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 famous swordsmith, see Muramasa. For the album, see Mura Masa (album). For other uses, see Muramasa (disambiguation).

Mura Masa
Mura Masa performing at Field Day in 2017
Mura Masa performing at Field Day in 2017
Background information
Birth nameAlexander George Edward Crossan[1]
Born (1996-04-05) 5 April 1996
Castel, Guernsey
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Record producer
  • songwriter
  • disc jockey
  • record executive
Years active2013–present
Labels
Websitemuramasa.me

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

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

2015–2016: Someday Somewhere

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]

2017–2019: Mura Masa
Main article: Mura Masa (album)

Crossan co-wrote the track "First Things First" on Stormzy's Gang Signs & Prayer, which entered the UK Albums Chart at number 1 on 3 March 2017. The track also entered the singles chart at number 25. On 17 March 2017, he released "1 Night", a collaboration with Charli XCX.[34] Speaking about the collaboration, he said "I think I just had that beat lying around for a while and we sent it to a couple of people. Then Charli just did her thing".[35][36]

Crossan released his self-titled debut studio album, Mura Masa on 14 July 2017.[21][35] It was released by Polydor, Interscope, Downtown, and Anchor Point Records. The album was produced and recorded from 2014 to 2016, and has guest features by A. K. Paul, ASAP Rocky, Bonzai, Charli XCX, Christine and the Queens, Damon Albarn, Desiigner, Jamie Lidell, Nao, and Tom Tripp. Upon release, it received positive reviews by critics, and debuted at number 19 on the UK Albums Chart and at 192 on the US Billboard 200. The album received nominations for Best Dance/Electronic Album and Best Recording Package[37] at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.[38]

In June, Crossan worked with Nile Rodgers-organised collective Chic on the band's comeback album, It's About Time. He was featured alongside Cosha and Vic Mensa on the comeback single "Till the World Falls", which was released on 22 June 2018. Before that, on 12 June 2018, the band also premiered another song from the album "Boogie All Night", which features Crossan, alongside working affiliate Nao. Crossan's remix of Haim's "Walking Away" won Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards on 10 February 2019.[39][40]

Awards and nominations
AwardsYearCategoryWorkResultRef.
Grammy Awards 2018 Best Dance/Electronic Album Mura Masa Nominated [41][42]
Best Recording Package Nominated
2019 Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical "Walking Away (Mura Masa Remix)" Won
2022 "Talks (Mura Masa Remix)" Nominated [43]
Ivor Novello Awards 2017 Best Contemporary Song "Lovesick" (featuring ASAP Rocky) Nominated [44]
2022 "Just for Me" (as songwriter) Nominated [45]
UK Music Video Awards 2016 Best Dance Video – Newcomer "What If I Go?" Nominated [46]
2017 Best Urban Video - UK "Lovesick" (featuring ASAP Rocky) Nominated [47]
Best Live Session "Blu (Live)" (featuring Damon Albarn) Won
2020 Best Alternative Video - UK "Teenage Headache Dreams" Nominated [48]
Best Dance/Electronic Video - UK "Deal Wiv It" (with Slowthai) Nominated
2023 Best Dance/Electronic Video - Newcomer "Whenever I Want" Pending [49]

Discography
Main article: Mura Masa discography

References
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  2. Monger, Timothy. "Mura Masa Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  3. "Mura Masa previews new music in an album documentary". DIY. 11 May 2016. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  4. Kielman, Daniel (17 May 2016). "Photos: Mura Masa loves the Independent". The Bay Bridged. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  5. @SpotifyUK (30 April 2015). "Viral 50 Song Of The Week: 'Love Sick Fuck' from @mura_masa_ a fresh burst of sampled beauty spoti.fi/1DMg8qj" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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