Musings & late-night thoughts.
As artists, I strongly believe that we have the responsibility to reflect the times in which we live in. Therefore, artists are not just merely at the mercy of their times, but also influencers of their times. To write about and to think of one’s own experiences is, in a sense, to organize and make sense of one’s own chaos. Here, is where you can take a peek into my musings and late-night thoughts.
January 26, 2022
Full disclosure: I don’t like social media.
If you ask my close friends, they will tell you that I am a very private person & that finding a balance of authentically presenting myself on social media as an artist, while still maintaining a sense of privacy, has always been a struggle of mine. On the other hand, they will be the first to admit, that in the name of authenticity & building connections, I am first in line to bare my soul. This 3-song EP does exactly that!
Back in 2019, I originally conceptualized this record as simply a “dare”. I wanted to “dare” myself to a challenge as a composer, band-leader, arranger, producer, & pianist to lead a group of 16 musicians to record 3 original compositions. And that “dare” completely terrified me! Never before have I partaken in a collaboration which I would be taking full responsibility for a project. Whether it gloriously failed or succeeded did not matter -I simply just wanted to take on the “dare”! Luckily, I was surrounded by not only amazing musicians, but by artists-intellectuals who happened to be friends & colleagues that I still continue to admire for their professionalism, morals, & diverse perspectives that made this record possible.
It is only recently, I’ve come to realize the record is not just a “dare” that I am humbled to finally see come to fruition, but a collaboration full of multi-dimensional, hard-working, & ambitious musician-friends that I am eternally grateful for. The process of unearthing & recording my emotions with my collaborators, has helped me bare my soul & heart in the most authentic way possible, while still leaving a little to the mystery -whether that be for privacy or for simply intrigue…
Tune in Friday for more stories behind the songs & the people (feat. my main co-writers Bobbi Fallon Romarna Campbell Tristan Simone ) that inspired the making of “Into the Night” out Feb 24!
Hit that link ( https://linktr.ee/mashadavey ) to pre-save the EP!
Peace and love always,
Masha J. Davey
photography: Alissa Lise Wyle
makeup: Sammy Singleton
January 24, 2022
“Into the Night” EP
Fellow friends & artists,
I would like to officially welcome you to the countdown to the release of my debut EP “Into the Night”!
For the following month & up to release day on my birthday February 24, I am inviting you to join me in exploring the stories that inspired this record - I’ll be sharing photos/videos ranging from inside the recording studio, to shenanigans in rehearsals rooms, and the little moments in between all the madness while recording this EP!
I’ve always loved bedtime stories and I am excited to finally share my own fairytales with you.
Stay tuned and let me know in the comments what you think the story is going to be about for “Into the Night”…I just might shoutout the lucky guess!
Hit that link ( https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mashajdavey/into-the-night ) in my bio to pre-save the EP!
photography: Alissa Lise Wyle
Makeup: Sammy Singleton
February 24, 2021
Thank you all for your birthday messages and wishes! It really made my day!
This time last year, I spent my birthday leading a recording session for my debut record. Little did I know it would be the last one for quite some time due to the infamous pandemic that struck only a few weeks later. I appreciate each and everyone of you who has been supportive in this process and your patience will soon be rewarded.
Stay tuned for my debut record “Into the Night” out summer 2021!
Peace and love, y’all
Masha J. Davey
Black Lives Matter
I am grateful that I got to grow up in New Orleans studying the traditions of Black-American music, its roots within the transatlantic slave trade,& its impact on contemporary Black-American culture. I know as a musician I have the responsibility to reflect the times in which I live in.
I admit I have been quiet. For far too long. It keeps me up at night knowing there are human souls suffering due to a created system of perpetuated bigotry, hate,& oppression that only the oppressor benefits from.Our entire social structure functions on “whiteness” as a default in which the black body is not prioritized for all the rights black bodies deserve. Take it or leave it:Black lives matter.
We are all, together, inherently intertwined in our collective redemption - when the black body can finally be liberated is when society, as a whole, will be liberated.
I’ve struggled -continue to do so daily-with my own Black-American, multi national,& mixed experience/identity. I’ve constantly struggled with my black-ness and the ability to “pass”, while searching for a sense of belonging within the Black-American experience. But to not question yourself & where your role lies within all of this, is the mistake I do not want to make.
As we are stepping into the month of June,one can not ignore the intersectionality of the Pride movement & Black Lives Matter movement. Look to the StoneWall Riots; they were spearheaded by the Black LGBTQ+ crowd! They were claiming & taking agency of their identities despite having the weight of the world upon their shoulders. Even though they had others actively deny their experience, they fought to not succumb to their own internal-denial.
I, too, am taking agency & responsibility of my identity & my privileges to help, ally,& advocate for the ones who may not have the privileges to do so.
I am human. I am a woman. I am a musician. I am Christian.I am Black-American, Russian, Asian, Italian,Greek.I am bisexual.I am proud.
One day we will all be proud to simply...be.Until that day,we will continue the fight.To be on the right side of history.To stand with & uplift the oppressed,the hurt,& the forgotten.
Much love always,
Masha J. Davey
photography by Alissa Lisa Wyle
@holysmokephotography