Mura Masa
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.
This article is about the British musician. For the swordsmith, see Muramasa. For the album, see Mura Masa (album). For other uses, see Muramasa (disambiguation).
Mura Masa
Alexander George Edward Crossan[1]
5 April 1996
Castel, Guernsey
- Record producer
- songwriter
- disc jockey
- record executive
2013–present
- Anchor Point
- Jakarta
- Polydor
- Downtown
- Interscope
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]
Early life[edit]
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]
Music career[edit]
2015–2016: Someday Somewhere[edit]
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]