What made you decide that music was for you?
I buried my second parent and became an orphan. For me, grief seems to have led to this major creative release that began with me writing a eulogy for my father in a memoir, a spoken word piece, and has now culminated in a 12-track release list.
Please introduce us to you and your musical history.
I grew up in a house of entertainment, parties, and music. I remember him from the time he was 5 years old, sitting in front of his VCR (yes, a very old one!) watching his coveted copy of MJ Moonwalker, captivated by the music, dance, and performance. I did. Then I discovered a love of naughty 90s hip-hop and R&B, inspired by Pac and Big for lyricism, Lauryn Hill for storytelling, and sultry R&B bangers like Boyz to Men and Diddy and Maze. It was born out of classical music, and that’s carried over into my current musical sound. Currently active mainly in Afrobeat, Amapiano, and R&Drill.
What was your life like before you started making music?
Music has always been in my life, but before becoming an artist, my life was dedicated to medicine and research. To appease my parents, I reluctantly went to medical school (I wanted to pursue a career in entertainment).
Then my mother tragically passed away when I was 19 and in college, her house was robbed and she was murdered. I think that led me to go through some kind of melting pot where I just threw myself into medicine (and helping other people) and forgot about my creative needs and that hunger. Masu. Then, after my father passed away and I took a break from the NHS, I slowly discovered that creative impulse and have continued to nurture it ever since.
What was the first song you heard that introduced you to music?
Lauryn Hill – Doo Wop
Didi and Mase – feels so good
I learned every word and every melody of both songs. At the time, I thought it was normal for everyone to listen to, analyze, and love every layer of a track (beat, instrument, vocal). Later on, I realized that it was part of being an artist and a creative, and the love of creating music.
Where do you think you are in the music industry right now?
That’s a difficult question. For me, the British/urban black music scene has always been dominated by a completely different type of artist, and it represents something completely different to me. But I hope I can successfully slip into the playful and kinky song-rap Afrobeat genre (think Egyptian J Hass)
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned from others in the industry?
Please don’t quit. My first few demos died. So I sent it to a friend of mine who’s a big house and electro DJ, and he was very supportive and loving and just said, “Good luck, this is a journey, and you’re on your way.”
Don’t get too attached to your own ideas and follow your intuition about what feels right creatively. And synchronize the music you make with the values by which you live your life. That way, you won’t be constantly aligned and stuck in internal dilemmas as you try to express your stories and emotions.
Tell me two truths and one lie about yourself.
When I was 15, I was partying with Fiddy and Pharrell.
I once spent a weekend on a billionaire’s yacht and couldn’t wait to leave
I once had sex on stage at TG in front of 200 people.
If you could wish for one thing to help your career, what would it be?
My desire is to show young people that there are completely different paths to success. I’m an anomaly, but music is a powerful tool to connect with different communities and tribes, and maybe we can reach a world where music can help Empower and lift up young men and women of color Masu.
Have you ever worried about people taking things the wrong way or cancel culture? Discuss….
Working in the medical field and growing up with Egyptian Christian parents, they had their own “cancel culture” and I was pretty deviant from the start, so I always had to worry about that. I think it had to be done. Nevertheless, what I find so liberating about music is the chance to tell stories in a playful, kinky, slightly incendiary way, and that’s all good. It’s a very welcoming space, and eccentricity is part of being an artist.
Do you agree with conspiracy theories? If not, why not?
Ahaha! I like conspiracy theories. My sister is an associate professor of Middle East politics (she’s a smart person), and when she gets interviewed by big news channels, she often gets cut off because her theories are too crazy.
What is your worst experience on stage?
I know this isn’t what you mean, but I once gave a talk on rare diseases to 2,000 academics and my slides were a mess. It must have been the performer in me who took a breather and winged it with a few jokes.I was sweating so much when I got off the stage.
Tell us something you think people would be surprised about about you or each member.
Despite my bravado, I’m very sensitive and I think it’s part of my neurodivergent nature, so I don’t feel like anything I did or said upset or offended anyone. You often want to check.please some people
What is the next step to reach the next level as a band?
My first single was released on February 9th and I have a 12 track release schedule over the next 12 months (1 single per month). Single No. 3 – One More TIME includes a great music video and a house remix with my close friend and DJ, Hani (from Stockholm). Next, Afrobeats is planning some features on a couple of his artistes based in Lagos. Then comes some slightly more difficult storytelling, having worked in the NHS for 12 years and experienced seven (black and minority ethnic health worker suicides).
I would like to release my music and story in 2024 and hopefully an album in the second quarter of 2025.
I noticed that a lot of bands don’t use X (Twitter). Why do you think that is?
I think Twitter has had a lot of ups and downs since Musk took over, but it’s also primarily been a political medium. I don’t like Twitter, apart from the occasional naughty account linked to a dating profile 🙂
I heard you have new music. Can you tell me anything about it?
My first debut single “Lie all the time” is a sassy Afrobeat banger. I have an amazing producer called Lord Knows who makes some epic beats for me. We worked really well together and “Lie all the Time” was probably the seventh or eighth song we wrote. It’s a very easy song to listen to, the kind of song you want to listen to in the car with your friends on the way to a party, but it also expresses a little bit of who you are and your story, and it also speaks Arabic in addition to English. You can also sing and rap in English and French.
What was the recording process like?
very calm. I have a home studio, so me and LK do these 3-4 hour sessions. Often I’ll work on the hook or chorus first, and once that’s done I’ll write the bars for the verses. The second half of the verse of this song was originally a rap, but I changed it to a song and made the lyrics more comedic.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing new songs?
You have to trust your intuition, instincts, and inner compass. Creativity is not a science (at least for me), it’s this energy. My instinct is to be scientific or methodical in everything (that’s my nature), but in music I’m too focused on creating the right environment, trusting the process, and refining and repeating. Please don’t.Accept that creative work is often much more honest and engaging when it is not “overproduced”
Now that it’s complete, do you want to change anything?
nine
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
Love. All we need to heal this world is less drama, less anger, less hate, and less strangers.Just love – it will solve us
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