ABOUT




Six years ago or so, I decided that the cruddy ukulele in my living room needed some attention. So I taught myself how to play it. With several years of flute lessons behind me, I quickly learned it and began to compose simple songs.
The musical sessions with myself slowly transformed into the personal madness of MA-sha, and within time I began to incorporate other musical instruments and elements. And that's where we are today.

What type of music is MA-sha?
I hate this question, mainly because it's impossible to answer. My style changes frequently, and even those styles are hard to define. I play mostly acoustic, but sometimes I do electronic-related. I also combine them. So, I suppose if somebody were to take a CD with my music and put it in a Barnes & Noble, it would just be under Pop/Rock. But I think that category is terribly broad.

Influences?
Over time this changes a lot. I hear a song and it sounds so awesome that I get into the artist and start to shape myself a little differently. Recently I came across Owl City, and there is a lot to say about that. Right now, I'll just mention that I find Adam's music not only wonderful to listen to, but the deeper I dig the more I like him as an individual. I think our music styles are also very similar.
Of course there is also Gisela, Vienna Teng, and Aufidena* . I also think a lot of Paul McCartney's solo music reflects mine a great deal, yes I do. There are also a lot of soundtracks that I enjoy and try to relate to. That would include the Professor Layton Series, Hotel Dusk (my love!!!) Lost Eden (nobody knows what that is, but hey! the music rocks), and I can't think of anything else.

Where does the name "MA-sha" come from?
Masha is a form of my real name, Mary. While I studied Russian in high school, that was the name I took on. I started using it as an online alias, and when it came time for me to have a "pen name" for my music, I chose that. Why it's capitalized and hyphenated? I want to make sure that NOBODY has trouble pronouncing it. Ever. So that people don't call me ma-SHA, or may-sha or anything. It is MA-sha. Simple as that. I think it works, eh? It has nothing to do with Islam or the Arabic language or whatever. Just sayin', cause I get weeeiirddd things on my "related" videos on Youtube. Huh!

Where are you from?
Maryland, USA, born and raised. Where I'll be in 5 years I couldn't say.

How can a fan contact you?
At the risk of getting even more spam, you can email me at mary@ma-sha.org and if you have some demonic desire to contact me in some other way, MAYBE I will give out my postal address or phone number. But your reason better include lots of money and/or stuffed animals!



* Though I love Francesca Ortolani's music and I support her as an independant musician, I do not endorse her political views.