Swedish musician and vocalist MASAKA delivers his infectious debut single "Ragdoll"
Boasting dream-like textures that playfully flirt alongside the syncopated heartbeat of the drums, the dystopian backing opens up complex pockets for MASAKA to flaunt his bright-eyed vocals and emotive, tongue-in-cheek lyricism with typical elegance. Reconciling with past hardships that leave his reality in disarray, he details an endless journey towards self-enlightenment, a dangerous path that manoeuvres through sorrow into a space that feels as beautiful as it is meaningful. Releasing alongside a notably well-produced video that settles between live and cinematic, we see MASAKA fully immersed in the Swedish forest while covered in shining armour that visually depicts the restraints of grief, creating a complex juxtaposition between the vibrant silhouettes and the vocalist’s melancholic storytelling.
Growing up in a Ugandan and Swedish household, his father was a renowned world music producer who would host residential musicians every week. The home studio quickly became MASAKA’s playground to create and develop his artistry, producing, writing and recording his tracks before he found refuge in the world of Jazz music.
MASAKA earned a scholarship at Berklee College Of Music in Boston, USA – the largest independent university of contemporary music in the world. While studying modern Jazz and steadily perfecting his craft as a bassist, the rising musician began performing in local jazz clubs before going on tour with three-time GRAMMY Award-Winning musician Terri Lyne Carrington, where he graced The Hollywood Bowl and The Monterey Jazz Festival. Now fully integrated into jazz culture, MASAKA has rubbed shoulders with international stars like Patti Smith, Ledisi, and Immanuel Wilkins to name a few, while also regularly travelling to New York City to perform at some of the most iconic underground venues incl. Smalls Jazz Club and Ornithology.