, or quietly draw you in to her confidence with a soft confession that will touch your heart and make you misty. Masha is a singer and a songwriter, a woman who was born to perform. “I can’t remember a time when I didn’t sing,” she says. “When I was little, I sang along with the radio. People like Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, and Christine Aguilera attracted me, strong women who could really belt it out.” Masha took piano lessons as a child, but by the time she was a teen, she was playing guitar, writing songs and playing open mikes. Masha’s father supported his daughter’s musical ambitions. When the family lived in Latvia, he was lead guitarist in the band of Latvian superstar Laima Vaikule. He helped his daughter put together a demo of cover tunes and she was soon hanging out in recording studios and honing her sound. "I had a double life that I hid from my friends," she says. "As soon as my classes were over, I’d take the bus into the city and work on my music until late in the morning. They wanted to know why I didn’t want to hang at the football games, but I was driven by the music.” “My style is hard to pin down,” Masha says. “It’s dirty and grungy and full of contradictions. I like angry, crazy rockers, happy country songs and folk ballads, anything with real emotion." While working on her debut album, slated for release later this year, Masha posted cover videos on YouTube, which generated millions of views and established a genuine fanbase. Those numbers will grow with the release of her first single, "Mr. Presley," an homage to the King of Rock & Roll. "Sure, at first listen, the song is obviously about Elvis," she says. "But it's also a cry of frustration, trying to find that Prince Charming and wondering if he truly exists. I'm a hopeless romantic who believes in happily ever after, but living in a world where people only care about themselves you start to panic that maybe you'll just die alone, and that perfect man that you envision in your head just doesn't exist. I'm putting Elvis on a pedestal and comparing every man to him. Everything about him, his voice, his looks, he was the King. They just don't make men like that anymore." The track, and the rest of Masha's upcoming album was co-penned and produced by Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony, better known as Louis York. The duo, known for their work with artists such as Bruno Mars, Miley Cyrus, Rihanna and Mary J. Blige, to name but a few, not only worked on Masha's music, they also signed her to their new label Weirdo Workshop. “I’ve known both Claude and Chuck for years, so being able to finally work with both of them at the same time have literally been the best days of my life,” says Masha. “They’re so much fun. They bring out the artist I was always meant to be. They both know me so well and are the best friends I could ever have, so it’s perfect. And I’m so excited to be on Weirdo Workshop, a company where dreams really do come true. You have a dozen people there with the intention of making your vision a reality. Everyone has your back and no one fights you for creative control. Artistic integrity is always at the forefront. It really is the perfect scenario for an artist.” As for the future, Masha says, “I can't wait to get out on the road. My goal is to tour forever, to sing in front of people every day and make them happy. Music is about singing live with a real band and showing people your passion. That’s all I ever wanted to do.” Mr. Presley out now! http://smarturl.it/mrpresley