Masa started writing songs at the age of 15 in his birth place of Kawasaki, Japan. He moved to NYC and joined a couple of local bands to play bass before traveling further to London where in 1999 he set up home and started doing solo acoustic gigs. Soon, he became a regular performer at "Acoustic Trip"-a popular weekly showcase in Camden run by singer/songwriter Ben Mitchell. Masa also launched "Surprise Cafe Gigs" which were guerrilla gigs inspired by the audacity of "The Beat Generation" and Warhol. After announcing his intention to play to the unsuspecting crowd. Masa would politely but assuredly launch into songs and was often rewarded with "real" gigs or maybe a slice of cake.Masa met many musicians at his performances but one in particular was drawn to his unique style and atmosphere. Neil Mason was a brilliant guitarist and musician. Neil told Masa that he heard guitar parts in his head whenever he saw him performing and so it felt natural for them to start playing together.
A duo MASA was born.MASA's music is intense and addictive but at the same time intimate and soothing. Masa's lyrics describe what people question in their own life. It is written in simple and minimal form, not many words, but rich in meaning. Masa's minimalist tendencies can be compared to traditional Japanese art forms, such as Haiku poems and Zen Buddhism.It's one of the key elements that MASA's music appeals to a lot of people because of lyrical simplicity combined with its catchy melody. Masa's voice has a unique and unforgettable timbre and his performance is always entrancing. The magic that Neil brings to Masa's songs has led Masa to dub him a "Guitar Poet" and it is true that Neil's ethereal soaring guitar parts seem to have more depth each time they are experienced. Together Masa and Neil create a perfect balance of Yin and Yang, Heaven and Earth and remind us that the transient beauty of music is truly a matter of Life and Death.
Myspace Layouts - Myspace Editor
